Dairy producers today face a critical decision. Should you stay focused on pure dairy herds that drive milk production and genetic consistency? Or should you explore beef-on-dairy crosses to capture additional value? Whatever path you choose, your calf housing strategy is essential. The right calf pen design supports calf health, minimizes labor, and helps you meet your production goals efficiently.
At ADA Enterprises, we understand how these decisions impact your facility design. Our calf pen systems, made of first-rate steel completely coated with plastisol (polyvinyl, plastic), are built for strength, flexibility, and animal comfort. We never use other coating materials — because durability and hygiene matter. This guide explores how to align your calf housing with your herd strategy, whether you’re managing pure dairy calves or beef-on-dairy crosses.
Why Your Herd Strategy Should Guide Calf Pen Design
Calf pen design plays a central role in calf health, productivity, and long-term herd success. It influences:
- Calf health and survival rates
- Risk of respiratory disease
- Growth rates and future milk production
- Labor efficiency and workload
- Stress levels and animal welfare
Your choice of individual pens or group pens must reflect the specific needs of your herd type, environmental conditions, and operational goals.
Pure Dairy: Housing Priorities and Best Practices
Pure dairy herds are typically focused on producing high-quality replacement heifers, so protecting calf health from day one is essential. Individual pens are often preferred because they provide:
- Controlled environments for newborn calf care
- Individual feeding to manage nutrition closely
- Better disease control and reduced calf mortality
- Easier monitoring for signs of illness, such as respiratory disease
Common housing options for pure dairy systems include calf hutches and calf houses with individual stalls. These setups help prevent the spread of illness while supporting optimal growth and future lactating cow productivity.
Beef-on-Dairy: Housing Needs for Crossbred Calves
Beef-on-dairy operations often prioritize efficiency and group management. Calf pen designs for these systems focus on:
- Group calving pens that support natural cow behavior
- Group pens or group hutches that allow calves to socialize
- Shared feed bunk space that simplifies feeding routines
- Flexible space allowance to accommodate varying group sizes
This approach can improve labor efficiency and align with beef production goals. However, it still requires attention to air quality and space design to maintain calf health and minimize stress.
Ventilation and Air Quality: A Non-Negotiable Priority
Whether you house pure dairy or beef-on-dairy calves, ventilation is critical to calf health. Poor ventilation can lead to stale air, excess heat, and foul air buildup — all of which contribute to respiratory tract problems and higher calf mortality.
Effective calf housing designs:
- Maximize fresh air flow at calf level
- Take advantage of natural ventilation, prevailing wind, and the stack effect
- Prevent accumulation of warm air and reduce discomfort caused by excess heat
- Use right angles and open design features that promote good ventilation and air exchange
ADA calf pen systems are designed to support these requirements. Our flooring and pen components allow for easy cleaning, reducing the buildup of pathogens that contribute to respiratory disease.
Individual Pens vs. Group Pens: Which is Right for You?
Individual pens are ideal for:
- Newborn calves and sick calves that need isolation
- Operations focused on biosecurity and disease prevention
- Calves requiring individual feeding and close monitoring
Group pens are preferred when:
- Managing beef-on-dairy calves that benefit from group interaction
- Looking to convert calf stall group pen setups as calves mature
- Needing to balance efficiency and animal welfare for larger herds
ADA calf pen systems offer modular flexibility. Our pens can be configured for individual or group housing, or converted as herd needs change. Our solid or vented partitions, space-efficient designs, and durable coatings help maintain cleanliness and calf comfort.
Converting and Configuring Pens as Needs Change
Seasonal calving rates, herd growth, or shifts in production strategy often require adjustments to calf housing. ADA calf pen systems are designed for this flexibility.
- Panels can be reconfigured to convert calf stall group pen setups into individual pens or vice versa.
- ADA’s durable calf stalls can be adapted for beef-on-dairy calves or pure dairy calves depending on the season or age group.
- Feed space areas can be expanded or contracted with minimal effort.
- Layouts can be adjusted to support one group, two groups, or multiple age groups housed in the same area.
This level of adaptability supports efficiency, animal welfare, and long-term cost control.
Calf Comfort and Management
Calf comfort begins with space and maintenance. ADA calf pen systems are designed to:
- Provide a dry bed that supports calf health
- Resist wear and corrosion, even with regular cleaning
- Minimize stress by supporting natural behaviors and reducing competition at the feed bunk
Our flooring — made exclusively from first-rate steel coated with plastisol — provides a durable, easy-clean surface that helps maintain hygiene and comfort. No other coating materials are used on ADA products, ensuring consistent quality and performance.
Environmental and Site Considerations
The success of any calf housing system depends in part on its integration with your farm’s site conditions. ADA calf pen systems are designed to:
- Fit into new or existing barns with customizable layouts
- Take advantage of prevailing wind and natural ventilation
- Withstand environmental conditions, including excess heat, moisture, and seasonal variations
- Offer flexibility in space allowance, lying space, and feed bunk space as herd needs evolve
Our team works with you to plan a suitable site layout that maximizes calf health, labor efficiency, and long-term value.
Sample Layouts for Different Strategies
Pure Dairy Layout Example
- Individual pens or calf hutches for newborn calves
- Calf houses with good ventilation system design
- Controlled feed space and solid or open partitions for biosecurity
Beef-on-Dairy Layout Example
- Group calving pens
- Group hutches or pens that allow natural calf behavior
- Flexible feed bunk space that accommodates larger groups
- Modular partitions to manage space per calf as they grow
Flexible Layout Example
- Convertible Dura Bilt stalls that shift from individual to group housing
- Panels that adapt to space allowance, age group changes, or seasonal calving approaches
- Configurations that house individual calves or groups in the same area as needed
The ADA Enterprises Advantage
Calf housing is an investment in your herd’s future. At ADA Enterprises, we deliver systems that provide long-term durability, flexibility, and animal comfort. Key features include:
- First-rate steel construction coated entirely in plastisol (polyvinyl, plastic) — no substitutes, ever
- Flooring and pen components that resist corrosion, support a dry bed, and stand up to regular cleaning
- Modular systems that are easy to adjust as your herd strategy evolves
- Designs that promote calf health, minimize respiratory disease risk, and support efficient management
Our calf pen systems are engineered to help you achieve your production goals while protecting your animals and simplifying your daily work.
Built-in Antimicrobial Protection
ADA calf flooring, featuring built-in antimicrobial protection, sets a new industry standard. As the only flooring with microbial-level sanitation, ADA Enterprises, Inc. helps calf producers reduce disease risks and promote healthier herds.
Benefits at a Glance
- Antimicrobial Protection: Inhibits E. coli and Salmonella by 99.99%.
- Better Sanitation: Boosts effectiveness of regular cleaning.
- Industry-First: Only calf flooring with built-in microbial protection.
Conclusion
Whether you are focused on pure dairy production or exploring beef-on-dairy opportunities, your calf pen design must align with your herd strategy and operational goals. With ADA Enterprises, you get more than durable equipment — you get a partner committed to helping you create housing solutions that work for your farm.
Explore our calf pen options and custom layout solutions today.
