Calf rearing
Occupational material for calves
Mutual sucking and licking of objects is often caused when young animals are reared without a mother, as their need to suck is not yet sufficiently satisfied. Mutual sucking can cause health problems for the calves, such as digestive disorders, stunted growth and teat injuries.
Occupational materials in the calf pen prevent undesirable behaviour and promote social and play behaviour.
To ensure the vitality of the calves, this need of the animals must be met. With the appropriate occupational material, boredom is reduced and curiosity is positively challenged. In addition, the playful interaction between the animals in a group is positively influenced. Sufficient occupational material in the calf pen accustoms the animals to different objects. As a result, calves learn to deal with new situations and objects, which leads to less stress for the animals later on
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Kerbl offers several products to equip the calf playground:
Feed Ball Toy
This ball is especially suitable for use in stables, pastures or paddocks. The 19 feed openings allow for optimal roughage intake. A larger opening makes it very easy to fill the play ball.
HayBag
The feed play bag is universally applicable and easy to mount in the stable or on the pasture. This is optimally suited for species-appropriate feeding of hay.
Teat Activity Set
With this teat, calves can fulfil their unmet need to suckle. The teat is mounted on the wall and provides an occupation option for individual and group housing.
Play ropes
Cotton play ropes for calves, made of 100% high-quality cotton, encourage curiosity and chewing, support dental hygiene and chewing muscles. Available in different sizes, they offer a variety of play options, are environmentally friendly, sustainable and easy to clean - perfect for the well-being of young animals.
Biting Ring Natural
The biting ring is designed for young calves and is made from food-compliant, renewable raw materials such as polylactic acid from sugar cane and wood fibres. This environmentally friendly toy supports the calves' natural needs for sucking, gnawing and playing and is suitable for individual and group housing.
Toy made from natural rubber BiteStar
The four protruding pins encourage the animals to play together. Due to the ingenious shape, the BiteStar is also attractive for the animals over a longer period of time. This toy is suitable for sticking on hutches or feeding bowls. A high level of attractiveness is ensured by the ability to turn and push.
Scratch Brush and Scratch Brush XL
Create activity and well-being with the help of scratch brushes. The rounded shape is ideal for scrubbing the head, neck and sides of the body. The brushes are inexpensive, can be used flexibly and take up minimal space thanks to their mounting on walls, pillars, posts or edges.
Scratch Mat
The mobile and soft nubs of this scratch mat provide optimum coat care without the risk of skin irritation. Multifunctional application possibilities are given with this product. For example, this mat can be attached to the wall or around pillars, posts or corners.
Scratch and Cleaning Mat ScratchPad
The perfect mat for natural coat care that can be easily attached anywhere. The scratching and cleaning mat with a skin-friendly structure is a simple, flexible and safe solution for every stable.
Scratching brushes from the HAPPYCOW assortment are also ideal as occupational material.
Cattle weaners
Cattle weaners can be used in various areas in cattle husbandry. On the one hand, they are used to wean calves from their mother cows without stress. On the other hand, they are used in the young and large cattle area to prevent mutual sucking of conspecifics.
Cattle Weaner SuckStop Müller
Innovation for weaning and animal welfare
The new and innovative Cattle Weaner SuckStop Müller will win you over with its extremely easy handling, its realised learning effect with the animal as well as the improvement of the animal‘s well-being.
Especially easy handling
The cattle weaner is really easy to use and can also be removed. The ring has a certain amount of elasticity which enables it to be applied without any aid. The cattle weaner is hooked onto the side of the nose and inserted into the other side by stretching the ring. The extensions here point upward.
Long-term learning effect
Regular weaning rings have spines that point outwards, which can irritate other animals and lead to a defence reaction. The animal with a strong suckling need will not learn from this situation. However, it’s a different story with the new and innovative Cattle Weaner SuckStop Müller. It corrects the suckling animal. The rounded extensions turned inward press into the nose of the animal when suckling from another animal. This impulse disrupts the act and inhibits misbehaviour. This ensures a long-term learning effect, even after just a few weeks
Improving animals’ well-being
The innovative cattle weaner can be attachead and secured without any aid. The ring cannot be attached too closely and injure the nasal septum. Animals with newly attached rings start retaking food and water after a brief time because they feel no pain. Even nipple and tongue drinkers are used by the animals without problem with the Cattle Weaner SuckStop Müller. Calves can still drink from the feeding bucket. Thus there are no output losses in the herd.
In addition to the plastic versions, our range also includes cattle weaners made of metal.
Gentler than ever - the new Hot Air Dehorner AirBuddex
The Hot Air Dehorner AirBuddex is unique on the market. Thanks to the superficial obliteration of the horn cells with hot air, dehorning is unrivalled in its gentleness - for both animal and farmer.
Gentle because non-invasive
Unlike all other dehorning devices on the market, the AirBuddex™ developed by Kerbl works by emitting hot air. The AirBuddex is simply placed on the animal and the hot air cauterises the horn cells on the surface. The horny cells can then simply be wiped off and the skin barrier remains intact.
The calf's defence reactions during the dehorning process are significantly reduced and the farmer does not have to exert much force. As a result, wound healing problems are much less frequent and the calf can recover quickly. The positive aspects of hot-air dehorning have also been confirmed by Dr Daniel Mehne from the Bavarian Animal Health Service with extensive tests
Relaxed procedure
The reliable piezo ignition and the heat-up time of just a few seconds make preparation very easy. There is no need for tedious preparation measures and the farmer can devote his full attention to the animal and the administration of painkillers and tranquillisers. The cordless operation and good balance of the AirBuddex™ improve handling. The dehorning process is absolutely gentle and stress-free for both the calf and the farmer.
Unique principle
Conventional dehorners heat the tip, sometimes with a gas cylinder or electric connection. The cautery tip is then pressed into the skin around the horn bud, cutting off the blood supply to the horn bud. What remains is an open circular wound that needs good treatment and a long time to heal. The risk of wound healing disorders and side effects is significantly higher if the device is used incorrectly.
Conversions of hot air blow dryers with burning tips are known in practice. However, these modifications are not permitted for use on animals (high voltage on the animal) and are also more expensive than the AirBuddex™.
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Proven quality
As a manufacturer, we draw on our many years of experience when it comes to materials. The stainless steel design guarantees durability and robustness. The existing gas cartridges from the sister product GasBuddex™ are also used in the AirBuddex™ .