How Proper Airflow Improves Calf Health in Veal Facilities

By Blake Jackson

Proper ventilation is essential in multiroom veal facilities to maintain calf health and stable indoor conditions. Many barns include a service or preheat alley that supplies fresh air to the calf rooms. However, air inlets are often simple manually adjusted panels placed in feed aisle doors.

According to agricultural engineering specialist Eileen E. Fabian (Wheeler), Ph.D., formerly of Pennsylvania State University, these fixed openings cannot adjust when fans cycle on and off or change speed, resulting in inconsistent airflow and poor air distribution.

A more effective solution is a self-adjusting inlet baffle system, which automatically responds to changing ventilation demands. Installing one large baffle inlet above the feed aisle entry door helps improve air mixing and distribution. Additional baffle inlets on either side of the room can be used during warm weather to increase airflow and provide cooling for calves.

In a typical 50-calf room with two rows of stalls facing a central feed aisle, ventilation requirements vary by season. During cold weather, a small adjustable opening in the door panel directs fresh air along the feed aisle, preventing drafts on calves.

Minimum winter ventilation usually requires about 10 cubic feet per minute (cfm) per hundredweight (cwt) of calf weight, mainly to remove moisture and airborne contaminants such as ammonia.

As outside temperatures rise, ventilation demand increases to 20 cfm/cwt. The central self-adjusting baffle inlet above the door opens automatically, allowing more air to enter and mix with warmer indoor air before reaching the calves.

During hot summer conditions, ventilation needs to increase significantly to 50 cfm/cwt. At this stage, two larger baffle inlets located over the calf stalls are opened to support greater airflow and provide cooling. These inlets are typically locked closed during cooler seasons and only used when needed.

Ventilation systems also require properly sized fans and temperature controls to maintain air quality and manage heat buildup. In many cases, a staged system of variable-speed fans combined with supplemental heating ensures the building remains comfortable and safe for calves year-round.

Ventilation Recommendations for Calf Housing:

• Install automated ventilation monitoring systems that adjust airflow based on real-time temperature, humidity, and ammonia levels inside calf housing facilities.
• Use a central inlet above the feed aisle to direct incoming air along the ceiling so it can mix with warm air before reaching calves.
• Keep feed aisle door panels adjustable to manage minimum winter ventilation and control drafts around young calves.
• Add larger side inlets that remain closed most of the year but can be opened during hot weather to increase airflow and cooling.
• Maintain a staged fan system with variable speeds to match ventilation capacity with calf size, temperature, and seasonal conditions.