Turkish builder Karmod exports calf hutches designed specifically for newborns in dairy, livestock

By Enes Ege

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish builder Karmod has exported calf hutches designed specifically for newborns in dairy and livestock farming to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Karmod exported 30 units of calf hutches that would be used on a farm in Lefkosa, the capital of the TRNC, the Turkish firm said in a statement.

Talay Ozturk, general manager of Karmod Composite & Plastics, emphasized the importance of special hutches in reducing newborn deaths in the statement, noting that the number of calves lost in Türkiye exceeds that of cattle in most countries.

- Healthy growth of newborns

Calf hutches contribute to the healthy growth of newborns in the first four months of development, Ozturk said, adding: “450,000 to 480,000 of the 3.4 million calves born in Türkiye each year go lost, according to data from the Union of Turkish Chambers of Agriculture. This number is more than the total number of cattle in each of the 81 countries in the world.”

“Most of the losses occur in farms as a result of the transmission of infectious diseases to each other in inappropriate housing environments,” he added.

Ozturk highlighted that the first 28 days are very important for newborn calves.

“Respiratory tract infections are one of the causes of newborn deaths because, in this critical period, the hygiene, the temperature, and the humidity of the environment the newborn inhabits must be kept in a separate place, especially its litter, as the newborn has to be clean and well-groomed, fed with sufficient and high-quality milk, since these measures ensure the protection of its immune system against diseases,” he said.

"We designed our calf hutches to keep newborns safe from infection during the first four months of life. Each calf is given a hutch on the farm, as well as a covered resting area in the back. The front has a fenced excursion area. There are feeders and drinkers in the front section of the fence," he added.

According to Ozturk, the calf hutch set also includes a milk bottle for nutritional supplementation.
“With the calf hutches we developed specifically for the livestock sector, we aim to contribute to the reduction of newborn deaths in calves by improving fattening farm enterprises,” he said.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim