Calf Rearing Open Day: Driving Innovation, Collaboration and On-Farm Performance
Earlier this week, Buitelaar Agriculture welcomed over 120 farmers, veterinary professionals and industry partners to a calf rearing open day at one of our Buitelaar owned calf rearing farms, near Wrexham.
This marked the first time the site has opened to the wider industry and provided a valuable opportunity to bring together forward-thinking farmers focused on improving calf rearing systems, calf health and overall farm performance.
A Focus on Practical Calf Rearing Systems
The open day centred on one key objective: knowledge transfer and exchange - sharing practical, commercially proven approaches to calf rearing.
Attendees included dairy farmers, calf rearers, finishers and existing Buitelaar farmer partners, alongside new farmers exploring how calf rearing could fit within their systems. The day created an open environment for discussion, learning and the exchange of real-world insight into modern calf rearing.
From Research to Commercial Application
A core theme throughout the event was how research and development translates into on-farm performance.
Learnings from Long Lane Development Farm - the UK’s largest calf rearing research and development unit - were shared and discussed in a commercial context. Long Lane operates both as a working farm and an innovation hub, ensuring that all systems, protocols and approaches are tested under real farming conditions.
On farm, visitors saw how these insights are applied at scale, supporting:
- Improved calf health and immunity
- Consistent daily live weight gain (DLWG)
- Efficient and practical rearing systems
- Greater consistency across batches
Expert-Led Sessions Across Calf Health, Housing and Systems
The event featured a series of expert-led sessions covering key areas of calf rearing and farm business development:
- Calf rearing protocols – delivered by our Regional Farms Manager and Assistant Farm Manager, focusing on consistency, attention to detail and day-to-day system management.
- Technical Support & Rearing Standards – presented by our Head of Tech Team, outlining how our technical team supports consistent performance across the rearing phase.
- Calf housing and High Health Units (HHUs) – presented by our Calf Housing Specialist, highlighting how design supports hygiene, biosecurity and performance
- Veterinary health planning – with Synergy Farm Health and Nantwich Farm Vets, focusing on on-farm management & preventative health approaches
- Farm business and financial planning – delivered by Oxbury Bank, exploring considerations when scaling or diversifying into calf rearing
Each session was rooted in practical application, ensuring discussions remained relevant to on-farm decision making.
Collaboration Across the UK Beef Supply Chain
Improving calf rearing outcomes relies on strong collaboration across the supply chain and we were pleased to welcome industry partners including Synergy Farm Health, Nantwich Farm Vets, AHDB, Alltech and Oxbury Bank. Their expertise across veterinary health, system design and farm business planning added valuable perspective throughout the day.
By working closely with farmers, vets and industry specialists, Buitelaar Agriculture continues to support the development of more resilient, efficient and commercially viable farming systems.
A Team Effort Driving Progress
The success of the day reflects the passion and hard work of the Buitelaar Agriculture team and the wider network we work within.
From on-farm preparation through to delivering sessions and facilitating discussion, the event showcased the collaborative, practical and forward-thinking approach that underpins our integrated supply chain.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Calf Rearing
As interest in calf rearing continues to grow, so too does the need for systems that are robust, repeatable and commercially proven.
Buitelaar Agriculture remains committed to:
- Developing and refining calf rearing systems
- Supporting farmer partners with technical expertise
- Sharing knowledge across the industry
- Driving continuous improvement through research and on-farm application
We would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the day.
If you are interested in calf rearing opportunities or would like to attend future events, please get in touch with the team.
