Bobby Calf Pens
Outpost's strong and relocatable calf shelters feature heavy duty NZ timber framing. Their portable design offers a flexible and innovative solution to providing protection for calves, particularly in the dynamic and varied climates of New Zealand. These movable structures have several benefits that can significantly enhance calf welfare and farm management efficiency, making them an attractive option for many farmers during calving season- and beyond!
Our raised Bobby calf holding pen is designed to meet the new regulations that came into effect in 2017.
Take a look at our quality range of durable kitset calf shelters and Bobby Calf pens below.
What is a bobby calf pen?
In 2017, new regulations came into force that mandated the use of a raised platform when transporting bobby calves off-farm for processing, rather than requiring the calves to be lifted from the ground to truck height, which was hazardous for both the calves and the transporters doing the lifting.
As a result, farmers were required to construct or modify their loading systems - not all of which were suitable or legal under the new regulations, not to mention an additional project that many didn’t have time for!
Outpost Buildings kitset bobby calf pens offer a simple solution: pre-made, pre-designed and ready-to-build DIY kitsets that take little more than a weekend to build, with all materials and instructions included. No more guessing at materials or return trips to the hardware shop - everything is provided for you and meets all the legal requirements to boot.
The benefits of a bobby calf pen
'Built Tough'
Our designs are created with durability in mind, made for NZ needs and NZ conditions. When you buy an Outpost bobby calf pen and ramp, you know you’ll be able to rely on it for years to come.
Specialised
Our bobby calf pens are specifically designed to meet the needs of you, the law, and your calves. No need to modify an existing structure and hope for the best - our specialised ramps and pens are expertly designed, farm-proven.
Legal
All Outpost Building bobby calf pens are constructed to meet the required 2017 regulations for calf holding pens. This includes the optional addition of a roof, so you can choose either a set that can stand alone, or one that can be integrated into an existing structure.
Portable
Plans change. Your pen might be in the right place when you first construct it, but that might not always be the case. Our kitsets are designed to be fully portable, mounted on strong timber skids and towable with a 4WD, allowing you to move your calf pen where you need it, when you need it.
DIY
Our kitsets take nothing more than a basic set of tools, a bit of hard work and a weekend of time to put together, ensuring you save money on expensive labour costs from a professional. And don’t worry - our sets come with full instructions and all the materials, fixings included, so there’s no surprise trips to Mitre 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to build or buy a bobby calf pen?
Building a bobby calf pen from scratch can be a lengthy and expensive process. There are certain legal requirements that you must meet in order for the bobby calf pen to be used as such, and a mistake early on in the design process can mean having to scrap all the hard work you’ve done so far.
That’s why we and many others recommend using a pre-designed, pre-built kitset instead. When you buy an Outpost Building bobby calf pen, you know that all of the legal design aspects are taken care of. Not only that, but you can rest assured that your calf pen has been designed by an expert, specifically for your needs as an NZ farmer. That means durability, portability, and easy construction.
We know how much work goes into rearing calves in New Zealand. Our aim is to make life easier for you by providing a kitset bobby calf pen that’s not just suitable, not just durable, but affordable too.
What size bobby calf pen do I need?
Our bobby calf pens are 3m by 2.4m, well above the recommended size of at least 2.4m by 2.4m recommended by Dairy NZ. This allows our pens to manage up to 20 Jersey/cross-breed calves or up to 17 Holstein or Friesian calves. This is a good size for most farms.
Larger farms with more calves may want to invest in multiple pens or, alternatively, use a divider or backing gate to separate out those calves being currently loaded from those which are still in the livestock shelter.
What are our bobby calf pens made from?
Outpost Buildings kitsets are made with locally grown, locally sourced and locally manufactured materials wherever possible.
In your bobby calf kitset, you can expect to find:
+ Heavy duty H4 treated 4x3 inch bearers
+ Galvanised gates at each end
+ All connection fixings and hardware included
+ Optional roof available
+ Corrugated iron roofing
By using NZ materials, we ensure that your bobby calf pen is the highest quality possible, made from parts that are designed and manufactured with New Zealand conditions in mind.
Whatever your budget, get in touch with us and we’re sure we can find a suitable solution to suit your needs.