The factory came up with this idea by last winter’s abnormally cold temperatures. At that time, the factory made first batches of insulated blankets to keep calves warm. «As we approach the next cold season, we understand that these things will be in demand, so we have continued this work. We use our own insulation materials for sewing the blankets. We can use both needle-punched fabric and padding polyester of various thicknesses. If the temperature is down to −5°C, it will be thinner; for more severe frosts, it will be thicker,» the factory explained.

«For the top layer, we usually use waterproof material, and the inner layer is sewn from cotton fabric. We make it soft so that it does not irritate the calf’s skin and keeps it comfortable. We do not use oilcloth materials that would cause the animal to sweat. For convenience, the blanket is made with special snap fasteners and adjustable straps,» the factory said.

The initiative was supported by the Agriculture and Food Committee of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee. Brest Oblast has drawn lessons from last winter. Not all agricultural facilities in the region were 100% prepared for extreme sub-zero temperatures. «The forecasts for winter are completely varied. Some sources suggest that it will be no milder than the previous one. We must not make the same mistakes. One of the measures (not the main one, but an important one) in low temperatures is the production of blankets for calves,» the Agriculture and Food Committee noted.

The blankets are recommended for newborn calves to protect them from hypothermia. «The thermoregulation in a newborn calf’s brain is not fully developed. It cannot regulate its body temperature, so hypothermia, like overheating, occurs very quickly. A young calf is highly dependent on the ambient temperature. The blanket helps prevent the body from expending extra energy on warming itself. It allows the calf to grow and develop actively,» the specialists emphasized.

Brest Oblast has been taking serious measures to strengthen the infrastructure for calves. In particular, this year plans include the construction of 36 and the reconstruction of 17 calf nurseries. It is envisaged that by 2027, all calves in the region will be kept in modern conditions.

«We are striving to build calf nurseries with full automation of all processes. They include a feed kitchen with all the necessary equipment. We aim to equip these facilities with milk pasteurizers, milk taxis, and equipment for automatic washing of utensils. Several farms are building advanced calf nurseries according to an individual design developed on the instructions of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee,» the Agriculture and Food Committee said. Such approaches reduce manual human labor. As a result, specialists can focus more on caring for the calves.