A system of high-care calf rearing which was developed and demonstrated at the National Agricultural Centre Beef and Calf Unit is described. The unit reared around 600 calves per year which were purchased at 2 to 3 weeks of age, reared and then transferred to one of several finishing systems on the unit. The system depends on good calf nutrition, airy buildings which were rested regularly, careful disinfection of equipment and buildings and a programme of health management.

The calves were purchased mostly in batches of about 40 from a farmers' co-operative and reared on milk replacer which was restricted and given twice daily to force a discipline for inspection of calves. They were also fed through teats which gave more efficient food conversion than buckets. They were penned in pairs because it had been found they were less stressed in pairs than penned singly. Detail of management and health routines are described. Target live-weight gains on the system were 0.5kg per day up to weaning and 1.0 kg per day thereafter. For simplicity the commercial names of foods, drugs and vaccines are given.