As we have come to the middle of January that means that calving season is just about to start. Generally this time of year can be a pretty stressful on the producer. There are of course things that you can do to reduce that stress for you and your family. Here are some things you can do to prepare for this hectic time of year.
Pay attention to your cow’s nutritional needs
Having your cows in the right body condition going into calving is very important. Proper nutrition can impact her delivery of the calf, the quality of her colostrum, the calf’s vigor, and if the cow will be rebred quickly. It is even more of a factor with your 2 to 3 year old cows. Not only are they growing a calf but they are still growing themselves. Their body condition can suffer greatly if nutritional needs are not met. I compare what type of feed is best for your cows here
Visit with your Veterinarian
Now is a good time of year to meet with your veterinarian to go over any potential problems going into the season. You can go over previous year’s treatment records to identify any potential problems before they happen. Using this information could help solve those problems before they occur, saving you a lot of trouble.
Examine your calving facilities
Since it has probably been several months since you’ve used them now would be a good time to look them over. Inspect gates, alleys and other equipment and fix any broken items. You will want to grease any moving equipment which would reduce noise making it easier on your cows. Would also be a good idea to clean the area as well. Remove any trash or other items that could get in the way reducing the possibility of someone getting hurt from tripping over them. Going into calving with a clean facility could also reduce the spread of any diseases.
Check your supplies
You will want to make sure that you have all the necessary supplies on hand before calving season starts. When you visit with your vet you can discuss what you may need in order to deal with any common issues you would face, such as oxytocin or antimicrobials. Calcium solutions and electrolytes would also beneficial to have on hand in order to deal with any post-calving issues that my come up.
Review the stages of calving
It is a good idea to review the different stages of calving to help you understand when help will be needed. Your local extension office will have many resources available to help you with this. You should review how to correct any abnormal occurrences and to assist the cow when needed.
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