Say what?! It’s time to plan for calving season as the first of the 2021 crop will start dropping around March 1. Greg Henderson provides tips to help producers prepare:
- Assess the body condition of your cows and heifers
- Review the herd health plan
- Conduct an inspection of your calving facilities to make sure everything is in working order
- Check your calving supplies
- Have colostrum or colostrum replacement products on hand
- Have a plan and equipment for warming calves if calving during cold weather
- Provide a calving environment to promote success
- Check on cattle regularly
- When calves arrive, tag the calf and match and record the calf’s identification number to the cow’s number
Source: Drovers, November 11, 2020. Link.
Also see: Cow herd management and feed strategies in winter, Progressive Cattle, December 24, 2019. Link. Twig Marston discusses the nutritional needs of mid- and late- gestating cows.
Also see: Dystocia in dairy heifers takes a toll, Dairy Herd Management, September 6, 2019. Link. Colorado State University researchers contrast beef producers’ focus on calving ease and achieving healthy, live births with the dairy industry’s primary focus on milk production and other, more highly valued traits in the dairy industry. They discuss the contrasts because dystocia, difficult or delayed birth, is itself detrimental to the dam’s ability to produce milk and milk fat, especially in the first 30 days of lactation.
INSIGHTS: Communicate proactively with producers to save a few late-night trips. Consider the articles for targeted communications with producers, especially those who always wait until the last minute.