Seventeen percent or more of cows need help to deliver a calf. Calving challenges affect the cow and calf’s health, production and fertility. Recognition of normal calving behaviors and the labor process is important for cow welfare and needs to be part of farm labor training.
Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, May 10, 2018. Link.
Calving behavior research shows cows want a secluded quiet place to calve, so minimizing disturbances during this period is ideal. Personnel trained to recognize normal and abnormal calving behaviors will know when assistance is needed and provide long term value to the cow and the dairy operation.
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