It is that time of year again: Spring Calving season. Calving season can be one of the busiest times of year for cattle producers. Along with being busy it is also one of the most important times of the year.
What happens during this time can have an impact on the overall health and performance of your calves. The steps that you take here can be the difference between an increased profit or just another year of barely getting by. So it is important that you do calving season right.
With everything that you will have going on there are many things that can go wrong. So I’ve compiled a list of 5 things that you can do to help ease some of the stress that comes with this season.
Tip #1: Make a list
The heading might be a little confusing but I assure you that the simple act of making a list can help you out. By doing this you will make sure that you have everything you will need and they are working.
Some of the things that you can include on your list is if you have enough colostrum replacer, ear tags, and markers you will need. It would also be a good idea to make sure that your weight scale is in good condition and it is working properly.
You should probably make sure that your calf puller is still in good shape and is functioning properly. As well all know nothing worse than having to pull a calf in the freezing cold and either you can’t find it or it is locked up.
Having an inventory checklist will make sure that you are not overlooking anything that you may need. If you are like me it is easy to forget about some things in the moment. Having it down on paper can prevent you from doing that.
Tip #2: Check forage resources
Your cow’s nutrient requirements will be very high during this time so it is important that they have enough to eat.
You will want to make sure that there will be enough to feed all of your animals. Nothing can be worse than thinking you have enough and then running out.
Along with the nutrient requirements being higher the quality of your forage will be lower in your warm-season grasses. This is because they are still in the mature stage and haven’t started their “green growth” yet.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that you want your mature cows to be in a BCS of around 5. Your first-calf heifers should be in a score of 6. Keeping them in that BCS will ensure that they will return to estrus and be able to be breed in the time that you want.
The importance of checking the forage amount ahead of time is because it is not a good idea to wait till the last minute to purchase any additional feed. If your luck is anything like mine if you wait till the last minute then odds will be that the feed store will be out of stock when you need it the most.
Tip #3: Vaccinate cows before calving season
Vaccinating your cows before calving season is a good idea because it will boost the immune system for both the cow and the calf.
Remember to vaccinate 5 weeks prior if you can. This will give you the best chance of adding more antibodies in the colostrum for the calf. Having more antibodies for the calf will give them a “leg up” and set them up for being more healthy throughout their life.
A respiratory vaccine that includes BVD, IBR, Pi3, and BRSV would be a good place to start. One that prevents Vibrio and Lepto probably wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
During this time you can also preg check all of your cows as well. This will give you a better idea of when about they will calve.
With any animal health plan it is always a good idea to visit with your local veterinarian. They can let you know of any particular diseases that are prevalent in your area and any steps you may take to control them. Wanting to find ways to keep your vaccines effective for longer? I talk about that here.
Tip #4: Move cows to fresh pastures
Studies have shown that moving cows that have yet to calve onto fresh pastures several weeks at a time have been shown to prevent illnesses. With this system it has been shown to prevent diseases such as scours and Johne’s disease in calves.
As with any system there are certain requirements for it to work effectively and this one is no different.
With this system, known as the Sandhills system, it is important to have accurate records on your cows. You will need to have accurately recorded which calves have already arrived and which cows have yet to calve.
Another requirement is that this system relies on a defined calving season in order to work effectively. Typically this requires a calving season of between 60 to 90 days.
Tip #5: Have a backup plan in place
Do you have something in place in case something bad happens?
It is always a good idea to have a back-up plan in place in case of an emergency. This can include a written down plan on what to do in case of any trouble with the calf. You can also include something like moving the cow to a closer pasture if the vet is ever needed.
Things like both the emergency as well as the regular number to your vet should be included on this list. So that way you are not frantically looking for the number should the need arise.
Understanding the signs of dystocia is also something important to remember. Knowing the right time to call the vet can save you both a lot of trouble as well as some money.
