Calving Performance 07: Here
it Comes.
Ready or Not!
Some jobs you can put off a little if you aren't quite ready. Calving,
however is not one of those. It happens on schedule whether you are ready
or not. It also shouldn't be catching you by surprise as you set the date
back when you turned out the bull. So a quick review of what you might
need to be ready is easier now than some morning at 2 a.m., and minus
20°C !
First, you need to remember that calving is the "Cow's Act"
and you are a bit player in the production. If, however, enough emergencies
arise that move us into a major or Starring role then we really need to
do some re-evaluations before we turn the bull out next year.
If you are calving now through to the end of "winter" then
some form of calving pens or shelter are probably needed, as are more
frequent checks in minus 20°C weather. Pens need to be as clean and
dry as is feasible. Lots of straw or bedding material and lime won't be
a waste.
Remembering your role as a bit player (or more active role in an emergency),
is your Kit ready? Hopefully you won't need them, but do you know where
the calving chains and the calf-puller are? Are they clean, disinfected
and ready to go? Are your ear tags made up, recorded in your calving book
and ready to be applied? If you are using the Market Access Program (MAP)
are your tags ordered? Record the date calved in your calving book so
age verifying is easy later.
Figure 1:
Newborn Calf
Then there is the processing gear. If you give Vitamin E/Selenium injections
or Vit.A,D,&E do you have the correct, clean needles/syringes? Can
you do some of the other processing at the same time, like de-horning
and castrating? Do you have a package of plastic sleeves to protect both
you and the cow, if you need to check progress on a calving? Lubricant?
See your Vet. Most of all, know when to say when and call for help. For
those, not so nice emergencies, is the Vet's phone number handy? It needs
to be where anyone in the family can find it when you send them to call
the Vet. Do you know where in the freezer the colostrum is - probably
at the bottom. Have you noted which early calving older cows you are going
to try and save some fresh colostrum from?
Make some notes on your cows' calving and mothering skills. Note their
udder structure at calving as well. These may help jog your memory when
looking at a culling list next fall. A cow that is a little on the prima
donna side is not a real bad thing, just a real good mother. However,
if she wants to kill anything-including you-that gets near her calf, then
as a safety precaution she should be on the cull list.
The degree to which any of these precautions are necessary may ease a
little if you are calving in a warmer and dryer part of the year. However,
getting ready for the Calving Performance, no matter when it is, will
make the whole show a little more liveable and perhaps even enjoyable!
Figure
2: Mother Cleaning Newborn Calf
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