Prepare for Calving Season

By Mary Rumph, MSU Powder River Extension Agent

The warmer weather has positively affected the outlook of many on the up-coming calving season. For many producers, calving season will be in full swing in six to eight weeks. The following are some tips to offer in preparation for calving. If you haven’t already done so, now is a good time to prepare for the increased workload by checking calving equipment and facilities.

Take time to do a walk-through and inspection of your calving facilities:

Are the calving pens and working equipment ready for the demands of calving season? For example, do all gates open, close and swing freely? Do the latches or chains work?

Do you have adequate bedding supplies ready to protect newborn calves from cold temperatures and snow? Hypothermia can be deadly for newborn calves. Keep a supply of bedding on hand in order to provide a more hospitable environment in the event of a storm or cold temperatures.

Have you found and examined all the calving equipment such as calf pullers, obstetric chains, and head catches, to be sure they are in good condition? Do routine maintenance and make necessary repairs now before you need the equipment. Invariably, cows and calves will require treatment for some sort of sickness or injury during this time. It is best to be prepared ahead of time.

Do you have a supply of replacement colostrum available for situations when the cow may not produce enough?

Do you have pharmaceutical and veterinary supplies needed for the upcoming calving season? Suture, needles, syringes and other supplies can be difficult to find at 2 a.m. Be sure to have these supplies organized and stored in such a way that they are easy to get to when you need them. Ear tags, taggers, marking pens, clipboard to record data are all essentials. Check the batteries in your flashlight.

Cow nutrition plays a big role in calf health. If calving is still a few weeks or more away, it is time to do a serious evaluation of your nutrition program.

Are the cows in good body condition or are they thin? The last trimester of pregnancy is when the majority of fetal growth occurs. During this period the nutrient requirements of the cow increase accordingly. In particular, the last 45 days prior to calving are a critical time. The best method to assess the nutritional status of the cow is to monitor body condition. Ideally, most cows should enter the calving season with a body condition score of 5. However, young cows (2 and 3-year-olds) should have a body condition score closer to 5.5 or 6. Research has clearly demonstrated that body condition can have a dramatic impact on subsequent reproductive performance. If the cows are thinner than desired, it is advisable to alter the plan of nutrition to add body condition prior to calving. After calving, the nutrient demands associated with lactation make it difficult and expensive to add body condition.

Have you inventoried remaining feed? Do you have enough high quality feed to get you through calving season?

Have the cows received adequate levels of fat soluble vitamins, especially vitamin A? If they’ve been fed low-quality roughage though the winter, providing supplemental vitamin A prior to calving may be warranted.

It is important to prepare now for the upcoming calving season. Don’t wait for the first early calf to hit the ground.