On suckler farms where cows have been calving since February, it is easy for herd owners to grow weary and tired as calving drags on into the latter half of April.

Other tasks such as fieldwork will be increasing, competing for time and taking farmers out of the yard more often. As such, checking in on cows still to calve becomes less frequent.

Both factors can see farmers losing focus on those late-calving cows and increases the risk of assistance not being given in time to a calf in trouble, making calf mortality more common.

Keeping focus

Hopefully, weather is on the turn and turning stock out to grass will ease the daily workload.

Also, make use of any additional help from family members on holidays over Easter.

Sharing out the routine jobs such as feeding, bedding and general stock checks will again free up time and can be a big help mentally.

As calving nears an end and there is some additional family help available, try to catch up on sleep.

One full night’s sleep can help refocus the mind.

This will hopefully make it easier attending to the last few cows which are due to calve in the weeks ahead.

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