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Spring calving will kick off for many suckler farms during February and March. Once cows start to calve, there are certain jobs to routine completed, some of which are outlined as follows.
1. Applying fresh straw to calving and group pens
Before moving a cow to a calving pen, make sure you apply plenty of fresh straw first and top up regularly.
A calf is born without any natural immunity. As soon as the calf is born and hits the ground, it will be exposed to all kinds of germs.
When the calf is lying, it’s naval will be in direct contact with bedding, providing an entry point for infection.
If bedding is heavily soiled and wet, there is a higher risk of disease.
The same goes with mothering pens or group pens. Keep straw topped up regularly. When you apply fresh straw, you should be fit to kneel down without getting your own knees wet.
2. Check the calf’s airways and sit upright
If you assist a cow during calving in any form, check the calf's airway and mouth are clear of fluids and that the animal is breathing ok. Sticking straw up the calf’s nose and rubbing the ribs can stimulate breathing.
Always sit the calf in the upright position with its legs folded either side of the chest. This broadens the animal’s chest, helping it to breathe. Never leave a calf lying on its side.
3. Calf naval
Treat the calf’s naval as early as you can, making sure it is safe to do so. If possible, restrain the cow first.
There are a various options for treating a calf’s naval, each with their own merits.
Often, after treating the calf’s naval, the cow will lick it clean. Therefore, a follow-up treatment can be beneficial.
4. Colostrum
Colostum will provide anitbodies for the calf, helping it to develop immunity. There is little point vaccinating against disease, such as scour, if you don’t ensure the calf gets enough colostrum.
There are lots of recommendations on how much colostrum a calf needs. Most range from two to three litres in the first two hours of life.
The important thing is to get as much colostrum into the calf during the first six to 12 hours after it is born. The calf’s ability to absorb colostrum greatly decreases thereafter.
In most cases, a calf will stand and suck itself, so it is hard to gauge how much milk the animal is taking in.
But, as a rule of thumb, if the calf continuously sucks for 10 minutes, it should be getting around one litre of milk from the cow.
5. Water for the cow
Cows can lose a lot of fluid during calving, leaving them dehydrated. A dehydrated cow can be slow to release or let down milk.
Make sure the freshly calved cow has ad-lib access to drinking water, preferably from a trough. Buckets are fine, but the cow will often tip the bucket over.
Also, a cow could drink anywhere from 30 to 60 litres of water after calving, so a single bucket will not meet the animal’s needs.
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