Aidan Brennan says farmers should make sure they have enough colustrum to hand once calving starts.
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1. Bed the calving area and calf sheds. This will mean one less job to do when cows start calving.
2. Collect milk cartons for storing colostrum. Colostrum is usually scarce in the first week of calving as it is mostly heifers that calve first. Collect colostrum in clean containers and store it in a fridge.
3. Split up cows into different groups depending on calving date. Have an area for calved cows and colostrum cows on cubicles too.
4. Check the electric fencer. While land is very wet now, in a few weeks’ time cows will be going out. Check wires around paddocks and make sure there’s a good shock in the fencer.
5. Turn on water to cow paddocks and check and repair leaks.
6. Turn off scrapers at night time in case a cow calves unexpectedly. Scrapers can injure a new-born calf.
7. Set up a calving camera and make sure it is working correctly.
8. Have a dedicated cupboard or table near the calving shed for storing tags, tagger, diary, naval spray and stomach tube.
9. Check teats on all calf feeders. Sometimes they can perish over the summer and leak. It’s a slow job changing teats so give yourself plenty of time to get it right.
10. If turning out calves to grass in March or April, maybe now is a good time to get that paddock set up. Letting calves out saves a huge amount of time and it can be healthier for calves too.
Also, remember to check all gates and penning in the calf shed and make sure they are functional and secure, and make sure each group pen has access to water.
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1. Bed the calving area and calf sheds. This will mean one less job to do when cows start calving.
2. Collect milk cartons for storing colostrum. Colostrum is usually scarce in the first week of calving as it is mostly heifers that calve first. Collect colostrum in clean containers and store it in a fridge.
3. Split up cows into different groups depending on calving date. Have an area for calved cows and colostrum cows on cubicles too.
4. Check the electric fencer. While land is very wet now, in a few weeks’ time cows will be going out. Check wires around paddocks and make sure there’s a good shock in the fencer.
5. Turn on water to cow paddocks and check and repair leaks.
6. Turn off scrapers at night time in case a cow calves unexpectedly. Scrapers can injure a new-born calf.
7. Set up a calving camera and make sure it is working correctly.
8. Have a dedicated cupboard or table near the calving shed for storing tags, tagger, diary, naval spray and stomach tube.
9. Check teats on all calf feeders. Sometimes they can perish over the summer and leak. It’s a slow job changing teats so give yourself plenty of time to get it right.
10. If turning out calves to grass in March or April, maybe now is a good time to get that paddock set up. Letting calves out saves a huge amount of time and it can be healthier for calves too.
Also, remember to check all gates and penning in the calf shed and make sure they are functional and secure, and make sure each group pen has access to water.
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