Calving season is an important part of the cattle business—maybe the most important part. If a cow is our factory, her calf is our product. Time that we devote to making sure we have a healthy product is never wasted. To guarantee the health and well-being of our calves, we must be proactive. We must give careful thought and planning as we prepare for calving season.
As I have gotten older, my herd has gotten bigger and so has my responsibility around the farm. I have grown to take on a more active role in care and husbandry of not only my personal herd, but also my family’s. From bedding stalls during the day, to helping pull calves when needed, to doing night checks, are all a very important part of my responsibility.
One moment I will never forget is getting the call in the middle of the night that my dad needed help pulling a calf. So, in true farm girl fashion, I went out to the barn in pajama pants, boots and a jacket. Even though I was tired and cold, I still knew the importance of getting this calf out of its momma and making sure it was alive, warm and healthy. Being prepared for those midnight calls is a given when it comes to calving season.
We cannot predict when and where a cow is going to calve, so being prepared is one of the most important things you can do. Part of this planning is making sure you have all of the necessary supplies needed for calving. Regarding calving supplies, it’s always “better to have and not need, than need and not have.”
Calving at different times of the year often requires slightly different supplies and precautions. For the sake of this article, I will be offering suggestions that would benefit those that calve in the extreme cold. The chart included has a list of some (not all) supplies/precautions, along with a brief description of each and why they are important. Although calving is often a stressful and tiring time of year, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences in a rancher’s year. — Peri Andras, Junior Red Angus Board
Supplies | Description | Why is it important? |
OB chains | They are used to put around the cannon bone and pastern, to assist with pulling a calf. | Invariably, every rancher will have to help at one point or another during calving season. |
Restraint system | This can be a calving pen, squeeze chute, halter or other secure restraint systems. | To protect the rancher and the cow from harm or injury when assistance is required. |
Calf puller | Mechanical winch that will aid in extreme dystocia. | Occasionally more leverage is required than a person can exert. |
Colostrum supplement (first milk) | Contains the necessary immunoglobulins to protect the calf from diseases and pathogens. | Colostrum is required in the first 24 hours of life to gain passive immunity. |
Bottle/esophageal feeder | Available methods to get colostrum into the calf’s belly. | Since colostrum is critical to a calf’s survival, the means to administer colostrum are equally as important. |
Bedding | Straw, sawdust, cornstalks, etc. | Provides an insulation between the new baby and the frozen or muddy ground. |
Scales | Provides weight of newborn calf. | In a data-driven breed like Red Angus, accurate weights are essential. |
