Calving Preparation Guidelines: Start Planning Now

If you're spring calving this year then there is still time to get handling gates working properly if necessary, says Teagasc, Ireland's Agriculture and Food Development Authority.
calendar icon 13 January 2015
clock icon 2 minute read

Looking ahead, Irish advisers are suggesting producers prepare well in advance of calving in both calving and calf rearing areas.

Cleaning out such houses now allows them time to dry out and this helps to break any carry over of infection from one year to the next.

Make sure that handling gates are working properly – there’s still time to repair them if necessary.

One of the unforeseen consequences of using higher fertility sub-index AI sires is shorter gestation lengths. Some cows are now calving at around the 270-day mark instead of the more traditional 280 days. It makes a big difference.

Many farmers have been ‘caught on the hop’ with the arrival of such early born calves. Here’s a checklist of the tools of the calving trade that need to be readied before calving starts: n 

  • Calving jack - Including a pair of foot ropes in proper working order
  • Iodine navel disinfectant - you’ll need around 10-15ml per navel  
  • Stomach tube -  check that the bag is not leaking and the tube itself isn’t chewed, as this can cause oesophageal damage
  • Hydrated lime - ensure that your supply is adequate to disinfect the calving areas after calves have been removed
  • Teats - Make sure that the calf feeder teats aren’t perished. Order spares now if they are
  • A range of calf care leaflets is available on the AHI website and they’re well worth reading between now and the start of calving.

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