Once Xmas is over , it's time to get things ready for calving season which starts in January here. Too early for commercial herds due to winter calving conditions....we join the rest of the Registered cattle
breeders around the country in preparing for an early calving season. Winter diesel ( different than summer ) will be delivered this wk and put in the slip tank beside the barn. We have 3 diesel heaters of different sizes for back up
if one fails ( and one usually does ) and how quick we need the barn to warm up. Inventory taken on Heat lamps & towels and the barn pens readied. The rarely used calf puller is set out in a back pen, all chains long and short are located with a set left in the barn and a set in the house ( these are the ones that you pop into your pocket for pen checks )
Freezer has a supply of colostrum milked from the older cows in the herd and stored in empty pop bottles of various sizes for those 'just incase' situations...the supply is added to each year with felt marker dates written on it. Flashlights and spot lights all get new batteries...pet peeve around here is a low or dead battery.
Cows are all given their pre natal injections of Selenium, Vitamins and Scour Guard...poor girls barely able to push their way down the alleyway that leads into the headgate they are so heavy in calf.
The calving book is looked at again to refresh memories on who is due each week so we can keep a closer eye on them. Their Ear Tag numbers are listed on a scrap piece of paper.Pen checks will start around the clock as we get closer...although our herd is quiet, the cows are walked through more often so they get used to the frequent checks and so we can watch for any changes. All cows are calved outside and then the pair is brought to the barn
asap to prevent freezing. It only takes mere minutes to freeze a calf's ears and tail so diligent care is a must. The calving sled is usually propped against the hand gate once we know we have a calving taking place so little time is lost looking for it. The trick is to flip the newborn into the sled with an anxious mother ( keep the calf between you and mom ) before he discovers his legs and skid him around the frozen moguls ( cow manure) without accidentally dumping the sled and calf.....and do this in timely manner to prevent exposure to one wet calf. The mom is guaranteed to be right on your butt roaring for her calf all the way to the barn as you go fumble with mitted hands with gate latches etc. note....I am always thankful we have fairly quiet cattle as so many serious farm injuries are at this time....that cow will take you out with her mothering
instincts running high...I pack a hockey stick with me and always make sure I have the calf between myself and her...I never ever use a dog with a new mom
as she will be on the fight right away.
Once you get the pair to the barn you give them some time to mother up before you give the calf his shots and tagged/weigh him for your records.
They spend a few days in the barn so you know the calf is not only dry & well mothered up , but also learns the light means heat/warmth...before they are put outside in large pen with a deep bed of straw with heat lamps in the calf shelter. The day they are put out in this pen they are watched to make sure the cow hasnt parked her calf by a snow bank instead of on bedding...sometimes it takes a few times to bring the pair back and the calf stuffed into the large calf shelter to find the heat lamps. Each new cow/calf pair is put out in this pen until spring arrives and they go to pasture.
breeders around the country in preparing for an early calving season. Winter diesel ( different than summer ) will be delivered this wk and put in the slip tank beside the barn. We have 3 diesel heaters of different sizes for back up
if one fails ( and one usually does ) and how quick we need the barn to warm up. Inventory taken on Heat lamps & towels and the barn pens readied. The rarely used calf puller is set out in a back pen, all chains long and short are located with a set left in the barn and a set in the house ( these are the ones that you pop into your pocket for pen checks )
Freezer has a supply of colostrum milked from the older cows in the herd and stored in empty pop bottles of various sizes for those 'just incase' situations...the supply is added to each year with felt marker dates written on it. Flashlights and spot lights all get new batteries...pet peeve around here is a low or dead battery.
Cows are all given their pre natal injections of Selenium, Vitamins and Scour Guard...poor girls barely able to push their way down the alleyway that leads into the headgate they are so heavy in calf.
The calving book is looked at again to refresh memories on who is due each week so we can keep a closer eye on them. Their Ear Tag numbers are listed on a scrap piece of paper.Pen checks will start around the clock as we get closer...although our herd is quiet, the cows are walked through more often so they get used to the frequent checks and so we can watch for any changes. All cows are calved outside and then the pair is brought to the barn
asap to prevent freezing. It only takes mere minutes to freeze a calf's ears and tail so diligent care is a must. The calving sled is usually propped against the hand gate once we know we have a calving taking place so little time is lost looking for it. The trick is to flip the newborn into the sled with an anxious mother ( keep the calf between you and mom ) before he discovers his legs and skid him around the frozen moguls ( cow manure) without accidentally dumping the sled and calf.....and do this in timely manner to prevent exposure to one wet calf. The mom is guaranteed to be right on your butt roaring for her calf all the way to the barn as you go fumble with mitted hands with gate latches etc. note....I am always thankful we have fairly quiet cattle as so many serious farm injuries are at this time....that cow will take you out with her mothering
instincts running high...I pack a hockey stick with me and always make sure I have the calf between myself and her...I never ever use a dog with a new mom
as she will be on the fight right away.
Once you get the pair to the barn you give them some time to mother up before you give the calf his shots and tagged/weigh him for your records.
They spend a few days in the barn so you know the calf is not only dry & well mothered up , but also learns the light means heat/warmth...before they are put outside in large pen with a deep bed of straw with heat lamps in the calf shelter. The day they are put out in this pen they are watched to make sure the cow hasnt parked her calf by a snow bank instead of on bedding...sometimes it takes a few times to bring the pair back and the calf stuffed into the large calf shelter to find the heat lamps. Each new cow/calf pair is put out in this pen until spring arrives and they go to pasture.
Stay warm, good luck with calving.
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