How to Prepare a Cow for Calving

There are certain techniques that must be followed when preparing a cow for calving and below are some of those basic techniques involved when preparing a cow for calving:

• Milking cows should be dried after 10 months of milking

• The animal is then steamed up by giving it concentrates for the next two months before calving. 2 to 4 kg of good concentrates are given per cow in two splits per day.
• Heifers should be prepared for milking by often taking it to the dairy, massage the udder gently squeezing and pulling the teats and patting her on the back and the like.
• A cow due to calve, should be isolated one week before calving for closer attention.

The following are practices to consider in preparing for the upcoming calving season.

1. Provide adequate nutrition to prepare bred heifers or cows for calving. Adequate body condition at the time of calving for young females and mature cows is important as it impacts stamina during delivery of the calf, colostrum quality, calf vigor, and also impacts subsequent rebreeding.

Producers should understand and vigilantly assess body condition score. Adequate nutrition during the last trimester of pregnancy and especially the last 50-60 days prior to calving is important. Two-year-old heifers and three-year-old cows especially are vulnerable during this time period.

These young females are still growing themselves while growing a calf inside them. As this calf grows and takes up more room, rumen capacity is impacted and the amount of feed the young female can eat is reduced.

The impact of this condition can be compounded when this time period prior to calving coincides with cold weather and available forage that is low in energy and protein. Body condition can deteriorate rapidly under these conditions.

2. Have a good working relationship with a veterinarian skilled in cattle health care and discuss your herd health plan. The whole production system should be discussed identifying critical control points where management changes could reduce risk and costs effectively improve herd health.

Specifically address management options to mitigate health problems that have historically been an issue. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

3. Examine calving facilities making sure they are in good working order. Frequently it has been 9-10 months since calving facilities have been used. Sometimes repairs that needed to be made can be forgotten about in the busyness of last spring’s work.

Read Also: Cow Milk Production

Inspect gates, pens, alleys and head catches, fixing or replacing broken items. Good lighting is an important part of a calving facility. Check lights and have replacement bulbs on hand.

4. Check your calving supplies. Make sure you have on hand plastic sleeves, obstetrical lube, obstetrical chains or straps, esophageal feeders and calf feeding bottles.

Test flashlights or spotlights to make sure they are working as well. Inventory halters, ropes, and other tools that may be needed. Make sure the fetal extractor (calf puller) is clean and working properly.

5. Review the stages of parturition (calving) and understand when assistance is warranted. There are several good Extension resources available to producers to help them identify and understand the stages of calving.

6. Have good quality colostrum or colostrum replacement products on hand. The calf’s ability for absorption of immunoglobulin across the intestine decreases rapidly 6-12 hours after birth.

Therefore it is critical that the calf receive colostrum during this time. It is a good practice to immediately milk out a heifer or cow when she is assisted at calving and provide this colostrum to the calf.

If quality or quantity of the colostrum is a concern or colostrum is not available, other sources of colostrum or colostrum replacement products should be used. Use caution when bringing outside sources of colostrum into the herd. Disease transfer can occur. The best source of colostrum is likely from within your own herd.

Colostrum replacement products can be a good option to utilize when calves are not vigorous at birth, after a prolonged calving event, cold stress or where there is poor maternal bonding. Consult with your veterinarian in identifying which colostrum replacement products are best for your operation.

7. Have a plan and equipment for warming calves if calving during cold weather. Calves born during cold, wet conditions can quickly succumb to hypothermia. Have facilities, tools and supplies on hand to deal with this type of event.

For mild hypothermia, (body temperature between 94 and 100’F) giving a calf warm, body temperature colostrum or colostrum replacement products along with drying the calf off with towels and warm air can quickly bring a calf’s temperature back to normal.

For extreme hypothermia a combination of warm colostrum with a warm bath can be used. Calves should be dry, alert and have a normal body temperature before being returned to their mother.

Read Also: Risks in Purchasing a Pregnant Cow

8. Plan to provide wind protection along with a clean, dry environment at and after calving. Wet, muddy conditions are stressful on both cows and calves. This kind of environment also provides a situation where disease proliferation is more likely to occur. Plan ahead to identify ways to provide clean, dry conditions that will support cattle comfort and health.

The calving season is an exciting time. The miracle of new life with a fresh crop of calves is something cow-calf producers really look forward to each year. Having a plan and preparing ahead of time for the calving season can help to minimize calf loss, increasing the percent calf crop at weaning

Calving Signs

A cow due to calve will some or all of the following signs:

• Rigid udder
• Clear discharge of mucus from the enlarged vulva
• Loss of appetite and restlessness.

Precautions During Calving

• Calving heifers should be given special attention as they are likely to have problems
• A veterinary doctor should be called in case of a difficult calving
• Ensure that after the calf is born it is licked by the dam and is free of mucus at the nostrils, mouth and eyes.
• Naval cord should be cut and tied then disinfected with iodine
• The newborn calve should be allowed to suckle the mother the first 24 hours to get colostrums before isolating it.

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