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February 16, 2006 Are You Ready For Calving Time? Now is the time for producers to prepare their calving facility for the calving season, North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist Greg Lardy says. For some producers, calving already has started, while for others it may be a month or more away. He recommends producers make necessary repairs to pens, chutes, gates and other equipment now. Calving facilities should be designed to allow the expectant mother to be moved into a pen or calving chute with ease. Facilities also should be well-lighted to ensure the cow and the person assisting it can see well. Herd size is another issue producers should consider when designing a facility. The facility should be large enough to handle the workload. “Overcrowding in a calving facility will lead to disease and management headaches down the road,” Lardy says. “Many disease problems can arise in facilities that are overcrowded, improperly drained or improperly ventilated.” Heating a portion of the barn or providing warming boxes may be necessary if producers are calving during very cold weather. Producers should provide windbreaks and bedding for cow-calf pairs they move outdoors. Research at NDSU indicates calf blankets can be an effective means of providing shelter for newborn calves. Lardy also has this advice for producers:
Lardy says this also is the time to begin recordkeeping to take advantage of any potential premiums related to source and age verification. A well-kept calving record book is the first step in this process. “Before you know it, calving time will be here,” he says. “By doing some planning and preparation, calving time will go more smoothly and you will have more live, healthy calves as a reward for being prepared.” ### Source:
Greg Lardy, (701) 231-7660, glardy@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
