02/02/2024
Have you started calving? What would you add to our night check essentials list? Tell us in the comments! ⬇️
Some new technology is available to make frequent calving checks easier like cameras in the calving barn, but overall, what we watch for during checks hasn't changed. We primarily are lookin for 2 things:
1️⃣ New calves: general health check, have they been cleaned, have they stood and nursed, or do they need assistance with a colostrum or time in a warmer.
2️⃣ Cows in stage 1 or 2 of labor.
➡ Stage 1 is long, and normally lasts 2-6 hours in cows or up to 12 hours in heifers. Casual observations often miss stage 1 signs, (restlessness, isolation, lifting tail) but once noticed, time is our tool to identify if/when intervention is warranted.
➡ Stage 2 is active labor. The calf enters the birth canal and the water bag/calf itself becomes visible at the start of Stage 2. Stage 2 can take up to 2-4 hours, but most uncomplicated deliveries only take 30-60 minutes. In this stage, progress is key. If over 30 minutes go by without progress, assistance may be warranted.
Three hours is the most common recommendation we find when it comes to how often cattle need observed in calving season, but it varies across individual operations. A good resource to review all things calving season is the free, online calving management manual at https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/calvingmanagement.html.
