The Right Calving Tools Put the Odds in Your Favor
Calving season is the epitome of “hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” You do all you can to prepare through sound nutrition and herd management. And when challenges arise, that preparation is what allows you to respond quickly and effectively.
Having the right tools, monitoring systems and veterinary resources in place before calving can go a long way to shifting the odds in your favor. A solid calving toolbox and management strategy can help you (or anyone handling calf checks) respond promptly, and protect both cow and calf when challenges arise.
Calving Monitoring
As everyone knows, ideal calving management doesn’t begin when labor starts. It actually begins the day gestation does. Managing cows throughout pregnancy plays into calving ease, calf vigor and recovery. The usual metrics of body condition, balanced nutrition and proactive health programs all influence how smoothly a cow calves and how well a calf transitions after birth.
Monitoring for impending calving used to be only possible with manual calf checks trekking out to the barn, on an ATV or horseback. But nowadays it looks different. Technology is increasingly playing a role here. Calving sensors, cameras and even activity monitors can help reduce labor demands while improving response time.
Barn and pasture cameras
Remote camera systems allow producers to visually monitor cows without physically entering the calving area. These systems are commonly installed in barns, lots or heavily trafficked calving areas and can be accessed via smartphone or computer.
Tail head and vaginal sensors
Calving sensors are designed to alert when calving has begun or is imminent. Tail head sensors detect changes in tail position and movement patterns associated with labor and send notices to your device. Vaginal sensors are expelled when the water bag breaks, triggering an alert.
Activity monitoring systems
While they are more common in dairy cattle, activity monitors track changes in movement, lying time and restlessness. While commonly used for heat detection, some systems are now able to incorporate calving alerts.
Location and geofencing monitors
For those calving on pasture, the GPS-based monitoring systems (ear tags and collars) may be an attractive option. Some systems allow geofencing to alert when cows isolate themselves. At the very least, these can be used to create customized locations to keep close up calves confined to an easily accessible area when they are close to calving.
While these tools are not a replacement for stockmanship, they can serve as an additional layer of support during a critical window.
Building the calving toolbox
When dealing with dystocia, prompt response may very much be the difference between a dead or live calf on the ground. With that kind of pressure, the last roadblock you want is to be searching for your tools and supplies.
A fully stocked, easily accessible calving kit should be in every barn or farm truck – and everyone involved should know where it is. It should be assembled and checked well before the season begins to ensure everything is clean, functional and on hand when needed.
While there is room for customization according to the products and tools that work best for your operation, there are some general guidelines for barebones that should not be overlooked. These include obstetrical chains with handles (a calf puller is ideal too, but not essential), lubricant, arm length disposable gloves and some type of disinfectant (even dish soap and warm water works in a pinch).
Organization is Key
Keeping tools clean and organized is almost as important as what’s in the kit itself along with knowing how and when to use them. Training, refreshers with a veterinarian, and clear protocols for intervention help ensure tools are used effectively and only when appropriate.
Speaking of your veterinarian, be sure to have his or her contact information physically written somewhere in case of emergency so that anyone responding to calving has easy access.
After a rough delivery, having good post-calving supplies on hand will save a lot of additional stress or last minute trips to the feedstore. Naval dips, frozen colostrum or replacer, warming blankets or straw will all help at-risk calves get off to a better start.
Successful calf care doesn’t start in the calving pen or pasture. It starts with good management and care of the cowherd. While calving management will vary from operation to operation, the underlying principles are relatively the same. These are basic preparation, observation and access to the right tools and resources.
By investing time ahead of the season to assemble calving kits, evaluate monitoring strategies, and coordinate veterinary support, you can approach the calving season with greater confidence and control.
