Preparations for Calving Calving Management

142 Beef Breeder MANUAL

5.5. Calving Management

With adequate planning and preparation, the aim of good calving management is to ensure that calves are born successfully, and that cows and heifers are maintained in good health. Successful management of calving ensures a more proitable cow operation. British breed cows typically calve between 285 and 295 days post conception, averaging 290 days after the service date.

5.5.1. Preparations for Calving

Cows and heifers should be calved down on clean areas with adequate quality and quantity of feed available, and ideally kept close to cattle handling and restraint facilities in case calving diiculties occur. As calving can commence up to two weeks prior to the calculated date, cows in late pregnancy should be in calving areas at least three weeks prior to the expected calving date, and observations for calving should commence at the same time. Cows and heifers should be observed a minimum of twice daily. If needed, early assistance is crucial to the survival of the calf and reducing incidence of uterine prolapse and calving paralysis. When checking cows and heifers they should be disturbed as little as possible. Birth When a cow begins to calve, she will lose two lots of luid from the vulva, the second thicker than the irst. The calf’s two front legs should be presented within two hours of the cow losing her second luid sac. If this is the case, the birth is proceeding normally and the cow should not be disturbed and allowed to calve naturally. Check the cow about every 30 minutes during the Figure 5.13. The rectal palpation method of pregnancy detection. 143 Cold Winter Climates calving. Only intervene if there is no progress for some hours. Once the calf is born it should be left alone for the irst 12 to 24 hours to establish the cow-calf bond. Following a short recovery period immediately after calving, the cow will lick the calf clean and allow the calf to suckle her. Placenta Afterbirth When the calf is born the placenta normally detaches within a few hours and is expelled. In almost all situations, the placenta is expelled within 12 hours of the birth of the calf. If the placenta does not come away naturally, leave it alone Fig. 5.14. Do not pull it out. If the afterbirth is pulled by force, you could cause a haemorrhage and the cow could bleed to death. Check 12-24 hours later, and if necessary, leave for another day Figure 5.14. Example of a retained placenta in a cow following calving. Source: Livecorp and Meat Livestock Australia, Cattle Breeding Guide - A guide to the management for breeding cattle in South-East Asia. and then seek veterinary assistance if it is still retained. A retained placenta usually causes the cow to have an increased time from calving to the conception of the next calf. It is not uncommon for a cow with a retained placenta to delay the next pregnancy for 2-6 months, meaning she has a high chance of being non-pregnant at the next pregnancy diagnosis in a restricted mating system.

5.5.2. Abnormal Calving