Preparations for Calving Calving Management
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
Parts
» LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Importance of Planning LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Timing Trained Staff Planning for Arrival
» Quarantine Facilities Water on Arrival
» Management of Health on Arrival Feeding on Arrival
» Winter Feeding Planning for Arrival
» Monitoring In Quarantine General Health and Husbandry
» Arrival Checklist Planning for Arrival
» Paddocks and Fencing Developing the Property
» Cattle Yards Developing the Property
» Raceways Loading and Unloading Ramps
» Laneways Gates Developing the Property
» Yard Posts Electronic Scales Crush and Head Bail
» Water Troughs Developing the Property
» Modernising Traditional Winter Facilities
» Winter Confinement Feeding Sites
» Confinement Yards Winter Facilities
» Planning Requirements On-Farm Fodder Storage
» Ruminant Digestive System LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Feed Intake The First Limiting Nutrient
» Digestibility Fibre Concepts of Nutrition and Feeding
» Vitamins Nutrient Balance Essential Nutrients
» Water LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Moulds and Mouldy Feeds Cold Weather Impacts on Feed
» Body Condition Scoring Observational Skills
» How to Recognise Sick Animals
» Healthy Animal Behaviour Reading Manure Early Diagnosis and Treatment
» Prevention Rather than Treatment Nutritional Stress
» Understanding the Animal Welfare Requirement Features of Sight
» Flight Zones Education and Training
» Moving Animals Safe, Low Stress Cattle Handling
» Euthanasia Safe, Low Stress Cattle Handling
» Understanding the Animal Welfare Requirement Preventing Injury
» Features of Suitable Cattle Transport
» Preparing Animals for Transport Loading
» Loading Density In-Transit Care
» Unloading Transporting in Extreme Weather
» External Parasites Common Cattle Diseases
» Internal Parasites Common Cattle Diseases
» Diseases Affecting Reproductive Performance
» Clostridial Diseases Common Cattle Diseases
» Other Important Diseases Common Cattle Diseases
» Bloat Common Cattle Diseases
» Australian Health Status Developing a Breeding Objective
» Selecting the Most Appropriate Breed
» Crossbreeding With Local Breeds - Beef and Dairy
» Physical Evaluation of Bulls
» Structural Soundness and Body Conformation
» Penis and Prepuce Scrotum and Testicles
» Semen Sample Ability to Mate Serving Capacity
» Bull Management and Preparation for Mating Bull to Cow Ratio
» Reproductive Organs Oestrus Cycle and Heat Detection
» Mating After Calving Using Artificial Insemination in the Reproductive Cycle Pregnancy Detection
» Preparations for Calving Calving Management
» Abnormal Calving Calving Management
» Failure to Conceive Culling Unproductive Cattle from
» Failure to Produce a Live Calf Failure to Raise a Calf to a Healthy Weaner
» Cast-for-Age Culling Unproductive Cattle from
» Selecting Replacement Breeders Heifers
» Targets for Heifer Development
» Selecting Appropriate Sires for Heifer Mating First Calving
» Relationship Between Feeding LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Animal Identification Calf Processing
» Castration Dehorning Calf Processing
» Early Weaning Feeding Weaner Cattle
» Adaptation of Australian Cattle
» Winter Management Essentials LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Bedding Managing the Welfare of Cattle in Winter
» Water Managing the Welfare of Cattle in Winter
» Feeding in Confinement Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Winter Grazing Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Managing Winter Grazing Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Grazing Stockpiled Forage Swath Grazing
» Bale Grazing Opportunities to Manage Cattle
» Developing a Winter Feed Budget
» Traditional Indoor Winter Backgrounding
» Finishing LEP Cold Climate Beef Breeder Manual 2016 (English).
» Plant Adaptation Forage Species
» Legumes Forages in Farming Systems
» Grasses Forages in Farming Systems
» Selecting the Right Species Anti-nutritional Factors
» Preparation for Sowing Seed Quality
» Area Required Stocking Rate Grazing
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