Page 2 - CalfCare - Calving and Care of the Newborn Calf
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If any of your full-term calves are stillborn or die within 24 hours, or if calves are too weak to drink after birth
you should investigate the points laid out in this leaflet and discuss what might be the underlying problems
with your local vet. In carrying out any investigation, it may be necessary for your vet to submit relevant
samples (e.g. calf carcasses, placentas, blood samples) to your local veterinary laboratory.
What can you do in advance to PREVENT calving problems?
• Ensure your heifers are big enough at calving
Well
Heifers should have reached at least 60 – 65% of their mature body weight at
grown first
calvers are breeding, should be calving at 24 months of age, and should have attained 90% of the
essential mature body weight of your mid-lactation 4 year old cows.
Tip: weigh some of your mid-lactation four year old cows as a guide to mature body
weight.
• Choose an easy calving sire
On average, some breeds will have more
difficult calvings than other breeds; this is
particularly true for beef breeds.
There is as much variation between individual
sires within a breed, as there is between breeds
for calving difficulty, gestation length and
stillbirth rate.
When choosing an AI sire, comparing the
economic breeding index (EBI) is as important
as the breed you choose. With stock bulls,
without such genetic information, there can be
a greater risk of unknown calving dates, calving Regular weighing will ensure you know your heifers are on target
problems, big calves and calf losses.
• Make sure your cows and heifers are neither too fat nor too thin at calving
Aim to manage the body condition at calving to reach values between 3.0 and 3.5 for dairy and 2.75 to
3.25 for suckler cows (5-point scale).
• Feed a balanced diet during pregnancy
Imbalances in minerals, particularly calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine and selenium, can occur with
home-grown forage-only diets. Provide supplementary minerals and vitamins during the last two months
of pregnancy.
Be aware that a straw-only diet can reduce colostrum quality in your cows.
• Control calving date
Plan
your calvings Calves grow very fast in the last period of pregnancy. If you have cows going over the
to minimise due date and you fear difficult calvings due to oversized calves, discuss controlling the
problems calving date with your local vet.
• Control infectious diseases
Be aware that stillborn, weak or sick calves can also be caused by infections of the
cow. Discuss the appropriate strategies (vaccination/eradication) for your herd with
your local vet.
If any of your full-term calves are stillborn or die within 24 hours, or if calves are too weak to drink after birth
you should investigate the points laid out in this leaflet and discuss what might be the underlying problems
with your local vet. In carrying out any investigation, it may be necessary for your vet to submit relevant
samples (e.g. calf carcasses, placentas, blood samples) to your local veterinary laboratory.
What can you do in advance to PREVENT calving problems?
• Ensure your heifers are big enough at calving
Well
Heifers should have reached at least 60 – 65% of their mature body weight at
grown first
calvers are breeding, should be calving at 24 months of age, and should have attained 90% of the
essential mature body weight of your mid-lactation 4 year old cows.
Tip: weigh some of your mid-lactation four year old cows as a guide to mature body
weight.
• Choose an easy calving sire
On average, some breeds will have more
difficult calvings than other breeds; this is
particularly true for beef breeds.
There is as much variation between individual
sires within a breed, as there is between breeds
for calving difficulty, gestation length and
stillbirth rate.
When choosing an AI sire, comparing the
economic breeding index (EBI) is as important
as the breed you choose. With stock bulls,
without such genetic information, there can be
a greater risk of unknown calving dates, calving Regular weighing will ensure you know your heifers are on target
problems, big calves and calf losses.
• Make sure your cows and heifers are neither too fat nor too thin at calving
Aim to manage the body condition at calving to reach values between 3.0 and 3.5 for dairy and 2.75 to
3.25 for suckler cows (5-point scale).
• Feed a balanced diet during pregnancy
Imbalances in minerals, particularly calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine and selenium, can occur with
home-grown forage-only diets. Provide supplementary minerals and vitamins during the last two months
of pregnancy.
Be aware that a straw-only diet can reduce colostrum quality in your cows.
• Control calving date
Plan
your calvings Calves grow very fast in the last period of pregnancy. If you have cows going over the
to minimise due date and you fear difficult calvings due to oversized calves, discuss controlling the
problems calving date with your local vet.
• Control infectious diseases
Be aware that stillborn, weak or sick calves can also be caused by infections of the
cow. Discuss the appropriate strategies (vaccination/eradication) for your herd with
your local vet.
