Gearing up For This Spring: Tips for Calving Season?

[RSC]

Just thought I'd start a thread to give everyone tips for Calving Season.

Any tips for saving ears in the cold?  I know last year someone metione the Human Neck Sleaves,  any links to find them?

Anyone have a chart that shows how to adjust Gestation lengths for Certian Breeds?  Example:  If Angus is Standard,  how many days do you add for a PB Maine?

Thanks,

RSC

 

[simtal]

most breeds post the average gestation length somewhere

 

[farwest]

I will start with this tip tonee, it usually requires going outside,  i will refer back

 

[Dusty]

Get em off stalks before they start.  It sucks trying to pull a calf with the cow tied to the pickup.....

 

[Cattledog]

Do those earwarmers from sullivans work?  I have always thought about buying one of those deals but never could pull the trigger.

 

[BCCC]

Get em off stalks before they start.  It sucks trying to pull a calf with the cow tied to the pickup.....

haha best way to do it is rope them off the flatbed, and knock them down and then park the back truck tires on the rope! lol Hope we never have to do that again

 

[linnettejane]

Do those earwarmers from sullivans work?  I have always thought about buying one of those deals but never could pull the trigger.

yep...but we dried the ears and head off really good so momma wouldnt lick them off...they will get them off when they are cleaning them after delivery...once the calf is dried, momma's didnt seem to mind them too much...

 

[farwest]

One tip toni might be to have them calve in a 60 day calving window so you can put all your attention to them during that time instead of strung out.  One here and there can be problems.  ahem.

 

[Cattledog]

Do those earwarmers from sullivans work?  I have always thought about buying one of those deals but never could pull the trigger.

yep...but we dried the ears and head off really good so momma wouldnt lick them off...they will get them off when they are cleaning them after delivery...once the calf is dried, momma's didnt seem to mind them too much...

Thanks for the added info.  I have some coming due here in January and will probably purchase myself one of these.  How long do you leave them on the calf?

 

[Dusty]

Do those earmuffs come in different sizes???  I've noticed some calves have bigger ears than others....

 

[farwest]

Yes, Yes, Dusty, same way with people.

 

[linnettejane]

Do those earwarmers from sullivans work?  I have always thought about buying one of those deals but never could pull the trigger.

yep...but we dried the ears and head off really good so momma wouldnt lick them off...they will get them off when they are cleaning them after delivery...once the calf is dried, momma's didnt seem to mind them too much...

Thanks for the added info.  I have some coming due here in January and will probably purchase myself one of these.  How long do you leave them on the calf?

i left them on about a week, till the temp warmed up ...we calve in jan. also but dont have too many days in the single digits or teens...in fact i havent had to use them the past two years because the temps have been in the 30's and 40's when we have calved (hope i didnt just jinx myself!)...i bought 2 pair a few years ago just to have on hand and have only had to use them twice (2 calves the same year)...not sure if they come in different sizes....if you have someone that sews, you could get one pair to use as a pattern and make more yourself...

 

[braunvieh]

I have heard sprinkling a good coating of salt on cold wet ears will help save them from freezing. The salt makes the mama lick and lick them and get them warmed up.

We tried the calf blankets for the first time this last winter and used 2 on calves born the same evening when it was really cold. The next morning both cows were claiming the same calf and the other was no where to be found. Finally had to remove the correct pair from the pasture and then the 2nd mama went and found her calf. We won't do that again, at least on 2 at the same time!

 

[shortyjock89]

Those calf blankets are really meant for dairy calves that get taken from their cows right off the bat.  I like using a hot box or a warm stall in the winter time if we have to calve in frigid temps...I know that it won't work for big operations, but then again, most don't like to calve when it's gonna be too cold to do anything.

 

[Cattledog]

Those calf blankets are really meant for dairy calves that get taken from their cows right off the bat.  I like using a hot box or a warm stall in the winter time if we have to calve in frigid temps...I know that it won't work for big operations, but then again, most don't like to calve when it's gonna be too cold to do anything.

I've always tried to stay away from hot boxes.....heard that they can cause pnemonia if your not careful.  I was looking around one day and found an add for a Roy-L-Heat Calf warmer.  Didn't know if anyone had any exprience with this?

 

[rtmcc]

A fast trick to help save ears:  Dry them of as best you can.  Use vet rap tape to hold the ears back and against their head/neck so their body heat will keep them warm.  Just rap the tape around their head and neck.  Or in a smaller outfit like ours that uses the show barn for calving in winter,  throw two gates in the corner of the wash rack, set the heat at 45 and go to bed and check on them on the morning.

 

[Cattledog]

A fast trick to help save ears:  Dry them of as best you can.  Use vet rap tape to hold the ears back and against their head/neck so their body heat will keep them warm.  Just rap the tape around their head and neck.  Or in a smaller outfit like ours that uses the show barn for calving in winter,  throw two gates in the corner of the wash rack, set the heat at 45 and go to bed and check on them on the morning.

Interesting, I'll have to remember that!

 

[amymeys]

Do those earwarmers from sullivans work?  I have always thought about buying one of those deals but never could pull the trigger.

  No.... they don't seem very heavy and the cow can lick them right off!

 

[red]

I was told that wrapping the head/ears in duct tape really worked. Cows can't get it off & it gradually falls off. We try to use a blow drier to get them as dry as possible.

Red