Calving is just
around the corner and winter is the ideal time to prepare the calving and
calf-rearing areas well in advance of the start of calving, according to
Teagasc.
Cleaning
out such houses now allows them time to dry out and this helps to
break any carry over of infection from one year to the next, it states.
It advises to
make sure that handling gates are working properly – there’s still time to
repair them if necessary.
One of the
unforeseen consequences of using higher fertility sub-index AI sires is
shorter gestation lengths, according to Teagasc.
Some cows are
now calving
at around the 270-day mark instead of the more traditional 280 days
and it states that it makes a big difference.
Teagasc states
that many farmers have been ‘caught on the hop’ with the arrival of such early
born calves.
Here’s a checklist of the
tools of the calving trade that need to be readied before calving starts:
- · Calving jack – including a pair of foot ropes in proper working order.
- · Iodine navel disinfectant – you’ll need around 10-15ml per navel.
- · Stomach tube – check that the bag is not leaking and the tube itself isn’t chewed, as this can cause oesophageal damage.
- · Hydrated lime – ensure that your supply is adequate to disinfect the calving areas after calves have been removed.
- · Teats – make sure that the calf feeder teats aren’t perished – order spares now if they are.
No comments:
Post a Comment