As calving season gets underway, Dr. Angela Garavet, a veterinarian with Armor Animal Health, offers key advice to ensure healthy calves and smooth deliveries.
“There are two stages to calving preparation,” Garavet explained. “You need to plan far before calving season and be ready when calves arrive.” Early preparation includes evaluating nutrition, monitoring body condition, and ensuring all necessary equipment is clean and working. “Make sure you have your vet’s phone number on hand and a solid vet-client-patient relationship,” Garavet emphasized.
Once calves begin arriving, the focus should shift to immediate care. “Hypothermia is a major concern during unpredictable spring weather,” Garavet warned. She recommends using clean, dry towels to dry calves quickly. “Straw is the best bedding to help keep calves warm and insulated,” she added. Warm colostrum and calf jackets can help too, but Garavet advises caution. “Never put a jacket on a wet calf,” she stressed. “It traps moisture and can make the calf colder.”
When it comes to hygiene, Garavet suggests stainless steel OB chains and pails for easy cleaning. “Organic material must be removed before disinfecting,” she explained. “Using disinfectants properly, with the correct contact time, makes a big difference.”
Farmers should also recognize the stages of labor to know when to intervene. “If stage one, which involves contractions and cervix dilation, lasts over eight hours, it’s time to step in,” Garavet advised. In stage two, which includes delivery, intervention may be needed if no progress is seen within two hours. “Check the calf’s tongue color,” she added. “A swollen or dark tongue may indicate distress.”
Lastly, Garavet reminds producers to be cautious with calf jacks. “Only use them when she’s pushing,” she said. “Calf jacks can apply 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of force, which can cause injury.”
For additional resources, Garavet recommends visiting dairy.extension.wisc.edu for helpful videos and in-person events.
