Raising Beef Cattle For Dummies by Royer Scott & Royer Nikki

Author:Royer, Scott & Royer, Nikki
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2012-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

Figure 8-4: A bull exhibiting a threat display.

Working with mothers and baby calves

The best way to care for new mothers and their calves at birthing time is to do nothing! You may think that doing nothing seems counterintuitive, but, ideally, you will have done your work ahead of time. Your cows will be in good physical condition, so they’re strong and fit, enabling them to deliver a calf without assistance. The calf will be sired by a calving ease bull (flip to Chapter 7 for details on calving ease bulls), so the delivery will be relatively simple and uncomplicated. Because the cow has had a good diet and the calf has gone through an easy labor, mom should produce plenty of milk, and the calf should be strong and ready to nurse.

Why is being hands-off during calving time so important? Labor is difficult for the cow and calf. Your “help” may actually be more of an interference, making the cow nervous and slowing the birthing process. In Chapter 11, we discuss how to determine whether your assistance is truly required. Also, after delivery, the cow and calf need time to bond. The new mother needs to lick the calf dry and imprint its smell as belonging to her.

Immediately after birth, the cow may be drawn more to the smell of the birthing fluids on the ground than to the calf itself. Therefore, if you need to move the calf from its birthing spot, be sure the cow follows the calf.

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