CIO-Lancasttr Farming, Saturday, March 13 1993
Livestock Notes |
The Calving Kit
John Comerford
Penn State Beef Specialist
Calves will be hitting the
ground soon in most beef herds
and it’s time to review the 10 con
tents of any calving kit.
1. A record book. Not to be
overlooked, we have to think
further ahead and be sure there is
an accurate calving record for
each cow. This is essential infor
mation for all performance prog
rams, and provides the breeder
with valuable details about the
success of the nutrition and breed
ing program for the heard.
2. Portable scales. Recording
of actual birth weights has become
important information for
purebred producers in merchan
dising their cattle and participat
ing in their breed’s performance
programs. It can also give the
commercial breeder insight into
the selection of bulls for breeding
to specific cows in the herd for
next year.
3. Obstetrical chains. Any
body who breeds cattle has to pull
a calf on occasion. The chains are
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the safest and easiest way to get
the calf alive without injury to the
cow. When asked when a calf
should be pulled, I usually answer
that 1 have not seen very many
pulled too early, but I have seen
several pulled too late. Remem
ber; keep them clean and pull a
calf down between the cow’s
hocks while rotating it through the
pelvis. Pull only when cow
pushes.
4. Implants. Volumes of
research has shown the value of
implanting calves at birth, particu
larly steer calves. Remember: do
not ever implant a bull calf that
may be used for breeding and be
sure the implant you have is
cleared for use in newborn calves.
5. Ear tags. There will never
be an easier time for both you and
calf to tag it than when you find it.
If for no other reason, they sure
are easier to catch!
6. A knife or heavy scissors.
For bull calves that are destined to
be steers, the least amount of
stress in castration will be at a
younger age. You can successful
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little knowledge of testicular
tissue. Be sure to use a spray anti
septic that is sprayed directly into
the wound.
7. lodine? There is a question
mark because some vets tell us
that if the navel is not dipped
before the calf ever hits the
ground, it will probably be too
' late. However, it sure won’t hurt
to dip the navel as soon as the calf
is found.
8. A hammer and nails. This is
used to nail the bam door shut dur
ing calving. The best calving pas
tures are those wooded areas on a
south slope with good drainage.
One of the best medicines to pre
vent calf scours is sunshine. Lar
ger areas are preferable to small
lots for calving because the animal
concentration contributes to
disease.
9. Esophageal feeder/
Gatorade/com syrup/scour bol
uses. For the guy who did not nail
the bam door shut. The first thing
that has to happen after the calf is
bom is to get some colostrum in it.
If scours do occur, mix some
Gatorade with 'A cup of com syr
up in 2 quarts of warm water and
feed the calf twice a day with the
mix. There are a lot of commercial
products out there that also do a
fine job, including synthetic colo
strum. Early attention to the calf
will decrease losses from scours.
10. A thermos of coffee or tea
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The most important economic fac
tor in the cow-calf business is the
production of a live calf. First-calf
heifers are usually checked every
2-3 hours during calving season,
and older cows about four times
nightly. When a cow needs your
assistance, she usually needs it
now.
Failure to provide timely assis
tance can cause the loss of both
the cow and the calf. Try feeding
late in the evening (after 7 p.m.)
and you will have many more
calves bom during the daylight
hours.
What is. Farmer’s
Lung Disease?
During winter, many farmers
work in buildings that may not
have adequate ventilation. They
may be placing themselves at risk
for serious respiratory problems.
Among the mote severe respir
atory conditions is farmer’s lung
disease. Yet the disease is often
misunderstood by farmers and
diagnosed by medical personnel.
The following information,
adapted from the UC Agricultural
Health and Safety Center News,
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Farmer’s lung disease is a
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inhale dust containing bacterial or
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occurs in ranchers or farmers who
handle silage or compost in a con
fined space. Symptoms include
chest tightness, fever, muscle
aches, chills, shortness of breath
and sometimes dry cough. Symp
toms may develop slowly, several
hours after exposure. In the
absence of repeated exposure, the
symptoms often disappear. Con
tinued exposure can cause loss of
normal respiratory function and
permanent damage.
The key to preventing farmer’s
lung disease is to avoid prolonged
work with silage or compost in
unventilated areas. If that’s not
feasible, wear personal protective
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atory protection would be a toxic
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of organic particulates. If you
develop symptoms, seek medical
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