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Calfing notes based on our experiences at Hamilton Farms
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
Towels
Calf pullers (chains)
Ear tags and tag
Green castrating rings and tool to apply them
Calf bottles
Feeding tube
Colostrum
Blender to prepare colostrums
WHEN THE CALF IS COMING OUT:
Make sure both front feet are coming out. They will be pointed in a “diving” position and
the head will follow along with the rest of the body
The cow will need help if:
- you see the hoofs upside down the calf is upside down possibly breech (butt first). You will need chains. Pull down and towards you.
- you only see one hoof, the second one is facing its tail. The calf needs to be pushed back in to get the second foot and bring both feet out at same time so it can dive out.
- its head is coming out first without arms showing. Both arms are back so you need to push it back in and pull both arms forward so it can dive out.
Chains are used if the cow needs extra help getting the calf out. They are put on both of
the calf’s feet that are exposed
IF YOU THINK THE CALF HAS NOT HOOKED UP OR EATEN YET:
Check for empty stomach – can feel spine if empty
His mouth will be warm if he has had milk
Milk face means he has been fed
Check mom’s tits to see if waxed up and needs to be de-plugged
Sometimes tits are too big in diameter so they need to be milked out a little so the calf
can get his mouth around them. Then the tits will be fine. You do not have to
repeat the process.
Squirt milk on calf’s face to show him where it comes from
Rub the calf’s tail area to stimulate nursing while trying to hook him up
Has he had his first bowel movement? (will be black and then yellow later). Yes he ate.
Is he urinating? Yes he drank.
Keep the placenta because, if you need to take the calf inside to warm up, you can swab
the calf later with the placenta and the mom will know it is her calf. If the calf is
clean the mom will reject the calf if it does not smell like hers so you rub the calf with her placenta. (this also works if her calf has died and you want to graft another one on to her)
If possible, calve in an enclosed area (corral) to keep the two together and the mom can
teach the calf the rules before letting the two of them out into the herd. It makes the calf easier to handle when tagging and neutering or if complications.
You may never find the placenta because the moms like to eat them. If the mom hasn’t
cleaned (expelled her placenta) the placenta will remain inside her and she will
have a foul smell about her in a few days. Nursing encourages the uterus to
contract and expel the placenta
FEEDING COLOSTRUM:
If the calf is unable to nurse from its mother (too weak, cold, swollen tongue) it is
time to feed him yourself. This is just temporary. Bottle babies (who are continually on a bottle) are calves who are orphaned or twins or rejected by their mother.
They need colostrums to get the bacteria to get started in their stomachs so you
feed that to them first and not powdered cows milk. The mother will also
give her own colostrums when the calf begins to nurse. This is okay.
First try to feed with the bottle. Insert your finger in its mouth to see if it knows
how to suck. If he doesn’t suck, then it is time to tube.
Tubing: Put the warm colostrum in the bag with the tube closed. Insert the full
length of the plastic wand down the throat to make sure it goes into the
calf’s stomach. It is not in the trachea by accident as long as the calf is
breathing. Hold the bag high, release the stop, the colostrums will flow
into the calf’s stomach. Remove the wand in one motion.
It is important to feed the calf to keep it warm. Hopefully you will only need to do
this once because he will be stronger and able to nurse on his own.
Sometimes the calf can’t suck in the beginning because his tongue is swollen
from the birthing process. It will recover in a day or two.
WHEN EAR TAGGING THE CALF MAKE SURE:
You don’t hit the main vein in the ear or you will have a bleeder. Apologize to
the calf
You don’t taco (fold the ear in half and staple it) the ear or you will have to
remove the tag and start over. Apologize again.
You tag after a couple of days when the calf has recovered from birthing
Left ear tag for a heifer with name and your farm name on front; name and birth
date on back
Right ear tag for a bull or steer
WHEN CASTRATING:
Make sure you have both balls in your hand. They like to retract into the
abdominal cavity
Open the green ring and pull the pouch through
Check to see you do not have any nipples stuck in the ring. There should be four
tits located outside the ring and two balls inside the ring
Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn’t it???