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Winter beef cow calving advice

D

Dave from MN

Well-known Member
I have 3 heifers that will be calving between this week and I am assuming feb. On elooks to be getting in the way right now. These were whoops's, had 2 sold but long story got them back, which I was happy about as they are great heifers, the 3rd is a Normande angus cross and is great, so I am not gonna part with them. I have a set up which has worked great for my past calving of april-june. I have a small 10x12 3 sided shelter for bad day, which my heard has really outgrown. What should I be doing to ensure a healthy born calf doesnt go down hill because I dont have a nice warm barn to put them in? I see lots of pictures posted of calves being born in mid winter in a foot of snow. What do you guys think. Do I need to corral these heifers each at the time of eminent birthing into the shelter and gate them in or will they be OK in the weather?
 
Those calves are tougher than you think. Make sure momma mothers up and takes care of the calf right away and if the weather goes really cold or you have big windchills, think about putting the pair inside. Makse sure that you provide momma with a plenty of good feed and clean water she"ll take care of the little one.
 
Exactly what Jerry/MT says,

Cattle do way, way better when man just stays clear the heck out of the way.

Allan
 
Be there when they calf. get the calf dryed and warm milk in them right away and do not let them get chilled and they will be fine.
things like this might help:
http://smuckermfg.net/roylheat.aspx
 
Well, they are talking 30 degrees and snow tomorrow, then she is gonna plumett to a high of 0 and no warmer than single digits for that next week. I have all the cown and these 3 heifers in the yard together. Unlimited good hay, and I keep the water full and heated. I maybe should get some major bedding on hand as we didnt get the chance to make cornstalk bales this year.
 
Make sure the calf is sucking and getting milk. Then, block of a portion of your shed so only the calf has access, like a board 3 ft high or so. In that area keep dry straw, and the little buggers will crawl in there and keep warm no matter how cold it gets.
P.S. I'll be emailing you soon regarding the email you sent a couple weeks ago. Just not enough time in the day anymore!
 
Do you have a wind break of any kind? Yep its a good idea to get some straw for bedding for them too. Good luck, and keep us updated. J
 
The secret is dry and out of the wind. Make sure their ears and tail are dry or they will freeze off. A space heat which blows warm air is perfect, if necessary.. Probable not needed. I have calved at 0 out in the open when dry, and I have lost calves at 40 degrees when in the wind.
And, oh yea, heat lamps have burned down many a barn. Don't even think about them with any straw.
 
Wind breaks and away from drip lines if it gets above freezing. Freezing rain or a cold rain is the worst. You almost cant save one born at 33 degrees in a hard rain with mud. Cold, its no problem down into the mid single digets as long as the cow gets them up and gets to work on them.

For me, what I try to do is watch and see what the heifer does. If she doesnt get with the program fast (within the hour) I try to get the calf to the house and warmed up and dried out. Bathtub and blow drier is what I used last winter. Worked great. Get some warm colostrum in the calf and then see about getting them together in a stall. Sometimes it works better than others. I've always had at least one bunch of winter calvers. I'd rather have calves coming with it 10 degrees and a foot of snow than in the mud and rain in March.
 
Yeap, just keep an eye on them. I've had cows raise a calf out on corn stalks in the wind and snow with no protection and the next one will loose one on a sunny afternoon just cuz she goes back in some shady spot and gets the calf chilled. A calf that's been up and sucked is pretty hard to kill.
 
If your heifer drops her calf and walks away, you need to get it dry and a hand held hair dryer is what we use. Everyone else here has also given excellent advice that you could use depending on your situation. Keep an open mind and a close eye ,Best of luck.
 
At least a three side shelter. Stalls with pipe sections and bedding. A calf warmer box is a plus. You can make one easy and a 500 watt bulb will do the deed. My neighbor does 150 evey feb/Mar so you can do three OK.
Just watch out for wet. Dry and cold is ok. Wet and even chilly is way bad.

Gordo
 
2 years ago 1 of my Highlands calved out in the corn stalks on a sunny day. vet had preg checked her to calve in march.
big thing is to keep them dry,clean ,out of wind and momma to nurse it.
as far as i know that guy is making more Highland calves
 
I hate calving in winter...

But, as been said above - if they're dry and getting a belly full, they'll do fine. A good cow will do both those things, so feed momma well and if she's doing her job you're 95% of the way there. Keep them out of the wind, with dry place to bed down and things should be ok...
 
You got a barn , I'd put them in there.My experience in foul weather is they will leave the barn if there are other cattle in there and have the calf out on the ice. Had a bunch froze to the ground in the winter of 78/79. Don't ask me why they were bred to calve in the dead of winter. Long story and I was just the kid in the middle. We lost almost all of them though despite a lot of hard work on my part.
 
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