what do I need to know.. hot weather calving?

darbyfamily · #1 07/21/08, 01:06 PM

what should I have on hand? iodine? anything else? what do I need to know to be prepared for a calf?

darbyfamily · #2 07/21/08, 01:30 PM

and how soon do you dehorn them?

JKB07 · #3 07/21/08, 01:57 PM

Keep her cool. Last August we lost three calves to to heat. The DOC said the heat was too stressfull on the cows and caused them to go into premature labor. This happened during a 14 day run of 105+ degrees. These were black angus. Just spray her down a couple times a day... you should be fine!

JKB

agmantoo · #4 07/21/08, 03:00 PM

Provide shade and all should go fine. My cattle calve year around, normally with no problems. I do not know about the dehorning as mine are polled. I band the bull calves rather than cut as I do not want any open wounds due to flies this time of year.

sungirl · #5 07/21/08, 03:57 PM

Any wheres from 3 days - 4 weeks. Do you mean disbudding or letting the horns grow then cutting them off?

Lots of shade and water, they will be fine.

Patty.

ksfarmer · #6 07/21/08, 04:23 PM

Shade, water, iodine, and fly spray. That should be all you need.

JKB07 · #7 07/21/08, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksfarmer

Shade, water, iodine, and fly spray. That should be all you need.

You have to be very careful with fly spay on a lactating cow. There arent many you can use....

JKB

matt_man · #8 07/21/08, 07:49 PM

withing the first week, use some disbudding paste for the horns. It's cheap and really easy.

Second the fly spray warning. There isn't much that doesn't have milk withdrawal. I have heard of using "blue coat" (not sure exactly what it is) on the umbilical to prevent flies from laying eggs inside it.

Rachel