As you take care of wintertime chores around your small farm , ensure to add up conditioning cows for calving to your inclination . Calves carry with any sort of trouble at birth are four time more potential to die than those without , which is why conditioning cows is extremely important , enounce Ron Lemenager , a beef nutrition specializer at Purdue University .
As the saltation calving season approaches , small husbandman should look at three key divisor to prepare cows to calve .
1 . carry out Proper Cow NutritionCows need to be in the right eubstance shape so they have enough vim for calving . Lemenager recommend a body shape score of 5 for cows and a torso condition mark of 5½ to 6 for heifers .
“ lay down indisputable cows have proper nutriment also will ensure a high timbre colostrum , or first milk after have young , which gives the calf disease aegis and a dull nutrient provision , ” he says .
right moo-cow nutrition includes a diet high enough in energy for the cow to have a normal calving experience , which means eat it the right protein content , vitamins and mineral . However , with the showery hay season in 2009 , poor hay quality may entail Farmer need to add on moo-cow diets .
“ Producers should get an analytic thinking of their hay and then develop a supplement strategy , ” Lemenager say . “ It ’s also of import that the cow has entree to a gamy - quality , free selection mixture of vitamins and minerals , which is commercially available . ”
Nutritionally speaking , one affair farmers necessitate to keep an eye on is the amount of dry out distiller grains they feed their cow . Because DDGs are eminent in protein , farmers should feed in them to cows to fit protein needs , not vim needs . If the moo-cow consumes too much protein , the calfskin ’s birth exercising weight and blood N stage will increase , Lemenager says . This can negatively involve the conception rate and fertilized egg survival .
“ Using distillers grain beyond protein requirements can cause a sulfur toxicity , ” Lemenager say . “ At high-pitched levels , sulfur also can complex with other minerals , like bull , which is an passing important mineral for reproduction . ”
2 . Assess calve FacilitiesIn increase to conditioning moo-cow , sodbuster should prepare their facilities to house newborn sura in inclement weather — something Lemenager says is extremely of import for calf natural selection .
3 . Vaccinate for Calf ScoursIf there is a history of calf scours among the cattle on your farm , Lemenager advocate working with a veterinary surgeon to create a vaccination scheme for the cow so they will provide inactive immunity to the calfskin through high timber foremilk . translate more about preventingcalf scour .
