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Thou shall have adequate calving facilities
Good calving facilities are important for both man and beast. You should have at least one calving pen for every 15 cows in the herd, and they should be located so that you can easily move a cow from the main group into the pen without causing any stress.
The pens should be designed so that they can be easily cleaned out and disinfected after each calving. Remember, immediately after a calf is born the wet naval is basically an open wound allowing infection to enter.
A high standard of hygiene is therefore critical in preventing infection entering and causing naval ill, and more importantly joint ill. On many farms calving pens consist of makeshift pens or old sheds that have to be cleaned out with a fork.
Therefore, it is often the case that they only get cleaned out at the end of the calving season or, even worse, immediately before the calving season is about to start the following year.
Your calving pens should also have facilities for adequately restraining the cow/heifer.
A double sided calving date can be worked from two pens and is where any cows experiencing calving difficulties are handled.
Remember, even the quietest cow on the farm can become very aggressive during calving. In larger herds, fitting a head restraint between two pens with a double swing gate that chains back against the wall is ideal.
Each pen should be fitted with a water bowl. Barrels cut in half and filled with water are a death trap for newborn calves.
Good lights are also an important requirement, especially if a cow requires a caesarean section, and should be left on in the calving pens overnight.
Thou shall scan your cows
Scanning cows is an essential part of running an efficient suckler enterprise. Not only does it ensure that you are not carrying empty cows over the high-cost winter period, but it will allow you to group cows together according to calving date. This will allow for much closer supervision during calving.
Thou shall be prepared for cows calving
Calving time is often the busiest period during the winter and it is important to plan ahead to reduce the workload. Simple steps, such as using up round bales located on an outfarm and saving pit silage for during the calving period, can help reduce the workload and increase the time spent around the yard.
Thou shall use full arm gloves when having to assist
Any farmer calving cows should have a box of full-length arm gloves. They cost less than 10 cent each and provide essential protection to both the farmer and the cow.
For the farmer they protect against brucellosis and for the cow they reduce the risk of uterine infections that can lead to poor fertility.
Thou shall not treat straw as sacred
For some reason, around calving time straw suddenly becomes sacred on many farms. Make sure you use plenty of straw in the calving pens and in the creep areas after the cows have calved. A clean, dry bed is essential in preventing disease. Skimping on straw will only increase your vet bill.
Thou shall realise the cow knows more about calving than you
All suckler farmers should realise that in the majority of cases cows will know more about calving than them. Therefore, assistance should only be given if and when required. Rushing in too quick will only lead to trouble.
The first sign that a cow is starting to calve is when the pin bones slip and the tail head appears raised. This can be detected by feeling either side of the tail head. The ligaments running from the base of the tail head to the pin bones will be soft and relaxed.
At this stage the best thing you can do is leave the cow alone. It may be a further 24 hours before calving will actually take place. 
The second stage of the process is the presentation of the water bag.
Again, this is not a signal for you to rush in with the calving jack. The water bag serves to dilate the cervix. At this point the cow will commence pressing and eventually you should see the feet and the nose becoming apparent in the water bag.
A good indication that things are progressing fine is when the nose and feet can be seen to move in and out with each press. For peace of mind you can examine the cow at this stage. Things to check for are that two feet are being presented and that the head has entered the birth canal.
If there is no head present check that they are not back feet. A quick way of telling if they are back feet is if the sole of the hoof is facing towards you.
Trying to pull the calf from the cow before the cervix is totally dilated will only increase the risk of the calf getting stuck and the cow becoming injured. The cow continuously getting up and down and walking round in circles is all part of the dilation process.
Giving advice on when you should intervene is difficult, as each individual case will depend on cow type and the breed of the sire. From when the water bag is presented you should monitor the process closely. As a general rule of thumb, if the cow is in distress or if there is little progress after the head and feet have been presented and the water bag has burst, you should investigate further.
Thou shall know when to stop and call the vet
Often when vets are called to assist in a calving the calf is either dead or knocking on death’s door. For the sake of both the cow and the calf, know your limits. If when you examine the cow you are presented with a calf coming backwards or an extremely big calf you should phone the vet, especially if you know the history of the bull to be difficult calving. The most depressing sight on any farm is an injured cow down unable to rise.
Thou shall learn the ABCs of calving
The ABCs of calving are airway, breathing and circulation.
It is essential to clear the airway of the newborn calf immediately after calving. After calving you should ensure that the calves head and chest is lower than the hindquarter. Gravity will help any fluids drain out of the lungs. Whilst holding the calf by the back legs for a limited period is advised, hanging the calf over the gate for prolonged periods will only put more pressure on the lungs.
You can help stimulate breathing by inserting a piece of straw up the calves nose and gently massaging its chest or legs.
Thou shall make sure the calf sucks
Don’t let all your hard work go to waste by not ensuring the calf has received an adequate level of colostrum. Remember it is a waste of money vaccinating for scour if the calf does not suckle the cow.
The first 12 hours are essential for proper absorption of colostrum from the gut. As a rule of thumb calves should receive six pints within six hours. If you are unsure if the calf has suckled, look at the cow’s udder and see if any of the teats are cleaner or fresher than the others. In the majority of cases it will be one of the two front teats.
You should also examine the calf. If it is unable to stand up, then you can be sure that it hasn’t suckled. If it can stand, gently press the stomach in behind the rib cage. If it has suckled, you should be able to hear the milk inside. If a calf has not suckled colostrum should either be drawn off the cow or a substitute product used.
Thou shall treat the calves naval
A simple piece of advice that does not cost anything, but yet is still not carried out as routine on many farms. Antibiotic aerosol sprays or iodine sprays can be used. The best way, however, to ensure the naval is completely covered is to use an iodine dip.
Thou shall treat the calf delicately after calving
Remember, a newborn calf is very delicate and should be treated carefully. You should be extremely careful during the calving process not to damage ligaments or even break bones. Also, be careful placing the calf too close to the cow immediately after calving as even straightforward calvings may result in a slight paralysis.
Both heifers and cows can sometimes react aggressively to newborn calves and you should be on hand to take the calf away from the cow if this is the case. You should, however, ensure that the calf remains in sight of the cow as this will aid the bonding process. Remember to be careful, a dead calf is better than a dead farmer.
Thou shall investigate the dead
Work carried out a few years ago in the UK showed that only 17% of pneumonia outbreaks and 12% of scour outbreaks were investigated. Remember, dead calves can talk and when a calf dies of pneumonia or scour you should take the carcase to your regional veterinary laboratory as soon as possible.
The sooner an animal is submitted, the sooner you will get your diagnosis and be able to take action and prevent further fatalities. Don’t wait to you have three or four dead calves before going to the lab.
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