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February will see spring calving kick off on many suckler farms around Ireland.
Before then, check the calving kit and stock up on basic aids.
Examples of what should be in the calving kit are outlined below.
1. Iodine, calving gloves and lubricant
Stock up on calving gloves, purchasing both arm-length and hand gloves. A hand glove worn over an arm-length glove can increase grip for pulling on leg ropes when necessary.
Purchase a proper calving lubricant as well, plus iodine or antiseptic sprays to treat the newborn calf’s naval.
A dip cup is a more effective method of applying iodine to a calf’s naval than a bottle with a spray applicator.
2. Calving ropes and working jack
Purchase new calving ropes, opting for red and blue ones, if the old ropes are dirty, hardened or frayed.
With red and blue ropes, the red one goes on the right leg and blue one on the left leg. This means there is less chance of attaching the wrong rope to the wrong side of the jack.
Check the ratchet on the jack is working properly and does not slip under tension. The head frame should also pivot freely.
3. New stomach tube
A new stomach tube is also a good investment for the 2025 calving season. Even if the old tube is in good order, purchase a new tube for use on healthy calves, with the old one kept for sick animals.
This way, there is no risk of transferring disease from a sick to a healthy newborn animal.
Identify each tube using a permanent marker with its intended use.
Bin the old tube if there are scuff marks or any sign of damage. Never insert a scuffed tube down the calf’s throat, as it can serious damage and irritation.
4. Pain relief, milk fever prevention and life aids
Cows will benefit from some form of pain relief, such as an anti-inflammatory, after a difficulty labour, so check the medicine cabinet and stock up as necessary.
Include antibiotics, as there may be calves with a hard navel requiring treatment. Make sure there are suitable needles for use on calves.
Calcium is always useful in a calving aid in case cows go down with milk fever. Make sure there are sterile needles and flutter valves to administer calcium.
Other things to include in the calving kit are life aids, vitamin boosters and colostrum, be that natural colostrum or a powdered form.
5. Heat bulbs and calf jackets
Check the heat bulb is working and replace if not. Purchasing a spare bulb or two is a good idea. Heat bulbs will be needed to nurse sick and weak calves.
Calf jackets are also a useful aid to help calves regulate core body temperature, meaning sick animals will burn less energy trying to stay warm.
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