February will see calving get under way on many farms, which is just over five weeks away. As such, attention should be turning to getting sheds ready in good time.

Think back to last year. Poor weather delayed turnout and put calving sheds under serious pressure.

What needs changed in the calving shed to make things easier. A few tweaks could take a lot of the heavy work out of feeding, water provision and moving cows to calving pens?

Get these jobs sorted now. Once calving starts, there will be no time to sort them. Outlined are some jobs to prepare sheds for spring calving.

1. Power wash the calving shed

Calving sheds should be washed using a pressure hose and preferably steam cleaned. Leave sheds to air dry, then disinfect and spread hydrated lime on walls and floor.

If calving pens are currently being used as a sick bay, it is time to remove these animals and wash the shed.

New born calves are born without immunity. You do not want calves born in pens that sick cattle have been spreading disease in via dung and urine.

2. Alter and re-position calving gates

Is the calving gate fit for purpose or would a few adjustments make it much easier to use when a cow needs assistance?

Can the gate open forward if a cow goes down during calving and is there enough room behind the gate to use the jack without catching on the wall?

Make a few adjustments now so that calving gate is much more user friendly this spring.

3. Work lights

Good quality LED lights will increase visibility in calving sheds, especially at night. It may be worthwhile fitting an LED light in the area of the pen where cows are sectioned.

Don’t forget about the lights in the slatted shed. Good lights make it easier to watch for signs of calving activity. A good light in the creep pen is also recommended.

4. Calving cameras

Calving cameras are a great way to monitor cows for signs of calving. The cost will be covered if the camera saves just one calf.

Cameras allow you to watch cows without going in to sheds, so animals in labour are not undisturbed. Constantly walking in and out of sheds can put them off calving.

Also, on those occasions you have to leave the yard, cameras can be checked on a smart phone or tablet. If needed, you can return to the yard or phone a family member to sort a cow in labour.

5. Water troughs

Cows can lose a lot of fluid during calving and become dehydrated. Offering a bucket of water post-calving will not rehydrate a cow. More often than not, the cow will spill the bucket.

Cows may need to drink 40 to 50 litres to rehydrate. Fitting a self-filling drinker in calving pens is money well spent, as cows will have ad-lib access to water.