15 January 2025
Preparing for Calving Part 2: Calving the cow – the key things to be aware of
In advance of spring calving season, Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey and Teagasc Researcher and Vet, John Donlon join Catherine Egan for a special three part series, and this week, for the second part, John Donlon focuses on calving the cow.
John discusses the essentials that farmers can do to prepare and what items are essential to have ready. He also outlines the key steps when it comes to intervening when a cow is calving, as well as different presentations.
He also explains what to be aware of when using the calving jack and he discusses issues that can arise such as milk fever, retained placentas and mastitis.
Listen in below:
If you missed last week, click here to listen back to Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey on nutrition pre and post calving and what you should be feeding.
Next week, for part three in the series, John Donlon will discuss caring for the newborn calf.
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com, more episodes of the Beef Edge podcast are available here.
Upcoming Future Beef Webinars
The Future Beef Programme will host a webinar on pre-calving on Tuesday, January 21st at 8pm. The webinar will be chaired by Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, and will feature: Professor David Kenny, Head of the Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc; Emma Sargent, Ruminant Veterinary Area Manager, MSD Animal Health; and Ed Curtin, Future Beef Farmer. This webinar will focus on the cow pre-calving, covering topics such as body condition score (BCS), minerals and pre-calving vaccinations.
Additionally on Thursday, January 23rd at 8pm, the Future Beef Programme will host a calving and post-calving management webinar. This webinar will be chaired by James Mullane, Future Beef Programme Advisor, and will feature: Dr John Donlon, Beef Herd Health Research Officer, Teagasc; Dr Doreen Corridan, CEO of the National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC); and Michael Biggins, Future Beef Farmer. This webinar will centre on the calf, covering topics such as the first principles of calving, managing the calf’s first month and getting the cow back in calf.
For more information and to register for the Future Beef webinars, click here.