This week saw the beginning of the 2014 calving season with the arrival of a heifer calf from our best performing commercial line. For the last three years the cows have been fed after 7pm, which has reduced the amount of night calvings dramatically. The majority of calvings since starting this system seem to be between 7am and 9am
A comfortable straw bed ensures cows are relaxed at calving time.
Calving facilities consist of an old 60 foot long milking stall split into five calving pens. It’s nothing spectacular, but it makes the best use of existing assets. Cows are calved in a group pen alongside the stall and have access to a Cal-Mag lick instead of pre calving minerals while in this pen. Generally heifers are always moved to the stall for calving and I try to make sure there’s another cow in view as they tend to be calmer when another cow is in sight. Two cows that tend to be over aggressive at calving time are calved in the gable pens as they’re out of the way. The stall design is extremely useful as it allows me to stall the cow or move her to an empty pen to tag, dehorn and examine the calf safely. These bad temperament cows are also getting closer to the top of the culling list, despite being good performers. They’re not worth the risk involved in dealing with them. With over 20 heifers to join the herd this year I don’t see troublesome cows being around for too long.
Cows are calved in a group pen and have access to a Cal-Mag lick while in this pen.
Cows close to calving are in a group pen.
The old dairy got a scrap heap challenge makeover a number of years ago to turn it into a mini farm office. Timber cut offs, old plywood and an old sink were put to use and a shower unit was purchased to heat water as it was more efficient than a water heater. This allows me to be under one roof rather than running around like a fool looking for calving equipment or running to the house for hot water. The addition of a radio makes it a more pleasant workplace and also seems to have a calming effect on stock.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Beef Management – Tommy Moyles – 03/02/2014)
The equipment store in the calving shed.