Calving
Calving season is a pivotal time for cattle producers, marking the start of a new generation and the future of their cow herd. From preparing for new arrivals to managing potential complications and ensuring calf health, every decision is crucial. Developing a proactive management strategy limits stress on the cow and calf while fostering optimal nutrition and health for both.
From heat stress to winter supplementation, every calving season has trade-offs. Here is how to align your herd’s genetics with your ranch’s forage resources.
From sire influence to multiples, learn the primary factors that cause calving difficulty and why some issues tend to happen in clusters within a herd.
From gestation through the first weeks of life, small decisions build toward better calf health. Focusing on key risk points at each stage can improve survival and long-term performance.
Preparation is the difference between a saved calf and a costly loss. Discover how early inventory checks, strategic feeding and timely intervention can redefine calving success.
Why energy, protein, minerals and weekly body condition checks are critical to getting cows and first‑calf heifers rebred on schedule.
Reducing the risk of scours can be accomplished by addressing different areas of management.
Use these strategies to help encourage a love connection or bond between a cow and calf.
Oklahoma State’s Mark Johnson shares research determining the average gestation for Bos Taurus beef cows.
OSU and KSU experts explain why restricting nutrients fails to prevent dystocia and how maintaining a BCS 6 ensures calf survival and colostrum quality.
Tracking birth data, mothering ability and calf vigor on day one provides the metrics needed for smarter culling and sire selection.
Research shows producers can strategically use feeding time to aid in their calving season.
A Kentucky farm mom captured this heartwarming moment while saving a newborn calf from the cold.
With a significant winter storm predicted to impact much of the U.S., Oklahoma State’s Mark Johnson explains how to identify, prevent and manage cold stress in baby calves.
As producers prepare for calving season and evaluate cow herd nutrition, here are some strategies to make sure cows are getting adequate nutrition.
Teat size and udder suspension are essential traits related to cow productivity. The universal two-score system was developed by the Beef Improvement Federation.
Barn camera systems are helping producers reduce labor and improve calf survival by spotting problems sooner.
Troy Dutton and Joe Hochhalter from the Steele Vet Clinic in Steele, N.D., give advice on everything from colostrum timing to bedding strategies.
These are the facts on why udder quality and functionality are critical in the cow-calf business.
The first milk from a cow is critical to a calf’s ability to fight disease and infection, and it also reduces calf loss before weaning and improves overall herd health long term.
With a New World screwworm case now less than 200 miles from the U.S. border, Seth Meyer says the growing threat adds risk and uncertainty for cattle producers making critical calving-season decisions.
It is important for cow-calf producers to understand each phase of the birthing process to know when it is time to intervene.
Preparing for a successful calving season, ensure all supplies are stocked and equipment is fully functional before the first calf arrives to minimize stress and maximize efficiency.
No one time fits all, so producers should consider several factors when determining when to calve.
What is the value of a single cow calving one heat cycle earlier? If calves gain about 2 lb. a day from birth to weaning, in the current market with a pound of weaning weight valued in excess of $3, the added 40 lb. of weaning weight is worth at least $120 per cow.
Strategies for evaluating herd performance following calving.
The first few hours of a calf’s life are critical to its success. Sometimes when producers need to intervene, the new mom goes into protection mode.
Preparing for frigid temperatures can help producers facing inclement weather this calving season.