Cow-calf producers often rely on calving systems shaped by their own experience or from the trusted advice of respected peers within the industry. These approaches can be highly individual and reflect a wide range of influencing factors, including regional climate conditions, herd size, available facilities and management goals. As a result, methods and strategies vary considerably between operations, with each tailoring its system for the needs of its cattle and business. In recent years, many have begun to integrate the Sandhills or modified Foothills calving methods, hoping to tap into their unique benefits.
Sandhills calving system details
The traditional Sandhills system relies on moving cows that haven’t calved to fresh ground every seven to 10 days. This allows them to give birth in one pasture before the remaining pregnant females are relocated to a fresh, uncontaminated pasture. The practice essentially replicates the beginning of calving season throughout the time period, keeping newborns of similar age grouped.
“Water sources can be shared, but we want calves born on fresh ground, so sharing shelters or calf sheds is discouraged,” says Carling Matejka, DVM,at Veterinary Agri-Health Services in Crossfield, Alberta. “The most important thing is keeping them in age groups so they’re not passing common diseases like scours to their penmates. Across a fenceline is acceptable, but ideally, we’d like them further apart, although we recognize management realities. A fenceline separation is better than having them all together.”
Matejka says feedlot pens can also divide groups if they contain shelter and bedding and have had enough time and sunlight to be fully decontaminated before animals are added. Operation size isn’t important, but more extensive labour sources are required to move pregnant females to different pastures and manage segregated groups. This is a drawback if staffing is lacking. Accurate management is also needed to identify females that have calved and those that haven’t. In colder, more challenging climates where a barn is a must, it may be impossible to have every pasture close to the barn. Plus, at a minimum, a handful are required to make the system viable.
“After calves are 3 to 4 weeks old, they can be mixed to help manage things,” Matejka says. “We want the youngest group to be at least 3 to 4 weeks old before we move them in with other pairs.”
Dealing with inclement weather
Late winter and spring calving often mean weeks of freezing weather, along with blizzards and ice storms. While a portable facility is optimal, this isn’t always realistic or practical. A central calving location is often mandatory.
“In terms of disease, using a central barn isn’t as safe as clean, fresh pasture, but we recognize Mother Nature doesn’t always play along with what we hope to accomplish,” Matejka says. “As a rule of thumb, we say newborns should be less than 24 hours in a central location before being kicked out to their pasture or pen.”
She explains that typically calves in their first 24 hours of life defecate mostly meconium, the feces formed while still inside the cow. After the 24-hour mark, different pathogens can be excreted, contaminating the environment, especially for newborns.
“The hope is, in this short time frame, they haven’t picked up any bugs or started shedding pathogens,” says Matejka. “There’s still a chance, but it is accepted as less.”
Calving system practices and options
The Sandhills calving method features common management practices, including ensuring proper colostrum amounts are consumed (2 litres within the first four hours), soiled bedding is removed, and sick animals are isolated from healthy ones. Work with a trusted veterinarian to ensure a solid vaccination protocol, including respiratory, clostridial and scours vaccines, and try to maintain a closed herd during the season to reduce disease risk.
The more unique processes include rotating shelters and calf sheds, and incorporating fresh, clean ground.
Matejka says many producers in northern regions use what is referred to as a modified Foothills calving system, an adaptation many believe better fits colder climates and terrain challenges than the Sandhills option. The modified Foothills approach offers the ability to use a single, central calving barn. Instead of moving pregnant cows to new pens every seven to 10 days, these females are kept near the barn and pairs are relocated.
“Once they’ve calved and within 24 hours, they’ve hopefully mothered up and nursed,” says Matejka. “If they appear well connected to mom, we move them to a new pasture. We fill this pasture with pairs and newborns to a maximum of 14 days old. Then we close it, open a new one and repeat.”
The modified Foothills approach reduces labour, as only one maternity location near the barn requires checking, rather than multiple areas farther from the yard site.
“The key to this system is adhering to less than 24 hours in any shared environment, whether this is the barn or the calving pen, before pairs are quickly moved to their new pasture,” Matejka says. “This process helps keep the ground fresh and clean and keeps calves together with a similar age group.”
Some producers have found success by moving their breeding season to align more with Mother Nature, potentially calving in April and May rather than January or February. This change simplifies things and helps avoid cold and wet weather conditions.
A tight calving season is also crucial. Extended periods of 120 days are demanding for farmers and lead to heavily contaminated areas. A compact 60-day season, combined with a modified Foothills strategy, usually involves only four to five different pens.
“I believe every cattle producer should consider adopting a system like the Sandhills or modified Foothills,” Matejka says. “Anything we can do to reduce disease benefits antimicrobial stewardship and saves money on these valuable animals, as sick calves always face setbacks. Minimizing scours is achievable, even if it requires more labour and time, because prevention is ultimately less demanding than trying to be extra vigilant and strictly treat outbreaks. We recommend at least some type of systems-based approach for all cow-calf producers.”
