Calving

Stop the late-calving slide and build productive heifers from the start

peggy_1.thompson@boehringer-ingelheim.com — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Late calving in a heifer’s first season is more than a timing issue – the consequences often extend beyond year one.

West: Building better calves

cwillmore@uidaho.edu — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Healthy calves start with good colostrum, a clean environment and thoughtful management.

Ensuring newborn calf survival: Stomach tubing best practices

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Newborn calves occasionally encounter challenges that undermine them in the early hours or days of life. Difficulties such as birthing stress, weakness or an inability to nurse effectively may leave them unable to consume the vital colostrum and nutrients they require.

Prepare for difficult calvings now

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The most rewarding time on a ranch is the time of new life – newborn calves hitting the ground. Calves have resiliency and spirit and often thrive even when born in the wrong circumstances or weather. Still, any beef producer will have the occasional calf who was stuck or had some other mishap that requires extra care.

Innovative calving techniques: Understanding the Utrecht method

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In most cases, cows are quite capable of calving without intervention, delivering healthy calves naturally on pasture or in the barn. However, a small percentage of births present difficulties requiring human assistance.

Assisting with backward calvings: Identification, preparation and intervention

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Most calves are born as nature intended, but some are determined to enter the world facing the wrong direction. For these occasional events, it’s critical to understand the anatomical and timing challenges presented.

Calving kit essentials

kramsey@neogen.com — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

“Be prepared” is a motto to live by, especially during calving season. With that in mind, here are a few items that are essential to have on hand, plus some best-practice tips to consider.

3 things nobody has ever told you about colostrum

kalyn.waters@ufl.edu — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Colostrum. Y’all know the story, or at least I thought I did. In the Southeast, calves are being born left and right, and out West, producers are gearing up for calving season. And while there are about 654,168,334 things to deal with in the middle of the calving season, colostrum could be one of the most important for the newborn calf.

Tips to be prepared for calving

megan.vanemon@montana.edu — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Calving season is upon us, and being prepared can be the best strategy for a successful calving season and healthy calf crop. Gathering supplies and preparing facilities for the calving season is critical so that last-minute preparations are minimal.

Weak calf syndrome: The obstacle that shouldn’t exist

scottfritz@vet.k-state.edu — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Weak calf syndrome is exactly as it sounds; newborn calves are born weak, fail to thrive and often never get up to nurse. This is not a new phenomenon, and the industry has been combating it for decades.

The first 48 hours

russell.daly@sdstate.edu — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The first 24 to 48 hours of a calf’s life can spell the difference between a calf that thrives and grows with minimal intervention on our part and a calf that always seems to be behind the eight ball, lagging behind its herdmates and requiring more care and treatment to keep it going.

Hypothermia in calves: Causes, treatment and prevention

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Hypothermia – lower than normal body temperature – is one of the major causes of death in newborn calves. Warmth and colostrum are the two most important factors in calf survival.

Calving season cocktails

bethr@iastate.edu — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

As calving season progresses, we hear of miracle remedies that will get an unthrifty calf up to snuff in no time. Whether oral or injectable, it’s good to understand what the active ingredient in the “cocktail” is that may – or may not – give the calf a boost.

South Central: Is your calving kit ready?

jason.banta@ag.tamu.edu — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Being prepared and having a calving kit can make dealing with dystocia, a calf not wanting to nurse, a cow not producing colostrum or some other situation much easier.

What to record at calving time

jasonwarner@ksu.edu — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

How often has the calving book been lost or accidentally destroyed by the calf being warmed in the feeding pickup? Or when has information failed to be recorded toward the end of the calving season because our attention turns to other matters that time of year?

A successful calving season starts with successful preparation

jesse.fulton@unl.edu — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Embarking on the spring calving season is a pivotal moment for producers, offering a firsthand glimpse into the results of strategic decisions made during sire selection.

Maximize immunity, decrease disease with these five calf health considerations

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Ranchers have so much invested in the genetics and in the long process of getting that live calf on the ground that we want to do everything we can to protect that investment. Let’s look at how to give our young calves the best possible start.

Preparing for winter calving: 6 tips every rancher should know

kaydence.michalsky@arrowquip.com — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:46:56 -0500

A well-prepared calving area with proper equipment that emphasizes safety and accessibility, ensuring proper cattle nutrition and having a solid emergency plan with detailed records to fall back on will serve you well.

The battle of bottle teats

kalyn.waters@ufl.edu — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Bottle teats can be more than just an inconvenience during calving; they can play a major role in the economic efficiency of that cow.

The threat is real: Cow attacks during calving season

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

To work safely around cattle, handlers must understand how to read their behavior and take advantage of natural behaviors.

West: Ensuring calves get their 'kick-start'

tylero@uidaho.edu — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

With the new year upon us, many producers across the country are looking toward calving season to bring in the new crop of calves. All your tools need to be organized and ready with everyone responsible for assisting trained on how to use them.

Colostrum: The ‘superfood’ for calves

shannonw@uidaho.edu — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Colostrum is the “superfood” for calves, but it isn’t new. It has been around since the first cow calved. It was vitally important then, and it still is today.

Preparing for the upcoming calving season

megan.vanemon@montana.edu — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

As we roll into the new year, one thing is on almost every rancher’s mind: calving season. For those who calve in January and February, the rapid changes in temperature may play a role in calf sickness and growth.

Rotavirus in calves: What is causing the problem and how do we address it?

randal.shirbroun@vaxxinova.com — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Many cow-calf producers can relate to the frustration and challenges associated with scours, or diarrhea in baby calves. The typical and very reasonable questions to ask would include, “What is causing the problem?” and “How do we address it?”

7 calving season safety tips to keep in mind

liane.carter@arrowquip.com — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 12:05:10 -0500

Here are seven tips for ensuring your cows, calves and handlers have the easiest and safest time possible when it comes to calving.

Retained placenta causes and treatments

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Most cows shed the placenta within two to eight hours after calving, and when a cow has not shed the placenta for 24 hours or longer, it is considered retained.

3 tips to keep in mind this calving season

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 16:23:08 -0500

Calving season is an exciting time for us all as we gear up to welcome our newest calf crop into the world. Get some tips for making it a success.

Be prepared to assist during calving: Part 2

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

He only called when there was trouble, and just as I had guessed, he had a heifer trying to calve out at pasture, and “Things just aren’t good, doc.”

Veterinarians offer advice on resuscitating newborn calves

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 13:23:36 -0500

After a hard birth, some calves are dull or even unconscious from oxygen shortage and fail to start breathing. But there are things producers can do to help calves start breathing.

Be prepared to assist during calving: Part 1

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

You should never hesitate to contact your veterinarian if needed, but I am going to pass on some things I have learned to help you feel more comfortable with calving assistance.