Calving outside in autumn/winter

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:25 pm

I calve outside during good weather but for the first time I'm keeping calvers outside right now. They are in a field with hedges on all sides and they have access to high quality forage 24/7, licks and a bit of hard feed every day.

But it's wet and a bit muddy but they look happy enough and are in very good condition. What do you think?

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:48 pm

Hi Clive,

Sounds a very interesting idea, what prompted the decision? Were you getting infections passed on calving inside?

I personally think it is good for animals to get the natural exercise of walking in a field right up until calving, I am absolutely sure that I had less calving problems years ago and for that matter less lambing problems by keeping them out and moving about. However of course then when there is a problem and they do need your help, pinning the little blighters down is 10 times as difficult!

Less bedding down and less cleaning out - is always a bonus!

Strong calves will manage OK but weakly ones would need to be brought in straight away, if they are born into a muddy area they may be very cold, very quickly, so that would be extra work.

Calves don't like to suckle muddy teats so you may have to wipe them off for a day or two if it is muddy around the feeders.

Harder to keep a watch over them calving especially at night.

Lots to be said for and against - I will be very interested to hear how it goes.

Stephanie

reelow cows · Post by **reelow cows** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:25 pm

Hi cilve, it might not seem the correct conditions to calve cattle outside especially with the current wet weather and strong cold weather happening in north shropshire, but yesterday (8 dec) we had our first lambs born outside in the pouring rain. today there doing fantastic, as long as they have plenty of milk in there belly they will be ok. as saffy mentioned the calves will not like being born in mud and will struggle to suckle the teat with mud there and harder to see which cow is calving during night but as long as you keep checking to see which cow is springing and sinking then you should do perfectly well. matt.

Kirk- Cascade Herd US · Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:30 am

We just had a calf born yesterday morning in the very cold and wet of early December (we usually calve in April - this cow is off cycle). The calf is doing great. I really like calving and lambing outside on fresh ground. Sunshine is a great sanitizer. Our herd has never been inside or under shelter of any kind and we've not had as much as a sniffle. We never have needed any medications.

I do worry a little about calves getting dried off initially and have paid close attention and even have used a towel in a heavy rain (probably for my own peace of mind more than anything). Once they achieve initial dryness, it seems like no amount of cold rain can harm them and snow never seems to be a problem.

Kirk

Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:20 pm

I had one calf born outside in a cold wet muddy north of England June, I found it dead. Another cow had a difficult calving outside on an equally miserable July day. So, I would certainly not want to be calving outside in December up here, especially as I lost a sheep in the snow on Saturday.
Yes, the sheep lamb outside but if the weather is foul the mortality rate is high.