Growing Beef Newsletter
January 2025, Volume 15, Issue 7
Prepare Your Calving Kit
Denise Schwab, ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist
With calving season just around the corner, now is the time to gather, inventory, and clean all the supplies needed for calving season and have them in an easily accessible location. Here are a few suggestions to include in your kit.
- Calf jack – Clean off any dust or dirt that has accumulated over the year. Check the ratchet for any signs of rust and be sure it operates easily. A drop of oil may help if it is a little sticky, but be sure NOT to get oil on a friction-style puller.
- OB chains and handles – Clean and disinfect OB chains, straps and handles prior to the start of the season. If rust has started on your chains replace them to avoid the risk of infection in assisted females. Chains come in multiple sizes and you might want one long (60”) and a couple shorter chains for use in different situations. Twine string is NOT a good substitute for OB chains!
- Palpation sleeves and latex gloves – In addition to keeping you a little cleaner, sleeves are important to protect you from any potential pathogens in uterine fluids and to protect the cow from pathogens from the environment. Latex gloves are handy to use over the palpation sleeves to provide better dexterity.
- OB lubricant – Difficult deliveries often benefit from additional lubrication. Check your supply and order more if needed. It is recommended to use lubrication designed specifically for OB use.
- Spotlight – Be sure the batteries are good and you have an additional supply on hand, or that it is fully charged and you know where the charger is.
- Halter and lariat – A rope halter is helpful if needed to tie up a cow needing assistance. Hopefully you don’t need the lariat to catch the cow, but it may come in handy to help in controlling the cow needing help.
- Esophageal feeder, nipple bottles and bucket – After a difficult birth, slow calves will benefit from a feeding of colostrum. Have a clean small bucket on hand to milk out colostrum from the cow and feed to the calf to help get them going. If a cow loses her calf, milk out some colostrum to store in the freezer for other calves. Be sure the nob on the feeder is still smooth and that the plastic has not hardened or rotted over the year. Check nipples for integrity also. If any signs of mold or integrity issues are present on any feeding tools, purchase new to protect the newborn calf’s immunity.
- Colostrum replacer – Purchase a bag or two of colostrum replacer to have on hand for slow calves or cows that aren’t milking adequately.
- Calving book – Record data on calves that you will use for management decisions, like cows that need to be culled, heifers you might consider retaining, sire data, etc.
- Sled – Many producers use a sled, wheelbarrow or wagon to assist in getting wet, weak calves from the calving pen to the barn. Ensure that these are also clean and disinfected to avoid risk of navel contamination.
- Processing supplies – Take inventory of supplies including ear tags, tagger, elastrator, bands, any vaccines or products you give at birth, syringes, needles, thermometer, iodine for navels, oxytocin, scale, etc.
- Blankets – If you calve in the winter, a supply of calf coats, blankets, old rugs, ear covers, etc. can be helpful in warming newborns in cold weather. If you use a warming box, be sure it is functioning properly and clean.
There are many more items you may have in your calving kit, but these are a few of the items recommended in the Iowa Beef Center Calving Management manual. Also remember to visit with your veterinarian prior to the start of calving season about your herd health plan for newborn calves and purchase any supplies you need.
This monthly newsletter is free and provides timely information on topics that matter most to Iowa beef producers. You’re welcome to use information and articles from the newsletter - simply credit Iowa Beef Center.
