As the busy calving season winds down, now seems a good time to think about how we can make improvements for next year. Maximising calving ease should be a pnonty for any suckler herd as difficult calvings can be extremely costly. This is due to increased risk of cow/calf mortalities, subsequent fertility problems as well as costs associated with veterinary treatments.
It is impossible to completely avoid difficulties at calving as around 5% of calves will present in an abnormal position and normally require some assistance. However, there are many factors which we can influence to ensure calving goes as smoothly as possible.