It’s that time of year again! Or maybe it’s already over for folks who still calve in February. Either way, here are some tips that I hope will make things easier for you.
Let’s start by getting our nights back. I successfully used this technique so that all my goat does kidded out during daylight hours. It was such a relief not to have to get up in the middle of the night!
How to Make Lambing, Kidding and Calving Happen During Daylight Hours
This one’s for readers raising small ruminants. It includes a video I made as part of my goat prescribed grazing research project showing the kidding process.
Here I’m sending you directly to the source, Canada’s Beef Cattle Research Council. It includes a decision tree to help you decide when to call the vet if an animal seems to be having trouble giving birth. While it’s focused on beef cattle, the steps are the same for other livestock as well. The BCRC is an excellent resource, so scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can sign up for their emails.
Don’t hang your newborns upside down when trying to encourage them to breathe! You’re only making things worse. That, and more important healthcare information is included in the two videos (with transcripts) included in the next article.
Caring for Young Animals in Trouble – Resuscitation and Tube Feeding
Finally, Greg Judy shares everything he knows about calving with the mob. I think you’ll really find it helpful.
Fencing Discount!
If you’re getting ready to work on your electric fencing or your water systems, here’s a chance to save some money. Greg Judy has been using Powerflex fencing products for a long time and now, as a flagship partner, he is set up to offer a 10% discount to graziers using his affiliate link. This is a one-time, automatic discount, so if you’re in the market for fencing supplies, put your list together and head over to powerflex.com/judy10. (Note: you don’t have to join the Powerflex email list to get the discount.)
The Funnies
I used to play this on the guitar when I was in high school. I don’t know if I could do this updated version.
