{"id":632836,"date":"2021-07-25T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-25T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=632836"},"modified":"2021-07-23T10:50:07","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T09:50:07","slug":"autumn-calving-pasture-or-shed-calving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/autumn-calving-pasture-or-shed-calving\/","title":{"rendered":"Autumn-calving: Pasture or shed calving?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The advantage of autumn-calving<\/a> is that you can calve outside, but there are so many variables. It is not a straightforward case of wet weather dictating indoors and dry weather meaning outdoors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autumn-calving <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Autumn-calving cows offer farmers the opportunity to calve cows at grass rather than in sheds. This reduces the need for silage feeding and bedding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose to calve at grass, it is important that there is easy access to a shed for when assistance is needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider grazing by day and housing by night, as the majority of cows will calve at night. If weather takes a turn you should house cows for calving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have cows calving to a stock bull with an unknown reliability, you should consider calving in the shed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly with heifers, this is all new to them; calving heifers in the shed rather than at grass will be safer for both man and beast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimise stress and bacterial exposure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the lead up to calving cows should be provided with a clean, comfortable and dry environment in which to calve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimise stress and ensure the udder and teats are exposed to low levels of disease-causing bacteria when the cow is lying during calving. Ensure all flooring areas are non-slip with good grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regularly remove dung or change the straw bedding from pens to avoid build-up of cow and calf disease-causing bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calving pens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, all cows should calve in individual calving pens. But this is not always possible on a lot of farms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are using individual calving pens. It is important that they are clean between calvings, to minimise the spread of bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n