Page 36 - MWC 3-9-2023s
P. 36
The Midwest Cattleman · March 9, 2023 · P36
Managing calving during muddy conditions
Early intervention can be can easily become dirty with about things like hypother-
valuable to help calves get contaminated mud and ma- mia and failure of passive
going and ensure colostrum nure." transfer, the earlier we can
consumption. Clark said there is no sil- intervene the better," said
Mud is always a headache, ver bullet because every farm Clark.
but it can be particularly has its own unique limita- Reducing stocking density
challenging for cattle produc- tions and challenges, but pro- or increasing pen space per
ers during calving season. ducers should strive to calve head can help to reduce traf- Clark said. "The other prob-
Chris Clark, beef specialist in well-drained areas and do fic and the effect of manure lem is that newborns still ar-
with Iowa State Universi- their best to keep cattle high and urine, promoting drying rive into a muddy and often,
ty Extension and Outreach, and dry. and managing mud depth. It pathogen-contaminated en-
describes some of these chal- "Use bedding to create dry can be extremely helpful to vironment."
lenges and offers a few sug- areas and layers of insulation occasionally move cattle to Clark recommends being
gestions to help producers between the animals and the cleaner, drier pens. creative to implement some
manage muddy conditions. wet ground and remember It is common for people sort of modified Sandhills
"Muddy conditions in- to remove saturated bedding to move pairs out to pasture Calving System by occasion-
crease the risk for hypother- and/or re-bed as necessary," once they feel the calves are ally moving remaining preg-
mia, failure of passive trans- he said. "Feeding on concrete doing well. On one hand, this nant females to a new calv-
fer and infectious disease or pads of packed rock or lime is great to spread out the cat- ing area.
of newborn calves," he said. can create a solid base under tle and get them in a cleaner "Moving pregnant cows to
"Wet, muddy coats do not in- high traffic areas that can environment; however, there a cleaner, drier environment
sulate as effectively as clean, become extremely messy." are a couple problems with can work well to protect new-
dry coats. Born into these con- It's also very important this approach. born calves. There should
ditions, newborns can strug- to check cattle carefully and "One is that pastures may be less risk of chilled calves
gle to regulate body tem- frequently when calving in not yet be ready to graze and and dirty udders and stuff
perature and become chilled, muddy conditions. Early in- may be very wet themselves. like that. And the new calv-
which can lead to weakness, tervention can be valuable to This creates the risk of re- ing area will not be contam-
lethargy, and suckling issues. help calves get going and en- ducing pasture productivi- inated with pathogens being
Pathogens thrive in muddy sure colostrum consumption. ty by grazing too early and shed by older calves," he said.
lot conditions and udders "When we are talking damaging the wet ground," Mud also can contribute to
Sa
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