Page 36 - MWC 3-10-2022s

Prepare A Calving Kit The Midwest Cattleman · March 10, 2022 · P36

Before Calving Season

Before spring calving sea- ing: disposable obstetrical
son is a good time to put sleeves, non- irritant anti-
together the supplies and septic, lubricant, obstetrical
equipment that will be need- chains (60 inch and/or two
ed to assist heifers and cows 30-inch chains), two obstetri-
that need help at calving cal handles, mechanical calf
time. pullers. Also have a tincture
Hopefully someone in the of iodine solution that can be
operation has already done used to treat navels of new-
a “walk-through” of pens, borns shortly after birth.
chutes, and calving stalls. Don’t forget the simple
Make sure that all are clean, things like a good flashlight
dry, strong, safe, and func- and extra batteries and some
tioning correctly. This is a lot old towels or a roll of paper
easier to do on a sunny after- towels.
noon than a dark night when It may be helpful for you
you need them. to have all these things and
Protocol: Before calving other items you may want to
season starts, develop a plan include packed into a 5-gal-
of what to do, when to do it, lon bucket to make up a
who to call for help (along “calving kit” so you can grab HOLDING ON TO
with phone numbers), and everything at once. Place continued from page 32
how to know when you need that bucket in a location that
help. Make sure all family can be found and reached by shows that steers weighing ability of cost of gain, but
members or helpers are fa- everyone in the operation. 900 pounds when entering price of fed cattle and feed-
miliar with the plan. It may “Calving Protocol” the feedlot were slaughtered er cattle explains 70 to 80%
help to write it out and post •Watch heifers 1 hour at 1,466 pounds, were on feed of feeding profit risk. This
copies in convenient places. after water bag or baby calf for an average of 142 days, will have a big impact on
Talk to your local veteri- feet appear gained 3.78 lbs/day, with the price of feeder cattle and
narian about your protocol •Watch cows 30 min after 6.38 pounds of feed required the willingness of feeders to
and incorporate his/her sug- water bag or baby calf feet per pound of gain. Lighter purchase cattle. Live cattle
gestions. Below is an example appear steers weighing 700 pounds futures are right at $138 to
of a “Calving Protocol” that •Find calving kit on North were on feed for 183 days, $142 for when feeders going
could be laminated and hung wall of calving barn gaining 3.48 pounds per on feed today will be market-
in the barn or calving shed. •Use plenty of lube or soap day, required 6.13 pounds of ed in August through Octo-
Note: this is just an exam- and water feed per pound of gain, and ber. Cattle placed on feed in
ple. You may wish to include •Determine that cervix slaughtered at 1402 pounds. June will be coming off feed
other important steps in the is dilated and calf is coming The Focus on Feedlots Kan- at a higher market of $147.
protocol. Encourage every- head and both front feet first. sas Feedlot Performance and There is considerable risk
one that will be watching Call for help if something is Feed Cost Summary (Justin in this but there is potential
and helping cows and heifers unusual. Waggoner, Kansas State Uni- for positive movement in the
this calving season to read •Don’t pull until cervix is versity), of feedlot closeouts market, even so don’t bet the
Oklahoma State University completely dilated from December shows steers farm without some form of
Extension Circular E-1006, •Apply ¼ turn as hips go gained 3.83 lbs/day and cost risk protection in place.
“Calving Time Management through pelvic bone of gains were $108.37/cwt Figuring out a way to keep
for Beef Cows and Heifers”. •Backwards calf must be with expected cost of gain to calves until markets improve
Lubrication: Many lubri- be $115/cwt for cattle placed can be tricky with high feed
cants have been used and delivered within 4 minutes on feed that month. prices.
after calf’s tail appears
one of the best lubricants is •Briskly tickle nostril of Corn getting more expen- BEEF
probably the simplest: non calf with stiff straw to start sive and high fertilizer pric-
detergent dish soap and breathing es may reduce the corn acres
warm water. •Clean chains and han- planted this spring. Research
Supplies: The stockmen indicates that cost of corn
should always have in their dles and replace calving kit explains 58 to 67% of vari-
medicine chest the follow-

• Featuring ‘ Program’
“ ” Cattle Weekly

• DVAuction Service for convenient
online viewing & bidding
Vienna, Mo 65582 Selling All Classes of Cattle Wednesday @ 10:00 a.m.
For more information: Ross Patton 573-308-6657 • Bill Patton 573-308-6658
• David Patton – 573-308-6655 •
Visit our website at www.scrsvienna.com • or E-mail us at: SCRSVienna@gmail.com
@