Preventing Dystocia Before Calving Season Starts

摘要

Calving season has started for some and will begin soon for others. Meanwhile, beef producers are preparing themselves for less sleep each night, as time spent observing cows day and night will soon start. Nearly 90% of beef producers regularly observe cows and heifers during calving (NAHMS, 2008), and research shows doing calving checks every 3 hours yields best results. Yet, the best calving check regimen is not always practical or a guaranteed way to eliminate calving problems or dystocia from occurring. It is estimated 11 % of heifers and 4% of cows need some assistance during calving each year (NAHMS, 2008). Therefore, what can we do to prevent calving difficulty before it occurs so calving season will be a little less stressful for all parties involved?