Calving Equipment Checklist

Are you ready for the start of calving?  Do you know where your calving ropes are?  Is your medicine cabinet well stocked?  With the first calf often arriving quicker than expected it’s a good idea to have checked that your calving equipment and essentials are ready for use.

Make sure you have the following items cleaned and disinfected thoroughly and to hand ready for use.

• Calving jack (in working order and not damaged from the previous season or calving)
• Calving ropes (handy to have spare set)
• Calving gate (in working condition)
• Stomach tube, calf bottle and teat

Erect calving pens and prepare for the first calf. Ensure calving pens are washed and disinfected. Have extra space/pens prepared for calved cows and make sure bedding supplies are well stocked on farm.

Essentials to have in your calving kit;

For those of you using a camera in your calving shed don’t forget to check it is working properly and make sure the lens is clean.

Sarah Balfour, sarah.balfour@sac.co.uk