Calving
The length of pregnancy in a cow is
about 9 months or 270 days – very similar to a human.
If it’s fine and dry weather-wise, it's best for the cow or heifer to calve outside
where she is relaxed and has clean soft grass to lie
on. Very few of our cows have problems when they calve
and only occasionally do we have to help them. Sometimes the heifers need a little encouragement
because it’s their first calf.
The calf is born in a water sac –
this means that they slip out quite easily but they are
quite wet when they arrive! However Mum quickly learns
to clean them up – her rough tongue gives them a good
massage and stimulates their circulation. It’s not long
before the calf is standing and looking for a feed.
After the calf is born, its mother is milked and
her first milk (colostrum) is fed to the calf.
The colostrum is very important – not only is it a nice warm
filling drink but it is full of antibodies to help the
calf fight off infection over the first few days and
weeks of life.
Read
more about milking
