Snowy calving, happy calving

01/02/2019

For several years, the idea has been trotting in our head, why not make our calving outside in winter? It works so well in Automn, Let's trying in winter! Well helped by a mild winter, we have taken the plunge.

So this year about 20 cows calved or  will calve outside. And midway we are satisfied with the choice because everything is going well:

• Calving: RAS, the nights are longer so the cow will have to wait longer in case of problems but the risk is assumed
• The cold: as soon as the calf suckled he does not seem to feel it any more
• Diseases: it is on this point that the gain seems the most important!

On this last point we had already noticed the difference, with almost no treatment for diarrhea or lung problems for autumn calves. In any case much less than for winter calvings with twice as many calves born! Indeed in buildings as soon as a calf catches something he gently transmits it to many of his friends. And magically everything stops when you let go animals outside. So why not go after things and let the cows calve out?

The first results are positive:

• No additional losses at calving
• 0 calf treated outside against 8 for diarrhea inside
• As a result calves rather better started outside
• To see if there will be a significant difference in the docility to weaning

The first trend encourages us to go next year to more calving in the field. However it is necessary to wait for the end of the winter to draw definitive conclusions but the health aspect pleads clearly in favor of this option. Especially since it sticks well to our production of grass bulls with 0 vaccination and 0 supplementation before weaning. Moreover to improve this option we plan to delay calving to February 15 to avoid the harsher part of winter and take better advantage of the grass.

Case to follow!