Working Ranch Magazine March/April 2025

CHIMNEY ROCK CATTLE COMPANY

CHIMNEY ROCK CATTLE COMPANY

calf, resulting in positive effects on growth and health for months.” What can operators do to ensure the newborn calf continues to resist dis ease? “Take care of mom,” McPhillips advises. “Calves aren’t born with many fat reserves or body temperature regu lation. Get them into a warm, dry place during inclement weather. Ranchers should vaccinate and work calves as soon as possible before the calf is too vigorous and mom is more aware.” To reduce disease risk, McPhillips recommends using an area that has never been used for calving, where fewer disease-causing bacteria are in the soil. Locations with previous crop growth in sandy soil or rye or wheat pastures are great options. Heavy, clay soils tend to harbor disease-pro ducing microorganisms. McPhillips is a fan of calves hav ing a specific loafing area, away from cows. The operator can install a creep feed gate in the fence, placing quality hay for calves to nibble on. This intro duces them to beneficial microorgan isms, and encourages the rumen to begin functioning. Young calves are not ready for creep feed. “It’s advantageous for them to get away from the cow and mud.” McPhillips observes. “They can be with other calves, unworried about getting trampled on, or when mom is being bred with a bull. The more crowded the calving pen is, the more important the loafing area.” “Discuss the calving plan with your nutritionist and veterinarian,” McPhillips advises. “Focus on the lit tle things. Have a plan, execute the plan, and refer to your veterinarian and nutritionist.” MARCH 2025 I 41

on hand, which have more dis ease-fighting immunoglobulins than colostrum replacements. During calv ing season, these supplements are in high demand and stores may run out. Buy several bags beforehand, making sure the “best by” date has not expired. Fulton recommends milking a cow that lost her calf, and then freezing it. That cow was in the same herd, build ing an immunity to that environment. Her colostrum is very similar to what the calf would have received from her mother. Thaw frozen colostrum slowly in warm water and never warm it in a microwave. “Preparation is key,” Fulton argues. “When the producer starts to have an issue during calving, that isn’t the time to look for the calf jack or OB chain. Have a calving toolbox ready, sitting outside the chute, ready to go. During emergencies, producers should continue to use low-stress handling methods.” Consider improving chute visi bility by adding accessory lighting, making sure it will not impede the flow of handling the dam and her calf. Flashlights do not provide enough light when pulling a calf at midnight. “Work with your veterinarian,” Fulton advises. “Many producers practice the Sandhills Calving System to help prevent disease, [especially scours], from breaking out among calves. Pay attention to the calving lot; make sure you’re giving each calf a clean environment, which is its best chance to survive.” Levi McPhillips, PhD, ruminant nutritionist at Great Plains Livestock Consulting, says caring for the cow or heifer in the third trimester gives the

chance for high-quality calf genetics to express themselves. In winter, most operations have cows on dormant grass or crop res idue. However, cattle require a half pound of supplement protein daily, which they cannot get from dor mant forage. “A half pound of pro tein is three pounds of alfalfa or three pounds of a 30% or 25% cube,” McPhillips advises. “Producers can give protein supplements every other day. All those details depend on their feed and nutrient composition.” Protein is essential, although some producers believe it causes the fetus to grow too large, possibly causing a difficult birth or dystocia. “Extra protein doesn’t make the calf too big, partly due to the bull’s genetics for calving ease,” McPhillips explains. “Nutrition won’t replace good or bad genetics, but a lack of nutrition can limit a calf’s genetic expression.” McPhillips advises producers to provide a complete mineral package adjusted for additional Vitamin A. In the correct amounts, this vitamin prevents stillbirths, abnormal sperm, low conception rates, and weak calves. Cows or heifers should receive good nutrition from an energy, protein, and mineral supplement. It is important to note that rations too high or too low in protein can both be problematic. “I recommend cow-calf clients feed an organic or chelated form of zinc, manganese, and especially copper and cobalt,” McPhillips explains. “These trace minerals are bound to an amino acid, which the animal readily absorbs in the small intestine. Some data suggests these chelated minerals help build the mineral status of the