What Happens When a Calf is Born?
by Lexie Nunes
Have you ever wondered what happens when a calf is born? What do they look like? How big are they? Where do they live?
Farmers go to great lengths to make sure that their cows and calves are healthy and well cared for. Calves are the future of the herd, so dairy farmers are committed to making sure that every calf is healthy and safe from harm. This means providing nutritious feed, safe housing and individual care to their animals throughout their lives.
So, how do farmers help get their calves off to a strong start?
Great calf care begins even before the calf is born! Cows typically give birth to a calf every 12-14 months. About two months before a cow is due to give birth, she stops being milked and is transitioned to a special diet to prepare her for calving.
As the cow gets closer to her due date, she is moved to a maternity pen filled with soft, dry bedding like straw, sand or sawdust. She is given individual care and attention. During the birth, dairy farmers keep a close eye on the animals to ensure a healthy delivery.
A few hours after birth, the calf is usually moved to its own individual pen. This best practice is essential for the health of the calf for several reasons:
- This ensures the best individual care and monitoring of both animals, especially in the first 24 hours, because it’s not uncommon for some cows to ignore their calves.
- At birth, calves have very weak immune systems. It is extremely important to keep them in a clean, dry area away from harmful germs to prevent them from getting sick.
- Calves weigh 50-100 pounds at birth, while their mothers weigh anywhere from 900-1,500 pounds. Individual housing prevents the calf from being stepped on my it’s mother or other cows.
In an individual pen, the farmer can monitor exactly how much milk the calf is drinking instead of guessing if it was able to nurse on its own.
Once the calf is in an individual pen it is fed colostrum – a cow’s first milk after calving. The colostrum is important because it is high in fat, protein and natural immune-boosting elements. Dairy farmers make sure the calf receives colostrum within 1-4 hours of birth.
The calf will live in an individual pen and be fed milk or milk replacer twice a day. Their pens provide ample room for the calves to move freely, protects them from the weather and provides 24/7 access to fresh grain and water.
Calves are typically housed in individual pens for about 2-3 months to ensure a healthy start before being moved to a group pen with other calves their age.