Calving Checklist

Written by Amanda Radke in BEEF Daily and reproduced here. Get ready for the calving season by being all prepared beforehand with this Calving Checklist.

• Ear tags.
• Markers.
• Tagger (and a spare).
• Calving book for record-keeping.
• A list for when everything is due and what they are bred to.
• The veterinarian’s number on speed dial.
• Milk tuber.
• Pitcher to milk the cow with.
• Calf boost.
• Syringe.
• Scour pills.
• Bolus gun.
• Duct tape or ear muffs of some sort to pin ears down on cold nights.
• Sled with ropes to pull calves out of the snow and to the barn.
• Calf catch.
• Scale and sling for weighing the calf.
• Calf puller and chains.
• Lasso.
• Halter.
• Plastic gloves.
• Milk replacer.
• A sedative of sorts for the occasional surly cow that needs milking out.
• A list of potential culls based on poor udders, bad dispositions, tough calving, old age, etc.
• Sorting sticks.
• Square bales for bedding and feed when the pairs are in the barn.
• Coveralls, gloves, hats, boots, long johns, wool socks, etc.
• A hot box, heater or place in the basement bath tub for cold calves.
• Clean towels.