Providing a safe, stress-free and clean environment is essential
Every calving follows its own path, so it never becomes a routine. Each birth is unique, and requires your undivided attention for the cow and calf. Most cows give birth to a calf without assistance. If help is needed in too many cases, you should take a closer look to your breeding program. The birth process is heavily influenced by dry cow management. Make sure the mother has no stress, sufficient feed and no health problems during the dry period.
The calving pen
When designing the calving barn, think in terms of convenience for yourself and comfort and hygiene for the cow and calf. The standard number of calving pens is 3% of the total number of dairy cattle, for example 3 pens per 100 cows. The guideline for the pen size is 12 to 20 m 2 per cow. Make sure the cow is easy to monitor.
The pen must be accessible with a tractor or loader. This allows for easy moving of a sick cow if necessary and for cleaning out the pen after calving.
Avoid stress! The cow will calve more easily if she retains contact with the rest of the group. If the calving pen is completely secluded, move the cow to the calving pen a few days before calving, so that she can get used to it.
Good ventilation and a fresh atmosphere are essential. The calving pen must be dry, clean and disinfected, with a fresh layer of straw. Put on clean clothes and clean boots before entering the pen. Ensure fresh and clean drinking water and a good supply of feed ration.
The calving protocol
All protocol points are important; but some more than others:
Download the Sprayfo Calving protocol
The calving pen at Hoving dairy farm
What is the best location for a calving pen? How can you ensure optimum monitoring, comfort and cleanliness for the cow and calf, and convenience for yourself? The video of Hoving farm shows a practical example. Dutch dairy farmer Arjan Hoving explains all about the calving barn at this farm with 250 dairy cows.
Calving is a risky period, both for the cow and the calf.
There are a number of things that can be done to ensure a smooth calving process, preparing the calf for a good start of the rearing period and the cow for a successful lactation.
Download the Sprayfo calving protocol to make sure you have the right steps at hand.
You can access all of our documentation such as the science behind Sprayfo and LifeStart research documents, Sprayfo technical bulletins about various calf diseases and technical product data sheets or feeding schedules.
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There are a number of things that can be done to ensure a smooth calving process, preparing the calf for a good start of the rearing period and the cow for a successful lactation.
Download the Sprayfo calving protocol to make sure you have the right steps at hand.
Review your farm performance
Working on, or managing a dairy farm is a challenging task; day-to-day routines demand most of your time. Are your operating procedures well set? Do you get the most out of your work? Tough questions if you don't have any reference at hand.
That is why we are now offering you a simple tool which gives you feedback based on results from fellow farmers around the world. It can help you find opportunities for even better results.
Sprayfo
Calf rearing
Science-based solutions for optimum dairy performance
SPRAYFO DELTA
Sprayfo Delta has been developed with whole milk as the biological reference, mixing the best of whole milk with the best of calf milk replacers (CMRs). Inspired by saleable milk, Sprayfo Delta is high in fat, ensuring calves gets a high level of energy. Combined with a perfect balance of vitamins and minerals calves will get the best possible start in life.
SPRAYFO ROYAL
With its superior quality and a milk powder content of 50% Sprayfo Royal is a front-rank LifeStart endorsed calf milk replacer in the market. Sprayfo Royal contributes to problem-free calf rearing: calves will drink it enthusiastically, show optimal health and grow maximally.
SPRAYFO EXCELLENT
Sprayfo Excellent is a LifeStart endorsed high-quality calf milk replacer for dairy farmers who place the highest demands on their calf rearing. With Sprayfo Excellent you can elevate concentrations to a high level: up to 150 grams per litre of milk.
SPRAYFO VITESSE
Sprayfo Vitesse is a LifeStart endorsed calf milk replacer for dairy farmers who place the highest demands on their calf rearing. Sprayfo Vitesse is easily digestible and very suitable to elevate concentrations up to 150 grams per litre of milk.
SPRAYFO YELLOW
A LifeStart endorsed calf milk replacer for dairy farmers who opt for a familiar and trusted formula. Your step into the professional league of calf rearing.
SPRAYFO BLUE
Sprayfo Blue provides a well-balanced blend for proper calf rearing. Sprayfo Blue is based on unique spray-dried whey-fat kernels. Following the Sprayfo feeding and mixing advice your calves will develop well in the first few months.
SPRAYFO RED
Sprayfo Red is a calf milk replacer for economical and secure calf rearing. Sprayfo Red is very easily dissolved due to the unique spray-drying production process. It can be fed as from day 10 after birth.
SPRAYFO eVITO
Coming soon! Sprayfo e-Vito is the first energised calf starter feed that is being develop by Trouw Nutrition. Two trials in Holstein dairy calves have been carried out to date. In the first trial, carried out by IRTA in Spain, it was established that mixing in 10% energised calf starter pellet into the normal calf starter gives optimal results.
SPRAYFO AVANTA
Sprayfo Avanta Calf Starter is based on research and experience resulting in a balanced formulation and when combined with Sprayfo calf milk replacers, Sprayfo Avanta is the basis for the best rumen development for calves in the first months: facilitating trouble free weaning and the best growth up to an age of 4 months.
SPRAYFO COLOSTRUM
In case of low quality or quantity colostrum on farm, an alternative to natural colostrum can be provided with Sprayfo Colostrum: a feed material perfectly suitable to be provided as a colostrum replacer or supplement for calves.
SPRAYFO HYDRAFIT
Sprayfo HydraFit is a complementary feed for ruminants that provides the needed salts and sugars in the right amounts and in the correct ratio. HydraFit uses a method with a pending patent that allows for fast intake of water and supply of electrolytes and maintain hydration status.
SPRAYFO OSMOFIT
Sprayfo OsmoFit is a dietetic complementary feed for calves, developed to stabilize the water and electrolyte balance to support physiological digestion in case of diarrhoea. This patent pending formula allows for effective recovery and correction of metabolic acidosis.
