Calving in hot weather

[bandit80]

This is the first year I have a "fall" calving herd. I use the term fall loosely because it is really the middle of summer here. I purposely held 15 cows away from a bull last year and switched them from spring to fall calving, and I also was able to find some more pasture this spring and purchased some more fall calving cows. I want most of my fall calves on the ground by the first of October, due to the fact my day job gets much busier from October through January, and don't have the time to be checking on cows that would be calving. I think it will work out well, as my spring herd will start in February, when my day job slows downs for a couple of months. Last fall, I synch'd and AI'd the ones I kept back to be due the 15th of this month. The cows I purchased are due to start calving the 20th of this month.

Anyhow, I knew this might be an issue, but we are having extremely warm temperatures here, with highs near 100, and heat index values over 110. Normal highs are around 90 with lows around 70. So far, 4 of the cows I AI'd have calved with no problems. Seems they have all been born during the night. I have been applying a small amount of pour-on to their face and navel to help the fight against the flies. My concern is a cow in labor in this extreme heat. My thoughts are she only might get herself in trouble if she has trouble having her calf. I do not have a history of calving difficulties, but curious if anyone has experience with this, or has an opinion.

 

[danbrady]

I'm down in the Louisiana heat and like to get the calves born from Nov. to Jan. However, I have a couple that I let slip up and calf this July, no problems. Both sort of middle age cows, but I was there for one, she found a shady spot and went to work and made it look easy, right in the middle of the day. Both crossbred medium sized, light colored cows. Bred to a rather large calf throwing Braford bull.

I do believe in allowing for some ear in the calves, although I have noticed it being harder on the cows when winter weather. Being like 60 during the day, and 25 at night. This past winter was the wettest and worst we've seen, and this summer's not better. I just keep the minerals out, and make sure they have water.

 

[Angus Cowman]

I calf the same as you most yrs I don't have too much problem as I have plenty of shade but yes the heat can affect the cows and calves and I wish it was 10 degrees cooler main think is having shade for the cows to get into
goodluck

calving in Auguast is like calving in January and Feb around here you might have several good yrs with the weather cooperating and then you get one where it is hot
in Jan and Feb you will have one evry few yrs when it is cold windy and freezng rain all month and it will make ya question why you are calving at that time
good luck

 

[angus9259]

I calved a commercial group for years between the end of august and the end of september and never had a problem. I'm converting my purebred herd to sept/oct.

 

[dun]

Since ours have shade the only thing we worry about is flys on the calves. I spray the navel area for a couple of days with permectrin/diesel and pour the cow with ultraboss. Nock on wood, we've not had problems doing that.

 

[1982vett]

I lost several over the years I had a day job and Dad wasn't around to check them several times a day. I remember finding one out in the open with the calf out to the hips. Another I missed and couldn't find but about 6 days later she was back with the heard but stunk to high heaven...still had the rotten calf in her which worked its way out on the walk to the lot. You do what you can, but anything can happen when you don't watch them all day long. I think hot weather just shortens the time you have to intervene when trouble arises. You said you already have a history of calving problems so I'd expect your death loss on cows from calving problems would increase just a bit. You also said you bought some bred cows so difficult births on them probably isn't known. During the years I had a lot of calving problems I'd come home to quite a few that needed help, Including one that had hung a foot in a cattleguard just behind the house. But I'd find dead cows in the winter as well as the summer.

 

[Arkieman]

Since ours have shade the only thing we worry about is flys on the calves. I spray the navel area for a couple of days with permectrin/diesel and pour the cow with ultraboss. Nock on wood, we've not had problems doing that.

How do you catch those boogers after the first couple of days?

 

[dun]

Since ours have shade the only thing we worry about is flys on the calves. I spray the navel area for a couple of days with permectrin/diesel and pour the cow with ultraboss. Nock on wood, we've not had problems doing that.

How do you catch those boogers after the first couple of days?

I don;t. I just hose them down with the stuff when they're too fresh to run much. The neighbors cows I tolled over to the fence with cubes and sprayed the calf and put ultraboss on the cows through the fence

 

[Arkieman]

So you used the "broadcast" method!! lol!

 

[dun]

So you used the "broadcast" method!! lol!

The nozzle on the sprayer is set fur a tight stream but will only shoot about 6-8 feet.

 

[bandit80]

I lost several over the years I had a day job and Dad wasn't around to check them several times a day. I remember finding one out in the open with the calf out to the hips. Another I missed and couldn't find but about 6 days later she was back with the heard but stunk to high heaven...still had the rotten calf in her which worked its way out on the walk to the lot. You do what you can, but anything can happen when you don't watch them all day long. I think hot weather just shortens the time you have to intervene when trouble arises. You said you already have a history of calving problems so I'd expect your death loss on cows from calving problems would increase just a bit. You also said you bought some bred cows so difficult births on them probably isn't known. During the years I had a lot of calving problems I'd come home to quite a few that needed help, Including one that had hung a foot in a cattleguard just behind the house. But I'd find dead cows in the winter as well as the summer.

I do not have a history of calving difficulties

Over half done after 17 days and no problems. Weather broke 5 days ago and highs are down in the 80's. Hopefully continue to have smooth sailing from here

 

[1982vett]

Hope the rest come without any problems too. You are brave to post 17 days and no problems... :lol: Sort of draws a bullseye on me If I'd done it. I've had 4 over the past few days. Temps broke late yesterday afternoon but past week has been the hottest it has been all summer.

Don't want to upset the Limousin and Beefmaster folks, but I haven't had near the problems since we moved away from those bulls. But with saying that, I also have to say they weren't the right match for the herd I had at the time either.