It doesn’t have to be a muddy mess with these tips

By KRISTIN DANLEY-GREINER

Between bouts of rain and snow, freezing and thawing pasture ground, calving conditions haven’t exactly been ideal this spring.

Warmer temperatures were welcome, only to be crushed by frigid temps the following day.

Mother Nature historically hasn’t made spring calving easy for farmers, but many cattle producers have found conditions to be extra muddy this year, posing problems for the newest additions to their herds.

“Muddy conditions increase the risk for hypothermia, failure of passive transfer and infectious disease of newborn calves,” said Chris Clark, beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“Wet, muddy coats do not insulate as effectively as clean, dry coats. Born into these conditions, newborns can struggle to regulate body temperature and become chilled, which can lead to weakness, lethargy and suckling issues. Pathogens thrive in muddy lot conditions and udders can easily become dirty with contaminated mud and manure.”

Because each farm has its own setup, there’s no one-sizefits-all recommendation to fix the scenario other than to make sure cows are calving in welldrained areas that are high and dry.

"Use bedding to create dry areas and layers of insulation between the animals and the wet ground, and remember to remove saturated bedding and/ or re-bed as necessary," Clark said. "Feeding on concrete or pads of packed rock or lime can create a solid base under high traffic areas that can become extremely messy.”

With higher hay prices, the next best bet would be to use corn stalks instead, Clark recommended.

“They work well and are probably the most readily available and affordable option in Iowa. Wheat straw is a traditional option, too, but probably a little harder to find and I suppose things like wood shavings might be options as well,” he said.

Clark said calving under a roof can help by offering protection for cattle and keeping the ground drier. It also creates a more favorable scenario for farmers.

“Additional advantages would be protection from wind and cold temperatures, which is good for producers as well as the cattle. It can be a lot more pleasant to be out there with the cattle when working inside a good calving barn as opposed to out in the cold, mud, wind, etc. Disadvantages include cost of the building, which is significant and sometimes simply prohibitive, and the animal concentration under the roof,” Clark said. That’s because more animals under one roof boosts the risk of disease transmission among the herd, increases the risk of calf injury and compounds the manure load. “Scours, navel ill and respiratory disease would be primary concerns for young calves. Mastitis would be a concern for cows. Calves can easily get injured by cows when confined in tight quarters and although the ground is protected from precipitation, it is now exposed to manure and urine from a lot of animals so pen conditions can still get messy,” Clark said. “Labor will be required to clean and bed regularly.”

Calving out in the open pasture or on a cover crop field means fewer animals clustered in one area, less manure piling up and a lower risk of disease

See CALVING, Page 5C