With the main calving season swiftly approaching, the air at Ogilvie Stock Ranch is thick with anticipation and the spirit of readiness. This time of year is marked by a flurry of preparations, each step meticulously planned to ensure the health and safety of our soon-to-arrive calves and their mothers. Join us as we take you behind the scenes of our calving season preparations, highlighting the love, care, and science that guide our efforts.
Scour Vaccination: Our First Line of Defence
Preventing scours in newborn calves is paramount, which is why scour vaccinating our heifers and cows holds the top spot on our to-do list. This proactive measure boosts the immunity of the mothers, which is then passed onto the calves through colostrum, playing a critical role in safeguarding our herd’s future from this common but preventable disease.
Groundwork and Preparations for Calving
As the snow blankets our fields, my dad is out in full force on our tractor, clearing paths and areas for the cows to bed down in while ensuring accessibility across the ranch. We then roll straw out against wind breaks so the cows have a warm bed during winter storms.
Preparing the barn is next, with fresh straw laid out to provide a warm, comfortable environment for our newborns.
Watchful Eyes and Careful Steps
Our dedication stretches into the wee hours, with night checks becoming a regular fixture, ensuring we’re always at hand to assist with any midnight calvings. Every four hours, we walk through the herd, keeping a vigilant eye for signs of calving. It’s a practice rooted in our commitment to the well-being of our animals, allowing us to intervene promptly, should nature require a helping hand.
Organizing for Efficiency
Our vet supply room becomes the hub of organization, stocked and ready with all necessary supplies. We double-check our inventory, ensuring that essentials like electrolytes, calving chains, disposable vet sleeve gloves, packages of colostrum, selenium injection, tattoo ink for our purebreds, dehorning paste, and ear tags are well-stocked. Speaking of ear tags, each calf is individually identified with both a Ritchie tag for our in-house management and an RFID tag, adhering to national livestock identification standards and ensuring traceability from birth. Preparing colostrum supplies and calving essentials, such as scales for weighing and straw for the stalls, are among the final pieces of our calving puzzle.
A Focus on New Beginnings
The calving season is a testament to the cycle of life, renewal, and the dedication inherent to ranching. At Ogilvie Stock Ranch, our preparations are driven by a desire to ensure the best start for our calves and the continuous health of our herd. As we look forward to the season ahead, we are reminded of the resilience, care, and attention to detail that form the backbone of life on the ranch.
Are you as excited as we are for the arrival of the newest members of our herd? Follow our journey through calving season and beyond by staying tuned to our blog and social media channels. What aspects of calving season do you find most intriguing? Share your thoughts in the comments below or send us a message!
