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Pre-calving preparation
From July onwards, we will be getting into pre-calving season and now is the time to start preparing so you can have everything in place to make it as easy as possible.
We asked one of our dairy farmers who runs an autumn block calving herd consisting of 120 Holstein-Friesians (80/120 cows due September), how they prepare for calving, and they gave us a handy summary to share with you.
On this particular farm, calving commences around 1st September and runs to late November. This is a tight calving block and duration will vary between farms.
Drying Off
- Cows dried off six weeks to pre-calving date
- Second calvers are dried off at eight weeks (two weeks extra rest)
Dry cow diet – four weeks pre-calving (cows are housed at this point)
- 22kg fresh weight silage
- 4kg straw
- 4kg meal (own blend incl. dry cow mineral)
- Magnesium chloride flakes – the amount determined on mineral analysis of silage + urine pHs once cows settled on diet
- 5kg water – to encourage intakes
- In the house – teats sprayed daily with iodine – extra disinfectant and helps moisturise teats – emollients in teat spray.
- Any cows expecting twins or with a BCS over three receive a bolus to help prevent ketosis in these higher-risk animals.
Mastitis prevention
- Mastitis prevention- teat sealant for the majority of the herd, high cell count animals receive an antibiotic dry cow tube as well.
- In-calf heifers out to grass start of April – all wear fly tags, drenched with a spot on and get Stockholm tar applied every two weeks on udders and tails to help prevent summer mastitis.
Vaccinations*
*Please note you should consult your vet for vaccination advice the below is only example from one of our case study farmers we do not offer vaccination advice
All in-calf heifers carrying Holstein Heifers (20) plus the 20 cows sex scanned carrying Holstein heifer calves receive a vaccination to protect against rotavirus, coronavirus and E.coli at dry off.
Health & Housing
Dry cows are outside on standing hay from dry off for two weeks.
All animals go into housing four weeks pre-calving and get fed the dry cow diet listed previously.
- In the house – teats sprayed daily with iodine – extra disinfectant and helps moisturise teats – emollients in teat spray.
- Any cows expecting twins or with a BCS over three receive a bolus
- Eight individual calving pens – these were all washed and disinfected 2nd July and now left to rest. These will be deep straw bedded to make cows comfortable and prevent any falls, and make the environment as clean as possible for calves arriving.
- Calf house and kitchen where milk is prepared power-washed and disinfected using a heavy duty disinfectant for the management of protozoa such as Coccidiosis, Cryptosporidiosis & E. coli in May and now resting.
- Sheep hurdles are used to split group pen into individual pens until baby calves are drinking well – all hurdles have also been washed and disinfected.
- Water bowl drinkers are scrubbed and disinfected.
- Milk cart – taken apart and washed/disinfected.
- All teats are replaced in all individual and group feeders.
- Trusti tuber is washed and disinfected and teat replaced. Trusti tuber bottle used to firstly allow the calves to suckle their colostrum and if they don’t drink it all they can be tubed the remainder.
- Mixer tap is checked that it is set at correct temperature for mixing milk @ 40 degrees
- All calf coats are washed at the time when they come off the previous calf – July we check if any needs new buckles etc dipped in peracetic acid to remove any dust etc and left out to dry.
- All feeding equipment is dipped in peracetic acid post washing after every use.
- Foot dips are changed regularly
- All calving cameras checked to make sure they are all working
When the calves arrive

- All calves receive their own mother’s transition milk for 3-4 days to make the most of vaccinated milk (individually penned).
- Calves are then fed four litres am & four litres pm of the transition milk replacer -Transformula- for a minimum of two weeks (group pen).
- Gradually transitioned onto milk replacer and fed twice a day until 35 days then fed once a day until 70 days.
- As soon as she calves, she is milked using a portable milking machine, the calf is transferred to the calf house and manually fed four litres of its own mother’s colostrum.
- Test colostrum using brix refractometer – should be >22%.
- Spray calves naval asap post birth and 12 hours later
- When calf is dry put on a jacket (if temperatures are below 15 degrees at night)
- All feeding equipment is washed after every use and disinfected to prevent build-up of disease
- Baby calves are always fed first to prevent spread of disease from older calves
- Calf blend is mixed on the farm – this is prepared in September. (Starter pellet bought in to start them).
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