Calving Overview: It Has Begun!

Calving has started at Prairie Sun Farms.   There have only been a handful of calves born so far-- I think the total is around seven or eight.  There are around 108 cows total who were/are expected to calve, but it would be surprising if the end-number is exactly 108.  There is usually one or more calves lost to birthing difficulties, but there is often at least one set of twins, too.  So we can't say with certainty that there are one hundred to go- but it should be around that, give or take.

Calving season lasts about a month.  Our cows are bred the old-fashioned way-- the bulls are put with the cows late spring/early summer, with the targetted calving time being March.  No artificial insemination or embryo swapping here, just the good old birds and bees. 

When the due date for the cows draws near, they are held in pens in the corrals.  The heifers usually get their own pen, the cows that are determined to probably be "late-calvers" are in their own pen, and everybody else is in a pen of their own.  About every three hours (more or less often, depending on the weather), Jeff and Tom take turns walking through the corrals to check on the cows-- looking to see if any of them are getting ready to start calving.  The cows also get fed daily and get straw bedding for warmth. 

Usually the signs that a cow is about to start calving are distinct and I am getting better at recognizing these signs. Nevertheless, the labor period for cows, just like humans, is different for each animal and can vary greatly in length.  This is not a blog about biology, so I'm going to stop at that when describing these signs.

Calving is an exciting time.  Though it is a lot of work for ranchers to be so vigilant about checking and caring for the animals, the reward is the promise of new life and the great fortune to be able to witness it firsthand. Besides, baby animals sure are cute, and new, young calves are no exception!

Stay tuned for continuing updates on calving!  I will be posting photos and video peridically, too.  Check back often-- I hope each of you can experience the thrill of calving season along with us!