Calving season is a high-stakes time for cattle farmers everywhere, and while it brings excitement, it also features a healthy dose of stress and anxiety. Luckily, all it takes to reduce your calving stress is some thoughtful preparation—and often, the right equipment.

Where to start is not always obvious. If you’re feeling a need for brief tips, pointers, or friendly reminders, sit right back. That’s exactly what we’ve got.

Calving Pens

Control is key to keeping yourself calm and stress-free. That’s exactly what a good calving pen offers. You could call them basic, yes, but a reliable, sturdy pen can go a long way to keeping the process moving, you and your animals safe, and your mind at ease.

Calf Health

Anything can happen during the calving process, so it’s always a good idea to prepare a medical kit with essential treatments and other supplies, as well as keeping any other necessary items close at hand in the calving area.

Track the health of your newborn calves in any way you can—in a notebook, a whiteboard in your barn, or by digital means. If you’re an efficiency buff, some calf chutes feature built-in scales that give you accurate birth weight readings right away as you take care of other newborn handing steps.

Calf Handling

Speaking of which, processing is several times easier with a good chute or calf catcher, not to mention quicker, safer, and less hectic for the animal—no one wants accidental injuries. Calf Chutes allow you to do everything from tagging to vaccinations without a struggle. ATV calf catchers allow you to move calves hands-free while keeping the mother cow close, reducing her stress and ensuring you and the newborn stay safe.

Conclusion

All in all, the right equipment can make a pivotal difference in your day-to-day calving this season, from your state of mind to mother health and calmness. The healthier your calves are, the happier we all are.

Lakeland sells product after product designed to make sure your season goes as smoothly as possible— browse all our equipment here.

Looking for more tips? See another Lakeland blog post: How to Prepare for Calving Season