MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE
MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE
- Management of Pregnant Dairy Animals
Steaming up
This is the process of giving extra nutritious feed in form of concentrates to the pregnant cow. This is done two months before calving and should continue up to calving. Steaming up helps to caters for:
- Fast and health growth of the fetus
- Milk production in readiness of the calf
- Health of the cow
- Signs of Calving
- The cow is restless
- The vulva swells and starts to discharge mucus
- Ligaments on each side of the tail head loosen
- Two days before calving the udder swells if the teats are squeezed milk would come out.
- Preparations for calving
- The cow should calve down on a clean dry place with shelter from sun, rain and predators
- Provide enough bedding in order for the calf to drop on a comfortable place
- Observe the cow and be close so that she can be assisted in case of calving problems e.g. Dystocia
- Clear membranes from the calf nose if the cow cannot clean it
- Protect the calf from predators
- Do not disturb the cow
- If the calf is not born after the cow has strained for over an hour call your local assistant veterinary officer.
