Our calving season is mid-May through mid-July. We like this time frame because pasture rotation has already started which means that the calves are born on clean, fresh pasture. Clean pastures allow umbilical cords and dam’s udders to be clean, which lowers the chance of infectious pathogens taking hold. The cows can still be moved daily as the newborns can easily slip under the poly wire.

The drawback of pasture… Mamma cow is an expert at hiding her calf in tall grass or the calf easily slips under the poly wire and lays quietly, just a few feet away. I never know which direction to start walking to find it. I just trust that the dam is taking care of her baby. We do monitor udder size which is one indicator that the calf is nursing. Within a week of being born, the calf will join the herd on a more regular basis.