Calving 2026

Simmental springer that was synchronised for ai along with 4 more that the blue bull broke into and had his way with. Lucky hes handy calved.

Yeah he's still at them.

Ya, I was thinking that would be the case. At those numbers, there is no training them to the cow, like in the old days.

first calf of 2026 landed today, cow has been off since the weekend, got the vet yesterday, said leave her, calved this morning with a little bit of help as he was backwards.

Gave him a litre out of the bottle but he's making f all effort to stand.

I reckon 2 weeks early or thereabouts

registered a few calves last week. They were only added to my profile today so 10days for the dna testing tags to come back. Also I noticed there major genes are not up wonder what there a problem with the sample or is this test slower?

All I said above is based on what vets said to me over the years anyway. I had a vet here years ago and on his way to me he heard on the local Clare FM, some teagasc guy advising farmers to hang calves from gates. He was going mad after hearing it. He said any small bit of fluid left in the lungs, gets absorbed by the calf anyway.

Teagasc - The calving hack you need to know.

https://teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/the-calving-jack-hack-you-need-to-know/

I want to replace the Mulinahone calving jack with a Vink. 3 models of Vink, the most expensive is the Beef Calving Jack. Is it better to bite the bullet and buy the expensive Vink one.

I have the standard one here with a good few years. It hasn't let me down yet and it has been well tested. Could do with being a few inches longer but if I am at that stage and the pressure is still on I normally move the ropes up above the knees. The head on them is a great job. It will stay exactly where you put it and not be sliding up and down the cow like the old technal one did especially if a cow is lying down.

Slow start here with only 10 calves so far, expecting 10 over the next week now. Let a few cows and calves out on Monday but re-housed today with how cold the wind & rain was. This time last year I had trucks delivering 20 tons of stone for a bridge across a field. This year my footprints are leaving marks in the ground. Going forward I need a second dung sted and hay/straw shed that can be converted to a cow + calf shed for bad Springs like this. 

I gave every cow a Super Grazing 250 bolus start of January. I’ll be doing this every year. On top of that a pre-calver lick all Winter, salt block and a pre-calver mineral fed at half dose to not over supplement. There’s a noticeable improvement in cow’s energy, colostrum quantity, quick cleaning and faster calvings. Calves have been very quick to stand and suckle. Cows then move to a post-calver mineral and 1-2kg of beef ration with a fertility booster lick in the field on turnout to address any Mag and Calcium issues, the bolus should do them until Sept. Hopefully the weather really picks up and calving stays uneventful. 

Cheers for the recommendation, it’s working great. Looking back on it there’s been a noticeable difference. Little things like straighter legs on all calves so they stand quicker, cows coats have a shine to them, cleanings passed much quicker than before, cows are stronger on their legs, hoofs seem harder than previous years. I should have started giving a bolus years ago. Looking forward to how quick cows cycle back in heat now.