The best time to get ready for calving is well before the first calf hits the ground. A bit of planning in July means that when the busy season arrives, you are calm, stocked up and ready for whatever the paddock throws at you.
Calving season is one of the most rewarding times of the year, and one of the most demanding. Being organised makes all the difference to how many healthy calves you have on the ground come spring. This guide walks through getting set up, looking after your cows and giving every newborn the best possible start.
Quick summary
- Many Coffs Coast producers calve in late winter and early spring to meet the spring pasture flush.
- Build and check your calving kit now, before you actually need it.
- Keep cows in good body condition through late pregnancy to reduce calving trouble.
- Learn the warning signs so you know when to step in or call the vet.
- Get colostrum into every newborn calf within the first few hours of life.
Why Late Winter Calving Lines Up With Spring Pasture
Timing your calving is one of the biggest decisions you make, and around here the seasons offer a clear steer.
Matching Peak Feed Demand to Peak Pasture Growth
Many beef producers on the North Coast time their calving for late winter into early spring, so that the cows’ peak feed demand while feeding a calf lines up with the flush of spring pasture (NSW Government). That means well-fed cows, better milk for calves and less reliance on bought-in feed. It also means July is the ideal time to get everything organised, before the paddock gets busy.
Stocking Up Before the First Calf Arrives
There is nothing worse than needing a piece of gear at 2am and not having it. Sort your supplies while things are quiet.
The Calving Kit Checklist
A good calving kit lives in a clean, portable tub that you can grab in a hurry. Here are the essentials worth having on hand.
| Calving kit essential | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Calving straps or chains and handles | To assist a difficult birth safely |
| Obstetric lubricant and disposable gloves | For hygienic, gentle assistance |
| Iodine navel dip or spray | To disinfect the calf’s navel and help prevent infection |
| Colostrum or a colostrum replacer | To make sure the calf gets those vital first-milk antibodies |
| Calf milk powder and a feeder | To feed orphan or weak calves |
| Electrolytes | To support a scouring or dehydrated calf |
| Towels, a torch and a thermometer | For drying calves, night checks and monitoring |
Yard and Handling Gear Worth Checking Now
July is also the time to check your yards and handling gear are up to scratch. Make sure your race, head bail and any calf cradle are safe and working, so you can restrain a cow calmly and safely if you need to give a hand (browse our livestock handling range). It is also worth getting your record keeping and identification sorted. In New South Wales, cattle must be identified with NLIS tags and your property needs a Property Identification Code, so make sure you have tags on hand before the calves arrive (Integrity Systems).
Looking After the Cow
A healthy calf starts with a healthy, well-conditioned cow. The weeks before calving are the time to get this right.
Late-Pregnancy Nutrition and Condition
Cows in good but not fat condition calve more easily and produce better colostrum. As a general guide, aim to have cows calving in moderate body condition, with heifers carrying a touch more, and keep their nutrition steady through late pregnancy to avoid calving difficulties (Agriculture Victoria). Good quality feed, along with the right supplements or lick blocks for your pasture, helps fill any gaps. Your vet can advise on managing minerals like calcium and magnesium if milk fever is a risk in your herd.
Knowing the Warning Signs
Check your cows at least twice a day through calving, and keep heifers close to the yards, since they are more likely to need help. Once a cow is in active labour, she should make steady progress. As a general rule, it is time to call the vet if a heifer has shown the water bag for about an hour with no progress, if a cow has gone about two hours or pushed hard for 30 minutes with nothing happening, or if you see an abnormal presentation, a foul-smelling discharge or a cow that is clearly exhausted (Pittsworth Veterinary Surgery). Early help saves calves and cows, so when in doubt, make the call.
Giving Newborn Calves the Best Start
Those first few hours of a calf’s life matter enormously. A little attention here pays off for months.
Colostrum in the First Hours
Colostrum, the cow’s first milk, is packed with antibodies that protect the calf until its own immune system kicks in. The catch is timing, because a calf’s ability to absorb those antibodies fades quickly and the gut effectively closes by around 24 hours after birth (FutureBeef). Aim to see every calf get a good feed of colostrum within the first few hours. If a calf cannot suckle or the cow has none, a quality colostrum replacer is your backup. While you are there, dip or spray the navel with iodine to help prevent infection.
H3: Caring for a Weak Calf
If a calf is slow to get going, get it dry, warm and out of the wind first. A weak calf may need help to feed, starting with a bottle and moving to a stomach tube feeder if it cannot suckle, and electrolytes can help a calf that is dehydrated or scouring. For orphan calves or those not getting enough milk, calf milk powder is a reliable way to keep them fed, mixed and given strictly as directed on the label. If a calf is not picking up, call your vet promptly.
Protecting Newborns From Ticks and Parasites
Our mild, green coast is wonderful for grazing, but it also suits ticks and parasites.
Why Young Calves Need Extra Vigilance on the North Coast
Ticks and other parasites are a genuine concern along our stretch of coast, and young calves are especially vulnerable. Keep an eye on newborns and speak with the team and your vet about suitable, appropriately registered protection for your situation, always following the product label. A quick chat before the season saves a lot of worry once the calves are on the ground.
How Coffs Harbour Produce Can Help
We stock the animal health and calving supplies you need to be ready, from navel dip and colostrum to calf milk powder and electrolytes. Our team is happy to help you build a calving kit and checklist suited to your herd. Pop into our Coffs Harbour store or our sister store Valley Rural Supplies in Nambucca Heads, and remember we offer free next-day delivery across the greater Coffs Harbour region on bulky orders (order by 3pm, conditions apply).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is calving season on the Coffs Coast?
Many local beef producers calve in late winter and early spring, so their cows’ peak feed needs line up with the spring pasture flush. That makes July a great time to get organised before the season starts.
What should be in a calving kit?
The essentials are calving straps or chains and handles, obstetric lubricant and gloves, iodine navel dip, colostrum or a replacer, calf milk powder and a feeder, electrolytes, and towels, a torch and a thermometer.
How soon does a calf need colostrum?
Within the first few hours of birth. A calf’s ability to absorb the antibodies in colostrum drops quickly, and the gut effectively closes by about 24 hours, so the sooner the better.
When should I call the vet during calving?
As a general guide, call if a heifer shows no progress about an hour after the water bag appears, if a cow has gone about two hours or pushed hard for 30 minutes with no progress, or if you see an abnormal presentation or a foul discharge. When in doubt, call.
What is calf milk powder used for?
Calf milk powder, or milk replacer, is used to feed orphan calves or to top up calves that are not getting enough from their mother. Always mix and feed it exactly as directed on the product label.
Ready for a Smooth Calving Season?
A little preparation now means a calmer, more successful calving season ahead. If you would like a hand putting your calving kit together, the team at Coffs Harbour Produce is at 26 June Street, Coffs Harbour, on 02 6652 2599, or you can send an online enquiry. Call, email, or drop in for a chat, and we will help you get set for the season.
References
- NSW Government (Local Land Services), Beef calendar of operations, https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-and-primary-industries/livestock/beef-cattle/calendar-operations
- Agriculture Victoria, Managing heifers during and after calving, https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/beef/breeding/managing-heifers-during-and-after-calving
- Pittsworth Veterinary Surgery, Calving: when to intervene, https://pittsworthvetsurgery.com/calving-when-to-intervene/
- FutureBeef, Calf survival checklist, https://futurebeef.com.au/calf-survival-checklist/
- Integrity Systems, National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), https://www.integritysystems.com.au/identification–traceability/national-livestock-identification-system/
