As many producers prepare for winter calving, keeping calves alive and healthy becomes even more challenging when temperatures drop well below freezing. Cold stress, disease pressure and delayed colostrum intake can quickly turn small problems into big losses. Fortunately, with the right preparation and management, calves can still get off to a strong start regardless of what winter throws at you.
As with many things in animal health, preparation is the foundation of a successful calving season. Long before the first calf hits the ground, having a plan and the right tools in place makes all the difference.
Prepare before the first calf arrives
Prior to calving, make sure all supplies are ready and easily accessible. A well-stocked calving kit saves time, stress and calves especially during late-night storms.
A basic calving kit should include:
- Flashlight or headlamp
- OB lube
- Shoulder-length OB sleeves
- OB chains or straps with handles
- Mechanical calf puller (if used)
- Shop towels or old bath towels for drying calves
The last thing any producer wants is to search for OB chains after dark in the snow. When using OB chains, proper placement is critical: two throws per leg, one just above and one just below the joint above the hoof, to prevent injury and improve traction.
Scours: the biggest early-life threat
Scours remains one of the most significant challenges during calving season. The good news? Scours is highly manageable with the right combination of vaccination and management.
Many producers already use scour vaccine programs such as ScourGuard 4KC, Scour Bos 9, or comparable products. While vaccination is an important tool, management at calving plays an equally critical role.
Clean, dry environments matter
Scours-causing pathogens build up in the environment as the calving season progresses. That’s why clean dry pens are essential especially in cold wet conditions.
If facilities allow, consider implementing a Sandhills Calving System. This approach focuses on separating calves by age and moving gestating cows to clean areas on a regular schedule.
How it works:
- Cows closest to calving remain in one clean pen
- Once calving begins, remaining pregnant cows are moved to a new, clean pen
- This process is repeated every two weeks
- Calves older than four weeks are considered low risk and can be combined later to save space
By reducing exposure between younger and older calves, the Sandhills system dramatically lowers disease pressure during the most vulnerable period 7 to 14 days of age.
Colostrum sets the immune system
No single factor has a greater long-term impact on calf health than colostrum intake. Calves can absorb maternal antibodies directly through the gut wall for only the first 24 hours of life and absorption begins declining within the first couple of hours after birth.
That makes timing and quality critical.
Best practices include:
- Ensuring calves nurse as soon as possible after birth
- Having stored colostrum available for emergencies
- Feeding one gallon of high-quality colostrum within the first 12 hours when intervention is needed
If a cow loses her calf, her colostrum can be collected and frozen in a gallon zip-top bag. When needed, thaw slowly under warm (not hot) water and administer using an esophageal feeder.
When maternal colostrum is unavailable, colostrum replacers with proven absorption rates are a reliable alternative. Colostrum supplements can also help when calves nurse but don’t receive enough volume or quality.
Managing cold stress at birth
Cold temperatures increase energy demands and stress on newborn calves. Additional tools can help improve survival during extreme conditions:
- Calf warmers or calf coats to reduce heat loss
- Feeding cows later at night, which some studies suggest increases daytime calving rates
- Temporary indoor housing when weather becomes severe
Most producers will do whatever it takes when conditions turn ugly and having these tools ready ahead of time prevents last-minute scrambling.
Watch early and often
Close observation during the first days of life allows producers to catch problems early before they escalate. Weak calves, delayed nursing or signs of diarrhea should trigger immediate action.
Having records, protocols and veterinary support lined up ahead of time helps streamline decisions when time matters most.
Plan, prepare and lean on your team
Successful calving—especially in winter—comes down to preparation and consistency. Clean pens, adequate supplies, timely colostrum and early intervention all stack the odds in your favor.
Have your local veterinarian’s phone number saved and accessible. Get pens cleaned and bedded. Build your calving kit before you need it. And most importantly, have a plan for getting every calf enough quality colostrum as early as possible.
If you take care of these fundamentals, you’ll be well on your way to a successful calving season no matter what the weather has planned.