Peterson emphasized the importance of the humans responsible for the care of the cattle as a vital aspect of the start of life and the lactation of the calf and cow, respectively. If we think about writing a description of all the many responsibilities, the list gets very long and complicated, and often varies by farm, requiring significant teamwork and communication. As we think about this list, it is important to be cognizant of how many of these tasks take the person away from the maternity barn. Peterson pointed out the challenges that occur when the maternity barn staff are taken away from their primary work, leaving a deficit in the maternity area.

Cow, environment, and recordkeeping

Looking at how the maternity barn staff manage daily operations is a topic Peterson covered in-depth. Helping the staff of the maternity barn to do their very best job possible should be a key goal on the operation. Some examples of how to best provide support to the team included lists of all cow due dates, identification on sire identification, and if the calf is a replacement or a dairy-beef crossbred. Peterson covered several ways to communicate with the maternity team and how to train and teach the why of the procedures at the operation. She also discussed the importance of quality facilities that make it safe for employees, cows and calves, as well as a way to collect and feed colostrum. Additionally, cow access to feed and water and the training of employees on all postfresh treatment protocols are important concepts of understanding for maternity barn staff. For recordkeeping, she recommended using a system that works for the operation and recording the important information to help keep data consistent. They include notebooks, fillable forms, and even preprinted stickers to assist with the identification of cows and calves.

Umbilical care, calf identification, and colostrum

“The superhighway to the calf’s liver and bloodstream” was how Peterson described the importance of umbilical care and management, specifically with the recommendation to avoid cutting umbilical cords. She emphasized that cutting the umbilical cord creates a larger opening, opening up a direct line to the calf’s bloodstream, putting the calf at risk for infection. Leaving an umbilical cord that was separated through the process of birth is the best option for the calf health, even if that means an unsightly long cord. Additionally, Peterson provided some calf identification tips that include visual tags on the calf with the time of first colostrum feeding. She provided many other practical colostrum management tips, feeding, and handling recommendations.

With many photos and videos to support the practical tips, you can view the webinar in its entirety by clicking on this link.