Northeast Iowa | Joelt - 12/30/2024 19:59
If practical restrict them to only eating in the evening which greatly increases the chances they’ll calve during the daylight hours. I don’t know the physiology behind it but since I started this program about 10 years ago I’ve had ~75% of calves born between noon and 6 pm.
The Konefal Calving Method. This year will be my 35th one using it. Recorded birth times the first year and found nearly every one was in the daylight. Let them have access to water all day long. Just restrict the feed and make sure they have it all cleaned up the next morning. If not (round bale feeder for example), lock them away from feed until the evening feeding. Same for bedding. Put new bedding out when you feed so that they don't eat that all day long instead.
A vet was skeptical of the idea until I asked him when he was last here in the dark for anything. He thought a while and then his eyes lit up. "Never. Do you think it would work in humans?"
His wife was an OB nurse.
"Run the idea past her and let me know how it goes over."
https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/want-more-calves-born-in-daylight-f... |
February Calving Advice
