Many cattle herds take a knock in winter when forage quality declines in the summer rainfall areas. Here are some strategies to improve forage utilisation and ensure maximum production efficiency. A cow should produce a calf every year (365 days) and conceive again within 90 days after giving birth. To…
Question: After my cow calved, she was unable to get up. In spite of giving her fodder, she died. What causes this and what can I do to prevent the situation in future? It is possible that even a cow in good condition can suffer from milk (lacteal) fever, that…
Question: I have a cattle ranch and I don’t see all the cattle every day. Sometimes a cow comes in having calved, but with no milk whatsoever, and no reason for the dry udder. I then have to rear the calves and don’t always have enough frozen colostrum for them.…
Question: I know how to care for the newborn calf or lamb, but what must be done to ensure the cow or ewe gets pregnant again after calving or lambing? First of all, small-scale farmers have to remember that the number of calves or lambs born is the most important…
Question: My cattle aren’t calving every year. What could be the problem? I have a good bull that’s been tested and proved itself to be productive. The most important, and most difficult, task is to manage a cow in such a way that she calves once every year. One calf…
Braunvieh cattle crossed with Brahman produce a cross-bred animal that is very popular among extensive dairy farmers in Namibia. Dairy farmers are suffering all around the world amid low producer prices and high production costs. In Namibia, with its difficult farming conditions, you can expect it to be even tougher,…
The approach of spring signals the arrival of the calving season. Even stockmen who calve year-round will have a naturally greater flush of calving in the spring. Keep a watchful eye on your cows. They need some extra attention. POST-CALVING The post-calving period is the most critical time in the…
