Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for calving
- Assess and monitor condition and health status of cow prior to calving
- Check calving equipment, resources and materials and prepare for use
- Graze cows at risk of calving difficulty (especially first calf heifers) in an area where intervention can be carried out with as little disruption as possible
- Identify hazards in assisting with calving and follow safe work practices
- Check mating records and confirm anticipated calving date
- Observe the calving
- Support calving
- Handle calving cows calmly and put in a secure environment
- Implement hygiene procedures to ensure that any calving equipment entering the birth canal is clean
- Estimate the orientation and size of the foetus relative to the pelvis through manual palpation
- Check the possibility of twins and adjust position of the lead foetus where required
- Manipulate a malpresentation physically into the correct position where required
- Apply calving ropes/chains are placed on the calf above the front fetlocks and appropriate calf pulling equipment in the case of dystocia, without causing undue harm to the female
- Bring in specialist support in if normal assistance procedures are not adequate to assist the calving
- Apply enterprise animal welfare policies to livestock handling procedures
- Carry out monitoring after calf has been born
- Allow cow to rest and encourage cow to lick the calf as an initial bonding
- Check calves that have been assisted for clear airways
- Leave the placenta for the cow to ingest after calving
- Treat and record cows with retained placentas or other abnormalities
- Maintain the calving environment, facilities and equipment in a safe, hygienic and operational state and report or fix faults
- Keep record of calving