Radio Transcript
December 12, 2025
Damon Pollard

This is Damon Pollard, Livestock Agent with The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service-Burke Center. Today’s topic is Calving Intervention.

With calving season ongoing, cattle producers should observe their herds regularly to be ready to assist, cows or heifers that have trouble. Two-year-olds and 1st calf heifers should especially be monitored, as they often need some assistance.
Producers should intervene if water sac is visible with no progression for 90 minutes. At that time, you should bring the animal up to a suitable facility, whether a chute or stall, and determine if the calf is mal-positioned. Calves coming backwards, having one leg or the head back are definitely going to need immediate help. Calves that are positioned properly should be given more time, after which they may only need a few pulls on the puller to emerge, or rotation in the birth canal should they become hip-locked. If you don’t feel comfortable assisting these badly positioned births, call your vet or someone you know who is capable of assisting.

Remember, assisting early has been proven to return cows to estrus,
and pregnancy sooner, than those assisted later. Once the animal does deliver the calf, and you have assisted, make sure that she and the calf do bond, and be prepared to give colostrum to the calf if it does not nurse quickly. If colostrum needs to be given, give at least 2 liters by esophageal feeder, as it is super important to the calf’s early immunity.

This is Damon Pollard, Livestock Agent with The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service-Burke Center. If you would like more information, please call us at 764-9480.

Radio Transcript
Damon Pollard
May 2, 2025

This is Damon Pollard, Livestock Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service-Burke Center. Today’s topic is Herd Health Programs.

A well-rounded, efficient herd health program is an important, and valuable management tool for all livestock producers. Proper vaccinations for economically important livestock diseases insures producers that their herds, or flocks have a high degree of protection from both outbreaks of diseases, and chronic low level infections. There are various programs producers can implement, however consulting your local vet is a good place to start, as they can recommend a program that is comprehensive in your particular situation, and help you to put together an
adequate program.

Economically, vaccinating your herd can protect you from disease outbreaks, and yield protection from various reproductive and respiratory diseases. The loss of one animal can shrink profits greatly. Studies indicate that a cow/calf producer losing one calf would have to sell 4.7 calves to recover the loss. One infected animal can spread disease among unvaccinated animals rapidly. Producers should always isolate outside animals for a time, until they have been vaccinated and determined to be free of disease.

By implementing a herd health program, using proper vaccines and administration, livestock producers can insure that their operations remain healthy, productive, and profitable.

This is Damon Pollard, Livestock Agent with The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service-Burke Center. If you would like more information, please call us at 439-4467.