What's In Your Calving Toolbox? (+ Free Printable!)

Posted By: Jesse Williams

---

I am counting down the days until our cows are supposed to start calving- and I am pumped!! Is there any better time of the year when new calves are hitting the ground? I can't think of one. And because I like to be (or attempt to be) organized, I have been preparing for this season almost since last calving season ended. To make things a bit easier I developed a check list of items I like to have on hand in case we need to intervene. It isn't very often we need to, but I would rather be prepared and know what tools I have to work with rather than be scurrying around looking for something I haven't seen since last year. There are probably a lot more items I could add but I think this is a great list for beginners. Add as you go!

Our Calving Check List

Download a customizable PDF version here
Download the Excel worksheet here

• Bolus Inserter 
• Bottle for Feeding 
• Bottle Nipples
• Calf Boluses
• Calf Chains 
• Calf Puller
• Calf Sled 
• CCIA Tags
• Chain Handles 
• Clean Buckets 
• Colostrum Replacement 
• Dettol 
• Disposable Gloves 
• Duct Tape
• Electrolytes
• Epsom Salts 
• Esophageal Feeder 
• Flashlight 
• Headlamp 
• Herd Records (we keep ours on our ipads)
• Iodine Tincture 
• Leatherman 
• Lubricant 
• Management Tags
• Needles 
• Note Pad 
• Obstetrical Gloves 
• Pen & Pencil 
• Petroleum Jelly
• Rags 
• Scalpal
• Scalpal Blades
• Squeeze Bottle (a ketchup or dish soap bottle works great!) 
• Surgical Soap
• Syringes
• Tag Pen 
• Tagger
• Toolbox for Carrying Items 
• Towels
• Udder Lotion
• Vaccines & Medications (chat with your vet) 
• Vaccine Gun 
• Vet wrap
• Vet's Information 

Free Printable!

Did I forget something? Feel free to comment with your suggestions!