Calving Time Updates

Calving season is busy, and keeping your CattleMax records updated as Calves arrive helps ensure your herd records, breeding information, and reports stay accurate.

Record Calving records quickly and easily by going to the Calving screen on the dashboard! 

Note: The “2” within the blue circle indicates the number of Cows expected to calve within the week or are past due. This number will vary depending on your records. 

Keep an Eye on Expected Calving Dates

CattleMax uses breeding information to calculate an Estimated Calving Date (Expected Due Date) for bred cows.

By default, CattleMax uses a 285-day gestation period, but you can customize this by breed under My Account > Breeds List.

How the estimated calving date is calculated depends on the breeding method:

• Natural Service: The estimated calving date is calculated from the breeding start date. If a cow is later pregnancy checked as Pregnant and a Days/Months Pregnant value is entered, CattleMax can use that information to update the expected calving date.
• Artificial Insemination (AI): The estimated calving date is calculated from the breeding date and is not changed based on pregnancy check estimates.
• Embryo Transfer (ET): The estimated calving date uses the recipient's gestation period and breeding date, with 7 days subtracted to account for the age of the transferred embryo.

Recording a New Calf

The easiest way to record calves as they arrive is from the Calving screen.

From the Dashboard, select Calving to see cows with active breeding records. You can narrow the list by days until due, group, or pasture to make it easier to manage cows during calving season.

Select Add Calf beside the appropriate cow to create the calf's record. When you add a Calf this way, CattleMax can automatically fill in information such as the dam, sire, pasture, breed, color, horn status, breeder, and owner when that information is available.

Once you record the Calf, the Cow's breeding status will change to Open, and she will be removed from the Calving screen.

Other Ways to Record a Calf

You can also record a calf from the cow's individual record by using her breeding information or by going to:

Cow Record > Offspring > New Animal

When using the Offspring tab, the dam and available default information will be filled in, but you will need to enter the calf's sire.

For the most complete and accurate records, we recommend recording calves through the Calving screen or the dam's individual record rather than adding the calf as a general new animal.

💡CattleMax Team Tip: When identifying new Calves, it is best practice to ensure you are not reusing ID’s that may already be within your CattleMax account. Use a fresh ID to keep your records clean and concise! 

Recording Twins

Record the first twin just as you would any other Calf.

After you enter the first Calf, the cow will be removed from the Calving screen. To add the second twin, go to:

Dam's Record > Offspring > New Animal

Enter the second calf and its calving information from there.

If one of the twins is grafted onto a Cow, you can update the Calf's record to identify both its Genetic/Donor Dam and its Dam (nurse Cow). This keeps pedigree information connected to the genetic dam while Cow-Calf reports reflect the nurse Cow.

Registered breeders may also need to record a birth or twin code on the Calf's Details tab, depending on breed association requirements.

Keeping these records updated as Calves hit the ground makes it easier to track your Calf crop, maintain accurate breeding histories, and have complete records available when you need them.

Recording Vaccinations and Weights

After adding a new Calf record, take a moment to record any vaccinations and weights collected at birth. Adding this information right away helps build a complete health and performance history for the Calf.

Record Vaccinations

From the Calf's animal profile, select the Health tab to add a new health treatment. 

Enter the vaccination or treatment information, including the date and medication given, and save it to the Calf's record.

Note: You can find the Calf’s animal profile by searching for the ID or clicking the ID within a Group, Pasture, or the Dam's record. 

Record Weights

To record a calf's weight, open the Performance tab on the Calf's individual record.

Add the Calf's weight, date, and any applicable information. Recording a birth weight when the Calf is born provides a starting point for tracking its growth and performance over time.

Taking a few extra moments to add these details while creating and updating Calf records helps keep important calving-season information together and up to date.