Suckler farms are gearing up for the busiest two months for births on drystock farms, with calving already underway on many of them. The vast majority of cows and heifers will calve by themselves, but some will require assistance to avoid loss of the calf, and potentially the cow themselves.

It is important to understand the stages of calving, what the normal signs are for each stage, and when intervention or veterinary assistance are required. A cow gradually progresses through three stages of labour to deliver her calf.