Calving

Also: parturition, birth

Calving is the birth of a calf. Most cows calve without help, usually lying down, and the calf should be on its feet and suckling within a few hours. Difficult births, called dystocia, are more common in first-calf heifers and when large calves are carried by small cows, which is why breeders value easy-calving bulls. Many beef herds and those in seasonal climates calve in a set season, often spring, so calves are born when grass is growing, while dairy herds may calve all year. The time between one calving and the next, the calving interval, is a key measure of a herd's fertility, ideally about a year.

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