Calving problems licked

30 YEARS AGO John Webb, owner of the Kirsty South Devon Stud, which was run on the farm Bronkhorstfontein in the Free State, found that calving problems disappeared when he switched from a high-protein lick to a salt-phosphate lick.

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“Calving problems with registered cows? Unheard of. Even if such a disaster does occur, few stud breeders will readily admit to it.

“Mr Webb is the exception. During 1986, this breeder experienced several cases of difficult births in his herd. However, he had too much faith in his chosen breed to blame the animals, so he sought the problem in his management.

“Armed with the advice of several experienced people, he altered his feeding policy. Up to then he had been providing the in-calf cows with high-protein licks.

“These were replaced with salt phosphate licks, and within one season difficult births decreased from plenty to zero. Birth-mass records showed an immediate drop of 12,5 per cent after the protein licks were removed; the average birth-mass of 40kg dropped to 35kg. 

“So a prevalent problem among his heifers and smaller-framed cows was eliminated because Mr Webb was honest about it and not too proud to seek advice.