She must have received adequate energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and other essential nutrients during pregnancy, especially during the last 90 days. The calf's dam should be free of infectious diseases. Viral diseases can be transmitted from cow to fetus during gestation. Infectious diseases of the cow also can be passed to her calf at time of birth. A clean site for calving gives the calf a head start against infection.
Clean sod is excellent but it is often necessary to calve inside.
A maternity stall should be cleaned, sanitized and bedded between occupants. Wash and sanitize the cow's teats and udder before the calf nurses. Colostrum Calves are born virtually without protection against disease-producing organisms. The bovine placenta does not allow passage of immunity from cow to fetus. Maternal antibodies for the calf are concentrated in the colostrum.