As the days shorten and the mornings get crisper, New Zealand dairy and beef farmers turn their attention to calving — one of the busiest and most important times on the farming calendar. Whether you run a small mixed farm or manage a larger dairy operation, preparation is key to a smooth and successful season. For those of us who favour a more natural approach, there are some great homeopathic options to support both cows and calves through this time.
Getting Ready for Calving
Preparation ideally begins weeks — even months — before the first calf hits the ground. Here are a few things to think about:
1. Cow Condition & Nutrition
Make sure your cows are in good body condition as they head into calving. Too fat or too thin can lead to complications like milk fever, retained afterbirths, or weak calves. Keep up with mineral supplementation (especially magnesium and calcium), and if you’re using homeopathic minerals, ensure they’re being given regularly in the lead-up to calving.
2. Calving Environment
Clean, sheltered paddocks are essential. Cows should have easy access to fresh water, minimal mud, and protection from the worst of the winter weather. Hygiene helps reduce the risk of mastitis and navel infections in calves.
3. Colostrum Management
Colostrum is liquid gold. Every calf should get a good feed within the first 2–4 hours of life. If you're feeding it manually, make sure hygiene is top-notch. Consider using homeopathic Tub aviare to support passive immunity and digestive strength in newborns. Tub aviare is given in the first week of life, or when new calves arrive on the farm, one spray AM & PM for 2 days only. Alternatively one capful placed in the bulk milk at the same dose rate.
4. Calving Kit Essentials
Stock up early. Essentials include gloves, lubricant, iodine for navels, calving chains or ropes, clean towels, electrolytes, and of course — your homeopathic kit!
Supporting Your Herd Naturally with Homeopathy
Homeopathic remedies are a great addition to your calving toolbox — they’re safe, cost-effective, and can be used alongside conventional treatments where needed. Here are a few of our favourites:
Arnica/Bellis
A must have for trauma, bruising, or hard calvings. Give it after any difficult birth, or even pre-emptively if a cow looks like she’s in for a tough time. Can be placed in water supply for Colostrum mob. Remember that this is one that is not to be used on torn skin.
Caulophyllum
Supports a smooth labour process. Many farmers use it in the weeks/days leading up to calving to help tone the uterus and promote steady contractions. Caulophyllum is the first product to consider for any retainings in the first 24 hours, post birth.
RM Combo
RM Combo is a carefully thoughtout blend of Echinacea, Gunpowder, Pyrogen, Secale, and Baptisia – each selected for their powerful action in supporting cows through calving. Whether you're dealing with dirty paddocks, hard births, or cows that just seem “off,” RM Combo has you covered.
What It Does:
RM Combo offers broad-spectrum immune and infection support during one of the most vulnerable times for your cows – calving. It’s designed to:
Assist the immune system (Echinacea) when cows are run-down, stressed, or calving in muddy, high-risk conditions.
Prevent and manage infection or sepsis (Gunpowder, Pyrogen, Baptisia), especially useful when there’s a dirty birth, retained afterbirth, or signs of toxaemia.
Help the uterus contract and clean out properly (Secale), speeding up recovery and reducing the risk of metritis or retained cleanings.
Promote overall resilience and faster recovery, even in cows that have had a tough calving or are showing early signs of illness.
Use RM Combo:
Preventatively in cows at risk, such as those with a history of uterine issues, or calving in less than ideal conditions.
Post-calving to help with retained afterbirths, slow recovery, or suspected infections..
RM Combo is a natural, antibiotic free way to keep your herd healthy during the calving season. It's especially handy when you want to act early but avoid over treating. Simple, effective, and made with the realities of farm life in mind.
Travel Combo
Travel Combo combines three powerful homeopathic remedies; Aconite, Arnica, and Ignatia. This formula is designed to support both cows and calves through the emotional and physical challenges of calving. Whether you're dealing with first time mums, cold weak calves, or separation stress, this combo helps calm, stabilise, and assist healing.
What It Does:
This blend focuses on shock, trauma, emotional upset, and physical stress, making it an essential during calving, especially when things don’t go smoothly.
Aconite works fast in cases of shock or fear — ideal for sudden labours, frightened animals, or weak, cold calves.
Arnica helps with bruising, strain, and physical trauma. Great after hard or assisted calvings for both cow and calf.
Ignatia eases emotional stress and grief, perfect for rejected calves, bonding issues, or animals struggling with change.
Use for Cows:
Pre-calving: To settle nervous cows or first calvers, particularly those showing signs of fear or tension.
Post-calving: Helps with recovery after difficult births or when the cow seems shaken or emotionally withdrawn.
Bonding issues: Use when a cow isn’t interested in her calf or seems emotionally off after delivery.
Use for Calves:
At birth: Especially helpful for cold, floppy, or unresponsive calves born quickly or in harsh conditions. Used from birth for all calves to promote well being and recovery from physical and emotional trauma.
During early handling: Eases stress during weighing, moving to calf sheds, or first human interactions.
After separation: Soothes bleating, restlessness, or pacing when calves are removed from the cow.
Travel Combo is your 'go to' for calming and stabilising both cows and calves during the upheaval of calving season. It’s about more than just physical recovery. It supports emotional wellbeing and resilience, helping animals bounce back quickly and calmly. A handy, natural tool to keep close during those busy weeks on the farm
Calf Support
Don’t forget the young ones! Calves benefit from early homeopathic support too:
Carbo Veg – Revives weak or floppy calves. "The Corpse Reviver"
SC Combo - used from birth to assist digestive function and skeletal growth.
Nux Vomica – Supports digestion, especially in the early days. Diet changes.
Calf Combo - Aimed toward the constitutional aspect of calves. Boosting their natural building blocks.
Silica – Helps with abscesses, navel issues, slow healing wounds and calves lagging behind generally. Ill thrift and 'runt of the litter' scenario.
Herbal AB – A combination of 6 Herbal extracts that work well together to boost immunity, providing resistance to early onset illness.
We will talk more about calf rearing in our next blog post and we also have some information on our website about our most popular calf rearing products.
Timing and Administration
Most of our products come with administration information on the bottles. We also offer our free help desk for you to call and get specific instructions for your situation.
Products can be given orally; a spray directly on the nose or on mucus membranes, for select individuals or administered to whole groups via troughs which is particularly helpful during busy calving runs.
To sum up...
Every farm is different, but preparation, observation, and quick action go a long way. When used with care and knowledge, homeopathy offers a gentle, effective way to support both cows and calves through the intensity of calving. Talk to Homeopathic Farm Services about a calving kit tailored to your herd’s needs.
Wishing you a smooth and successful calving season — full of strong calves, healthy mum's, and maybe even a few good sleeps in between.
