Calf Pulling Demonstrations Designed for Cattlemen
Animal Science
Alicia Halbritter
Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent
UF/IFAS Baker County Extension
Macclenny
Abstract
Roughly 10% of beef cows experience dystocia, or a difficult calving, with that number jumping up to 30% in first-calf heifers. Dystocia is a major cause of mortality in cow-calf herds and is often the leading cause of death in the first 24 hours of a calf’s life. Cattlemen must intervene in dystocia cases as calf size or presentation are the usual reasons for a difficult birth and cannot be corrected without intervention. The best way to prepare cattle producers to face dystocia cases is to provide them experiential learning opportunities with simulated situations of malpresentations. The 2025 Calf Pulling Demonstration course hosted by UF/IFAS Baker County Extension was attended by 26 cattlemen/cattlewomen of varying experience levels. Participant feedback indicates it was one of the most valuable cattle education courses they have attended, with many reaching back out during the recent calving season to discuss their success in pulling a calf. Additionally, 75 FFA youth were able to experience pulling a calf with the simulator in 2025, sparking their curiosity in animal sciences and providing them new experiences. During this presentation I will discuss how to host a calf pulling demonstration, share educational materials I created on the topic, discuss resources for cow/calf simulators, and provide ideas for cheaper alternatives to commercial simulator products as this is often a barrier to this type of programming.
Authors: Alicia Halbritter
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Alicia Halbritter Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, University of Florida, Florida, 32063