Sort & Cull

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- Smile. Say cheese. Hold still. Ready -- 1, 2, 3. Snap. Those are all the things we say to people when getting ready to take a picture, but none of that needs to be said when using a barn camera at calving time.

I purchased my system about eight years ago because I didn't live at the same location as the barn where I would calve cows each spring. At the time, I thought it would be a good investment. Isn't it great when something we purchase for the farm has a better return on investment than we thought? The amount of time savings and life savings a barn camera provides is amazing.

The system I purchased didn't even require internet at the barn but instead used a panel receiver to talk to a similar receiver at my house. The internet is at my house to show me what is going on at the barn. At the time, I lived a quarter mile from the barn, which doesn't seem that far, but when getting up in the middle of the night, putting on multiple layers of clothes and driving to the barn every few hours, it does take time. Now, I live across the road from the barn, but I still use the camera. Whether it's checking in the middle of the night or while I must be away from the farm for a time, I can see what's going on in the barn.

CAMERAS HELP WHEN CHECKING OFTEN

During the recent cold snap with actual temperatures down as low as minus 20 Fahrenheit, it wouldn't take long for a newborn calf to literally freeze or become so cold it doesn't want to get up for its first meal. That means checking cows that are close to calving every hour around the clock. It becomes a very exhausting time of year, but the sub-zero temperatures make it even worse. During normal spring-time temperatures, I generally check cows that are due about every three hours to make sure there are no calving issues.

I realize a barn camera isn't possible for every operation, but for those who could benefit, I highly recommend it. There are so many options now if you do or don't have an internet connection available at the barn, or if you need more than one camera to show different areas. Some use cameras sold by companies specifically developed for barns, while others use security type cameras. The technology has evolved and the ease of setting up means even the producer who is not tech savvy can set it up.

While I use the camera to watch the progression of a cow birthing and not bother her while she is in the process, I know they can come in handy for other uses as well. When I purchased the system, the salesman said he knew of someone who stopped a barn fire because they saw it on the camera. Another friend checked their camera to find a cow that was calving was taking after a family member and they rushed to his help. Other people use cameras to check their show cattle, especially during the hot months or just to be aware of what's going on in pens and barns while they aren't there.

So, while this isn't a commercial for a specific barn camera, it is a commercial for getting one. They work, they help and they are cheap. Technology really is a great thing when it saves a life -- human or bovine.

Smile. You're on barn cam.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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