Getting Fit for Calving
Words & images supplied by Farmstrong
A new 6-week programme to help women get in condition for the demands of calving season is about to be launched with the support of rural wellbeing initiative Farmstrong.
Nicole Jackson and Alice Liljeback began creating Fit for Calving in Mid-Canterbury last year after talking to other women about the strains and injuries they were experiencing as a result of coming into the physically-intensive calving season unprepared. It’s a common issue says Nicole.
“Most women prepare for the calving season by getting the kids ready, getting meals ready, getting their husbands ready but they don’t actually look after their own needs.”
Keeping Women Injury-Free
2017 Sharemilker of the Year Siobhan O’Malley’s agrees, “I’m getting involved in Fit for Calving because every year I go into calving unfit and within a couple of weeks I am hurting, so this year I’m going to be up and ready to go by the time I start feeding those calves.”
“We run a sharemilking business with 600 cows, so that’s generally 600 calves that need rearing. Next year we’re stepping up to 1,000 calves so I’ll need to be even fitter. That’s why I’m taking steps to take care of myself.”
Rachael Rickard who helps run a sharemilking business with her partner in Hinds, Mid Canterbury has a similar story, “As women, we often spend about nine months of the year not doing a lot physically then suddenly the calves start dropping and we’re picking them up and moving them round the sheds. We’re suddenly active in a different way on the farm. I think anything that helps women get more mobile and stronger before they do all that lifting is a great idea in order to stay injury free.”
Designed For Calf-Rearers
The Fit for Calving exercises are tailored specifically to the needs of calf-rearers says Nicole. The programme of stretches and condition exercises works for women of all physical abilities and involves movements that will strengthen muscle groups commonly used during the calving season such as arm circles, calf raises, toe taps and shoulder shrugs. “We’re lifting buckets and leaning over fences, so we definitely need these types of exercises to target those repetitive movements so that we can avoid injury,” says Nicole.
Convenient and accessible
Nicole says the idea of the 6-week programme is so that “women can begin where they are comfortable. If that’s with 5 to 10 minutes of exercises a day, that’s great, and then build up to 30 minutes a day by the end, so they ready to go.”
She stresses that you don’t need to be a ‘gym bunny’ or buy specialist equipment to participate. “The exercises are designed to be as affordable and accessible as possible. Everything you need for these exercises can be found around the farm - cans of food, cast iron pots and chairs.”
Promoting women’s wellbeing
Fit for Calving has also been developed with busy rural women in mind. Alice and Nicole both juggle family and farming responsibilities themselves. Alice works alongside her husband sharemilking 350 cows on the outskirts of Methven, whilst raising a 9 month old. Nicole runs a busy farm contracting business with her husband and has two children.
Alice says, “Women are often so busy look after the needs of their families and farms that they often neglect their own wellbeing. Fit for Calving has been designed with them in mind.”
Nicole adds, “Scheduling the time in for yourself is a big one to make sure you are looking after yourself physically and mentally. Women are often the glue that holds the whole family together, so it's important that they do what they can to keep healthy and active.”
Watch Fit for Calving Video Clips
Last year the pair launched Fit for Calving by posting homemade video clips on Facebook. This year they are joining forces with rural wellbeing programme Farmstrong to reach more women. A series of exercise video clips have been produced featuring local women demonstrating the exercises. These will be promoted through social media and on the Farmstrong website.
Small Steps Make A Big Difference
Rachael Rickard is already singing the praises of the programme. “It’s only really going to take 10-20 minutes out of your day to get your body moving again and fire up muscle groups that haven’t been fired up for a little a while. It makes you feel good about yourself and about where your body needs to be when you’re lifting and pushing and pulling. It’s a big help.”
With Farmstrong now on board, Nicole hopes that over time Fit for Calving will become an integral part of preparation for the calving season. “The main benefit of Fit for Calving is an injury-free calving season. It also gives women that time pre-calving – whether it’s 5 minutes or half an hour - to be in their own space and think about what that season means for them. To get themselves ready mentally and physically for a very important part of dairying’s yearly cycle.”
How to join Fit for Calving
To sign up for Fit for Calving head to the ‘fitforcalving’ facebook page or contact Nicole Jackson fitforcalving@gmail.com. You’ll be directed to exercise video clips so you can get started.