Final answer:
The question deals with veterinary medicine and best practices in monitoring calving pens to reduce stillbirths. Checking the pens at least every 4 hours allows for timely interventions, which is essential for the calves' survival and well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question focuses on the best practices in livestock management, particularly in ensuring the health and viability of newborn calves. Frequent monitoring of calving pens is emphasized as a method to reduce stillbirths among calves. This frequent checking allows for quick intervention if complications arise during the birthing process, thereby increasing the chances of survival for the newborn calves.
In the context provided, someone has been working while you slept and has managed to ensure the safety of eight calves. This indicates that vigilant monitoring, even during nighttime hours, contributes significantly to positive outcomes in calving operations. Ensuring that calves are alive and doing fine post-delivery is a crucial aspect of agricultural health, which in turn falls under the broader field of veterinary medicine.