• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Bad Deal/Nice Surprise

N

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
12,247
Location
saskatchewan
Went out after supper to check my coming twos-sometimes those heifers come a bit early. They are in a big pen waiting for a pasture to bare off-well I see one tits up in a waterpuddle looks to be dead from bloat. I head over there and she's almost done for with a calves head out. Well my better half comes out and we roll her over-I gave the calves tongue a pinch and was pretty sure he was dead. Well I got to sit down in about 8 inches of soupy slop and pulled the calf-he wasn't dead after all. We packed him into the house and manhandlled the heifer up onto her chest. Guess we'll see what morning brings-just waiting for some colostrum to thaw so I can see if he'll suck. This is the first calf off a new breed we tried-if we get some more big ones it will be the last time!!!
 
I just got some colostrum into him and he's sitting up on his chest-hope the heifer feels a bit better in the A'M. I won't slam the breed just yet but if I have to pull any more calves I won't be happy-I already pulled one to many this year-this one lol.
 
Hope things go better from here. Bad sign when you have to pull the first one. One question. Was wondering how vigorous the calves are out of your Hereford bull?
 
Nope he's not a Galloway-I'll see how some more calf before I blame the bull but not a real auspicious start. The Hereford calves get right at it-I'm a pretty hands off guy at calving. I really don't like messing with cattle at any time let alone calving.
 
NR, Looked to me like you enjoy arming them come breeding time. Heck, you'll even rope one just for the chance to get your arm in her. :shock: :shock: 8) 8)

HP
 
Well I think the calf is home and gone-he's a bit sore on his front end but he's eating good. The heifer is another story-I can't get her to drink hardly anything-I don't know if she's drinking out of puddles in the pen or what-still down too. I should probably just shoot her and be done with it but we'll keep working with her for a few days.
 
Northern Rancher said:
Well I think the calf is home and gone-he's a bit sore on his front end but he's eating good. The heifer is another story-I can't get her to drink hardly anything-I don't know if she's drinking out of puddles in the pen or what-still down too. I should probably just shoot her and be done with it but we'll keep working with her for a few days.
Click to expand...

Have you given her an anti-inflammatory (dexamethasone...)?
 
The first one was probably 100 pounds or so-the second one was a lot better. That downer heifer finally decided to try and live instead of trying to die-she's drinking and eating some grain so she might make it yet. I doubt that bull will ever see another heifer though she'd of been dead if we were calving in the bush.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top