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Birthweight question for those who are calving.

Dylan Biggs

Well-known member
Lonecowboy said:
I find it interesting that no one has mentioned exercise yet!

my observation has been that diet and exercise are both equally important both in calf size and cows calving condition.
Where I've seen the most problems is cows that are very well fed and locked into a lot and get no exercise. They also lay around too much and have many more abnormal presentations.
Where I've seen the least problem is in range cows that have to walk a couple miles a day. Seldom (almost never) have an abnormal presentation.
When feeding I feed at least a 1/2 mile away from water to force them into walking at least that far.

We set it up so our cows walk at least a mile a day also. Since we turn cows out mid April and start calving May 10 they get plenty of exercise before they calve. I have noticed calving on range malpresetantions are virtually non existent. Probably shouldn't say anything, I better knock on wood.
 

JASONJ

New member
Last year we had an etreme cold winter, and the calf weights were way up. Thia year we have had a very mild winter and so far wieght are way down. I read an article which said cold temps can increase calf weights up to 12 pounds.
 

Grassfarmer

Well-known member
JASONJ said:
Last year we had an etreme cold winter, and the calf weights were way up. Thia year we have had a very mild winter and so far wieght are way down. I read an article which said cold temps can increase calf weights up to 12 pounds.

I would think weights will be down in general this year in western Canada due to the BCS of the cows as much as the mild winter. The drought and scarce feed has taken it's toll on a lot of the cows I see in my neck of the woods anyway.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Cows nutrition requirements go up the last trimester.

Good nutrition equates to better colostrum quality which makes for healthier calves.
Like Big Swede posted, when the weather is cold more nutrition goes to the fetus and can cause a bigger calf.
Not necessarily a problem big calf, but a bigger calf. I don't like shorting cattle on feed, ever, and especially
in the last trimester. Cows need to be strong to calve quickly. Heifers that
are undernourished can play out before they are done calving~and who
needs that?

My 2 cents FWIW
 

WyomingRancher

Well-known member
I'm a little over half done calving now, and have observed more big calves out of the cows than in years past. So far, nothing to cause calving issues... let's hope it stays that way :D . The remaining heifers are still having smaller calves...let's hope that stays the same too!
 

Just Ranchin

Well-known member
A majority of fetal growth happens in the last month before calving. If we are running into a harsh winter, intakes can climb as much as 30% in extreme windchill, however, that increase in intake is just used to maintain BCS and stay warm, not to mention support the calf. We have experimented with different forages, bulls, clothes we wear when we go to check, etc and I think you will always have differences in BW both year to year, but also will change from the start to the end of calving. We started off with some nice 75-90# calves, but lately have ran into a couple larger calves over 100 #. (abnormally warm weather leading to increased nutrient flow to the calf????) What we have found does work though is to ensure the cows are in good condition going into that last month, and then you can back on supplementation the month before calving. Better to have the weight gain happen when she is dry as opposed to try gaining it back before calving or after she has calved.....oh yeah and stay away from high BW bulls
 

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