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Boughten cows and newlyweds.........

Richard Doolittle

Well-known member
......have something in common. The gestation length of that first offspring is highly variable :wink:

I bought 5 older cows in December. Consignment sheet indicated a calving date of the all-to-common "March 15". 3 of the 5 have calved now by February 17th. Calves are big and full term so it's worked out okay but that first one was sure a surprise.
 

Shelly

Well-known member
What I find that is worse is when that March 15th turns into May 15th. You buy cows assuming they'll fit into your calving schedule, and then you end up waiting. And waiting some more ..........
 

cowzilla

Well-known member
Store bought cows calve ANYTIME. I think its because student Vets get to do preg checking at Auction barns because its handy and good practice. I know our local Vets are pretty good on there dates. But then of cource you also tell them when you put out the bulls :)
 

Richard Doolittle

Well-known member
I don't blame it on the sale barn vet. They test hundreds of cows to get ready for sale time and all they are really relied on is to tell if they are bred relatively on time or not. Supposedly if they are due in January or earlier they will mark them early and if they won't calve by the end of May they will mark them late.

It is usually the case of the seller lying through their teeth, just being ignorant, or acting ingorant and letting the barn "suggest" when they are due. Of course this is usually only the case on small bunches that sell off the market price a bit so one doesn't expect everything to be perfect with them anyway.
 

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