How's it going for you? I'm finding, this year, that the calves birth weight is following the cow more than the bull. Meaning, if she has some size in her background, the calf tends to be bigger than what I expect from the bull. I am wondering if it's something anyone else is noticing. We didn't have any winter so the cows have had no stress in that regard. It has me just a teensy bit worried about the heifers left to calve :roll:
Calving 2016
- Thread starter DejaVu
- Start date
leanin' H
Well-known member
The outfits around me seem to have experienced a higher rate of malpresentations this year. A few C-sections and leg backs and a couple of just a tail coming. We had a heavy winter with snow and I kinda wonder if the lack of exercise has anything to do with it.
Our place has had 3 cows calve and we have had 4 bull calves. Sold one twin to a neighbor to graft. So far, they have come easy and are vigorous little buggers when they hit the ground, knock on wood!
Our place has had 3 cows calve and we have had 4 bull calves. Sold one twin to a neighbor to graft. So far, they have come easy and are vigorous little buggers when they hit the ground, knock on wood!
A high percentage of heifers born this year from the guys I've talked to. Sure been that way for me-so far. Usually the percentages even out when it's all over. It just seems like there's some real inconsistency in birth weights from single sires groups. That would have to be attributed to the cow. or maybe not. I don't have a clue anymore. 
We got a very big, but live, calf after the vet did a middle-of-the-night C-section. AND, it's a true blessing to live only thirty miles from such excellent and accommodating Veterinarians!
Other calves from same bull have been small. That heifer is bigger than average, though. Grandson said those were the biggest feet he's ever found when he was searching for reasons it wasn't being born yet!
Thankfully, most have calved easy, and getting to the end of them by the time they were scheduled to start. Couldn't have had better weather for calving, either. Pretty days, and not so cold nights, either.
They are learning bad habits being in our horse pasture, though. They challenge my car as I'm driving by, and are learning they always win when 'racing' with me! Even the heifers are assuming I will drive out around them so they can remain standing in the road. They will move when I honk the horn, tho.
We did lose one in the corral last night that we shouldn't have. Probably had the membrane over the nose, and we didn't get out there quickly enough this morning, waiting for a bit of day-light before going out. That has happened with a few other births this spring, but someone got there soon enough.
That makes me wonder if some of the calves people think were killed by coyotes might have been already dead, then eaten by the coyotes??? We calve the cows in pretty 'wide open' situation, with big pastures, some more than a half section, and try to ride through them twice a day. And losing one is pretty rare. None that we can truly blame on coyotes in many years.....and we have LOTS of coyotes, tho fewer than a few months ago after a contest in the area. To listen to them some nights, one would believe our house was surrounded by them all howling at one another!
mrj
Other calves from same bull have been small. That heifer is bigger than average, though. Grandson said those were the biggest feet he's ever found when he was searching for reasons it wasn't being born yet!
Thankfully, most have calved easy, and getting to the end of them by the time they were scheduled to start. Couldn't have had better weather for calving, either. Pretty days, and not so cold nights, either.
They are learning bad habits being in our horse pasture, though. They challenge my car as I'm driving by, and are learning they always win when 'racing' with me! Even the heifers are assuming I will drive out around them so they can remain standing in the road. They will move when I honk the horn, tho.
We did lose one in the corral last night that we shouldn't have. Probably had the membrane over the nose, and we didn't get out there quickly enough this morning, waiting for a bit of day-light before going out. That has happened with a few other births this spring, but someone got there soon enough.
That makes me wonder if some of the calves people think were killed by coyotes might have been already dead, then eaten by the coyotes??? We calve the cows in pretty 'wide open' situation, with big pastures, some more than a half section, and try to ride through them twice a day. And losing one is pretty rare. None that we can truly blame on coyotes in many years.....and we have LOTS of coyotes, tho fewer than a few months ago after a contest in the area. To listen to them some nights, one would believe our house was surrounded by them all howling at one another!
mrj
Had a heifer calving Saturday morning. She stood up, the calf dropped to the ground with it's head doubled back under it. I came up behind her and re-positioned the calf' so it wouldn't smother. I was in the right place at the wrong time. She looked at the calf and walked away. Didn't want one thing to do with that baby. We brought both in and penned them together. 24 hours later-she loved her calf. and I was very thankful.
I don't give coyotes much credit. I've seen them work to overwhelm the cow while others came in for the calf. A mammoth donkey has helped tremendously. I do :heart: my donkey.
I don't give coyotes much credit. I've seen them work to overwhelm the cow while others came in for the calf. A mammoth donkey has helped tremendously. I do :heart: my donkey.
Nesikep
Well-known member
I'm finding moderate birthweights this year.. though they're still higher than what most people think is normal. Heifers have all been 80ish lbs except for one at about 100-110 (SUPER strong and vigorous that one was).. Bull calves have been around 90-110. Haven't had any problems so far.. hope it keeps up for the other 2/3rds of them
Seems like a big variation in birth weights this year. Luckily, only one c-section out of a heifer ai'd to Bruiser. About 300 heifers ai'd to Excitement the last couple years with almost all calving unassisted. Heifers were mostly done before the cows ever started.
We've got 5 calving barns, and I tagged a lot of calves today, on hormonal black cows, with my wife handing me tags and the syringe from the safety of a cabbed Ranger. Got butted twice. Would much rather catch them out in the open then work them out of barns. Tired right now. Getting a little long in the tooth for some of this. God bless the night calvers. Time for an adult beverage and some rest.
We've got 5 calving barns, and I tagged a lot of calves today, on hormonal black cows, with my wife handing me tags and the syringe from the safety of a cabbed Ranger. Got butted twice. Would much rather catch them out in the open then work them out of barns. Tired right now. Getting a little long in the tooth for some of this. God bless the night calvers. Time for an adult beverage and some rest.
Faster horses
Well-known member
BW is 70% heritable from the cow, 30% from the bull. So if you get heavy bw in your cows, chances are you are generally going to have heavier bw calves. Once you get heavier bw in your herd, it is hard to get it out.
Heifers calves are usually 10# lighter than calves out of cows when using the same bull. A real knowledgeable ABS man and Red Angus breeder taught me that.
Hope this helps!
Heifers calves are usually 10# lighter than calves out of cows when using the same bull. A real knowledgeable ABS man and Red Angus breeder taught me that.
Hope this helps!
We have all heifers we are thinking of keeping palpated to make certain their reproductive tracts are in order. While doing that, we have the vet judge the pelvic opening. I think that has helped us with calving ease as much as anything
Faster horses
Well-known member
When do you have them palpated PPRM? We have a customer that is considering doing that and I know there is a better/best time for it. We used to pelvic measure but we never had any drop out because of too small pelvis so we quit. I thought running them through the chute and stressing them before breeding was not a good thing.
I basically do it as yearlings. So, quite a bit before breeding. That way if they drop out, I can feed them out.
LOL, I don't run them through a Chute. I get them to flow calmly. Well, most times ;-}
I will say the one year when we AI'd ten heifers we hit 100% conception.
LOL, I don't run them through a Chute. I get them to flow calmly. Well, most times ;-}
I will say the one year when we AI'd ten heifers we hit 100% conception.
Nesikep
Well-known member
I just had to get the first C section performed here on Monday... Vet is 2 hours away, so the calf was gone by the time he got here.. First timer with a 110 lb heifer calf.. I could tell pulling harder wasn't going to get me anywhere so I bit the bullet and called him in.. $1000 bucks later...
Cow is doing well now, eats well, and I have a calf that's a very talented milk thief... I'm giving her 2 mommas so the cow can at least do something for me while she heals and before she gets shipped off. Milk thief is darned smart.. she knows right away when I push her in some direction it means there's gonna be supper over there.. The cow isn't very fond of the idea, but every time she fights it a little less.
Cow is doing well now, eats well, and I have a calf that's a very talented milk thief... I'm giving her 2 mommas so the cow can at least do something for me while she heals and before she gets shipped off. Milk thief is darned smart.. she knows right away when I push her in some direction it means there's gonna be supper over there.. The cow isn't very fond of the idea, but every time she fights it a little less.
Nesikep said:
Good decision on not trying to pull it. I had a friend with a 110 pound calf... Result of the good ol college try is a paralyzed cow.
I am fortunate to be close in proximity to a number of Vets. I know guys that have learned to do C-Sections. Not certain where one would go to do so though.
Nesikep
Well-known member
PPRM said:
Well.. I think it starts off with "I'm gonna lose this cow and calf".. I got nothing to lose by trying to save one of the two.. anyone got a knife?.. Might have to figure out the needle and stitches later, but if you get the calf out alive, you're already ahead.
I would like to have some good needles and thread around.
The calf.. well, I couldn't get the head out, figured that meant the hips weren't going to be fun either... If the heifer was another 200 lbs bigger it have probably worked. I have lots of calves in the 120 lb range, it's just usually they're from 1600 lb cows and that is no trouble at all
Going well here - - - I turned in the bull June 20th to avoid the lousy March weather we have been having so my first calf was due the 29th and came the 28th and I'm half done now - - - we had a nice warm dry March, now we are having the coldest April in 20 years with freezing drizzle every couple of days but so far the calves are doing great and don't seem to mind, good shelter.
Where is this Global warming I keep hearing about?
Where is this Global warming I keep hearing about?
Nesikep
Well-known member
If only we knew what the next year's weather was going to be like before we turned the bulls out right?. I can't complain about the weather yet.. it's gorgeous out, into the 80s in the day... but if this keeps up all summer I might change my tune.. don't want another scorcher like last year that pretty much burnt the grass while you irrigated itGeorge said:
A common early spring question is "when do you start calving?" and my standard reply is "When ever the first major snow storm". Seems like I can hit it every time...I had no idea I could influence weather 9 months ahead :lol:
Last summer, I had a bull jump the fence to fight a neighboring bull. Mine lost the fight. He wasn't hurt and wanted out of that pasture. I started to load him up and bring him home. Always listen to that little voice. The bull was sterile from over-heating-weather was terribly hot and the fighting heated him more-anyway, he ruined himself. He was the dominate bull in the pasture and I figured my breeding season was messed up. It looks like the other bull managed to sneak in some action as I'm just about finished calving. Sure proud of that second string bull.
And, yes--we need rain really bad. No snow this winter. Since Feb 1, we've had .30 moisture. Seems like the wind blows hard every day.
Last summer, I had a bull jump the fence to fight a neighboring bull. Mine lost the fight. He wasn't hurt and wanted out of that pasture. I started to load him up and bring him home. Always listen to that little voice. The bull was sterile from over-heating-weather was terribly hot and the fighting heated him more-anyway, he ruined himself. He was the dominate bull in the pasture and I figured my breeding season was messed up. It looks like the other bull managed to sneak in some action as I'm just about finished calving. Sure proud of that second string bull.
And, yes--we need rain really bad. No snow this winter. Since Feb 1, we've had .30 moisture. Seems like the wind blows hard every day.
Sorry it's been such a rough time for you, and with those fires in KS, that probably affects you whether or not you are near it. Whatever one needs seem to go up in price and down in availability when things are tough, doesn't it? Hope you get in on some of the nice rains as opposed to those that ride on tornadoes and lightning!
Spring seems to be such a hopeful season, even when/if we know a drought is overdue,as it is here after two better than average rain years. Looks to be a pretty day here, after many days of strong wind. The season is starting too early and most likely frost will end the blossoms before they give us any fruit....again. Should be used to that with our frequent season of 90 days or less without frost. But it sure is pretty while it lasts.......a bit of green grass, and leafing out of choke cherries alongside the plums already in full bloom. The yard already needs to be mowed before the middle of April!
mrj
Spring seems to be such a hopeful season, even when/if we know a drought is overdue,as it is here after two better than average rain years. Looks to be a pretty day here, after many days of strong wind. The season is starting too early and most likely frost will end the blossoms before they give us any fruit....again. Should be used to that with our frequent season of 90 days or less without frost. But it sure is pretty while it lasts.......a bit of green grass, and leafing out of choke cherries alongside the plums already in full bloom. The yard already needs to be mowed before the middle of April!
mrj
My yard needs mowing but with the cold weather and rain every other day it has not gotten it yet!
The calves are doing great in spite of the weather. I'm half done 8 heifers and 1 bull - - - back when I was trying to keep heifers I could not get one on a bet!
The calves are doing great in spite of the weather. I'm half done 8 heifers and 1 bull - - - back when I was trying to keep heifers I could not get one on a bet!