randiliana
Well-known member
This year has been the worst calving season I can remember, at least as far as the weather goes. It has been cold and stormy for the whole month of March so far and the forecast is for the same for the rest of the month and into April. On the other hand we haven't had any major problems other than the temps. We've pulled a few calves out of the heifers and had 1 C-section.
The C-section heifer was out of a group of 4 heifers we bought as calves. They all calved within 24 hours of each other, we pulled 1, had 1 C-section, 1 calved on her own with a big calf and the fourth was bred to the other bull and had a nice little calf. C-sections calf wasn't that huge as far as weight goes, but his heat was HUGE!! She's heading down the road this spring, she's never shown any interest in him since we got him out of her.
We've had a few calves freeze parts of their ears off, but not too many I think. It's been a ton of work, but we've been able to get the biggest part of them up into the barn either before they calved or right away after they did. We have 10 10x10 stalls, and there have been nights where we've had 15 pairs in the barn.
Right now we are bottling 5 calves. 2 extra twin calves, the C-section and 2 off of cows that want to kill us, after we went to all the work of bringing their calves into the house to thaw them out this morning. We were going to put them back with their mamas this morning, but we couldn't get the cows into the barn (I was put over the fence twice) and you couldn't even walk up to the pen that they were in without having them charge the fence. One of them finally jumped a gate, and we just kicked the other back out. They were bad last year as heifers and worse this year...
So we've had a few calves that got a ride in the truck, to warm them up, and to get them to the barn. And this morning we had the 2 that we brought into the house. Then found one of the older calves that got caught between the watering bowl and fence, he was pretty cold and wet, but I think he is going to be ok.
And today is another nasty day. It isn't all that cold, but we have a cold NW wind, it was SE this morning. And it is snowing like crazy too. The mail truck hasn't been in for 3 days now because the roads are blocked so bad in places.
Anyhow, here's a few photos for you all....
This calf is now about 2 weeks old. I don't believe he lost much of his ears. It was around 0 F when he was born.
This guy was born yesterday I think. He's fine, just got a quicker and less strenuous ride to the barn.
And these 2 were born this morning. I'm not really sure why they were so cold, as it was fairly nice this morning when they were born, and it was still OK when we found them. We were lucky to get them away from their nutcase mama's too...
The C-section heifer was out of a group of 4 heifers we bought as calves. They all calved within 24 hours of each other, we pulled 1, had 1 C-section, 1 calved on her own with a big calf and the fourth was bred to the other bull and had a nice little calf. C-sections calf wasn't that huge as far as weight goes, but his heat was HUGE!! She's heading down the road this spring, she's never shown any interest in him since we got him out of her.
We've had a few calves freeze parts of their ears off, but not too many I think. It's been a ton of work, but we've been able to get the biggest part of them up into the barn either before they calved or right away after they did. We have 10 10x10 stalls, and there have been nights where we've had 15 pairs in the barn.
Right now we are bottling 5 calves. 2 extra twin calves, the C-section and 2 off of cows that want to kill us, after we went to all the work of bringing their calves into the house to thaw them out this morning. We were going to put them back with their mamas this morning, but we couldn't get the cows into the barn (I was put over the fence twice) and you couldn't even walk up to the pen that they were in without having them charge the fence. One of them finally jumped a gate, and we just kicked the other back out. They were bad last year as heifers and worse this year...
So we've had a few calves that got a ride in the truck, to warm them up, and to get them to the barn. And this morning we had the 2 that we brought into the house. Then found one of the older calves that got caught between the watering bowl and fence, he was pretty cold and wet, but I think he is going to be ok.
And today is another nasty day. It isn't all that cold, but we have a cold NW wind, it was SE this morning. And it is snowing like crazy too. The mail truck hasn't been in for 3 days now because the roads are blocked so bad in places.
Anyhow, here's a few photos for you all....
This calf is now about 2 weeks old. I don't believe he lost much of his ears. It was around 0 F when he was born.
This guy was born yesterday I think. He's fine, just got a quicker and less strenuous ride to the barn.
And these 2 were born this morning. I'm not really sure why they were so cold, as it was fairly nice this morning when they were born, and it was still OK when we found them. We were lucky to get them away from their nutcase mama's too...
. Someday I'd like to try that May 15 calving, but unless we find summer pasture to replace our forest permit, I don't see circumstances changing anytime soon. But heck, if little old me can calve by myself up on this rock pile, how hard can it be? 
:lol:
