You could have that happen if you were gone for 5 minutes.jkvikefan said:Had a heifer calve yesterday while I was at work. Left at 9. Got home at 4. She had the calf. The calf had placenta over it's mouth and nostrils. Obviously DEAD. She heifer was up eating cleanings 10 ft away.![]()
![]()
![]()
I guess that's the price you pay for having cattle and a job.
per said:I prefer to let them do all the work, the first few set the tone. If I have to check every 3 or 4 hours I will. If I have to pull I will. Unproven bulls this year so paying attention is indicated. If it is dry and they are not giving trouble then they will calve on pasture without the benefit of my being there after dark.
Oldtimer said:per said:I prefer to let them do all the work, the first few set the tone. If I have to check every 3 or 4 hours I will. If I have to pull I will. Unproven bulls this year so paying attention is indicated. If it is dry and they are not giving trouble then they will calve on pasture without the benefit of my being there after dark.
I'm about the same-- but even tho I used the same bulls as the past 3 years, I'm getting calves with BW's 10-15 lbs over what the same cows had in past years-- and yesterday I pulled the first calf I've had to pull from a heifer in several years... Weighed 91 lbs.. So it looks like I'll have to try and keep a closer watch on the heifers... :?
I think the heavier BW's are because with the deep snow since December- its been the same as if the cows were lotted since they couldn't get around anywhere to graze-and didn't get the normal exercise they usually get grazing the hay meadows- and the fact with the hellacious cold winter we've had the cows/heifers put more of the nutrients into the bloodstream going to the calf.....
![]()
Mike said:Oldtimer said:per said:I prefer to let them do all the work, the first few set the tone. If I have to check every 3 or 4 hours I will. If I have to pull I will. Unproven bulls this year so paying attention is indicated. If it is dry and they are not giving trouble then they will calve on pasture without the benefit of my being there after dark.
I'm about the same-- but even tho I used the same bulls as the past 3 years, I'm getting calves with BW's 10-15 lbs over what the same cows had in past years-- and yesterday I pulled the first calf I've had to pull from a heifer in several years... Weighed 91 lbs.. So it looks like I'll have to try and keep a closer watch on the heifers... :?
I think the heavier BW's are because with the deep snow since December- its been the same as if the cows were lotted since they couldn't get around anywhere to graze-and didn't get the normal exercise they usually get grazing the hay meadows- and the fact with the hellacious cold winter we've had the cows/heifers put more of the nutrients into the bloodstream going to the calf.....
![]()
Yea. That's it. Has nothing to do with genetics. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Mike said:Oldtimer said:per said:I prefer to let them do all the work, the first few set the tone. If I have to check every 3 or 4 hours I will. If I have to pull I will. Unproven bulls this year so paying attention is indicated. If it is dry and they are not giving trouble then they will calve on pasture without the benefit of my being there after dark.
I'm about the same-- but even tho I used the same bulls as the past 3 years, I'm getting calves with BW's 10-15 lbs over what the same cows had in past years-- and yesterday I pulled the first calf I've had to pull from a heifer in several years... Weighed 91 lbs.. So it looks like I'll have to try and keep a closer watch on the heifers... :?
I think the heavier BW's are because with the deep snow since December- its been the same as if the cows were lotted since they couldn't get around anywhere to graze-and didn't get the normal exercise they usually get grazing the hay meadows- and the fact with the hellacious cold winter we've had the cows/heifers put more of the nutrients into the bloodstream going to the calf.....
![]()
Yea. That's it. Has nothing to do with genetics. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Everything is dependent on the weather. Colder, wetter more checks; Warmer dryer less checks. 90 heifers to calve I'll spend on average 8 hrs a day with them for the 2 weeks of the synch and AI'd ones. Dwindles down after that.Gomez said:I am curious how other ranchers see their role and responsibility in calving heifers? What is the range from checking on them hourly and/or watching on camera to asking the heifer to figure it out? What's the benefit to doing it your way? What's the cost? Thanks
![]()
Soapweed said:Mike said:Oldtimer said:I'm about the same-- but even tho I used the same bulls as the past 3 years, I'm getting calves with BW's 10-15 lbs over what the same cows had in past years-- and yesterday I pulled the first calf I've had to pull from a heifer in several years... Weighed 91 lbs.. So it looks like I'll have to try and keep a closer watch on the heifers... :?
I think the heavier BW's are because with the deep snow since December- its been the same as if the cows were lotted since they couldn't get around anywhere to graze-and didn't get the normal exercise they usually get grazing the hay meadows- and the fact with the hellacious cold winter we've had the cows/heifers put more of the nutrients into the bloodstream going to the calf.....
![]()
Yea. That's it. Has nothing to do with genetics. :lol: :lol: :lol:
I am with Oldtimer on this deal. This winter has definitely brought out heavier birthweights on our calves, straight across the board, first-calf heifers and cows alike. Extra vigilence this year is definitely in order.
Denny said:I check once a day when I'm feeding. It's amazeing how they can be cows if we let them.12 miles from home $4.00 fuel It does'nt pay to run back and forth with work in the shop that needs getting done.
yup, and some times it wouldn't of mattered if you was there, if you own livestock you have some dead stock too. think was used to get a little money out of them from the fox or mink man, but then now fur is bad and the fox man is goneHave found calves dead with no idea how they died.
leanin' H said:Denny said:I check once a day when I'm feeding. It's amazeing how they can be cows if we let them.12 miles from home $4.00 fuel It does'nt pay to run back and forth with work in the shop that needs getting done.
But Denny, with calves at $1000 next fall, one dead calf equals 125 round trips to check on them. :wink: