Big Swede said:
I've got a question for you all. What causes some cows, usually heifers in my case to go ballistic after they calve? They are dog gentle right up until they have their calf and then they become possesed by some bovine demon that tells them if that calf tries to get up you had better knock him down. It usually lasts a few hours and then you would never know it happened.
Is this a hormone thing or what. Or is the first experience of birthing just too much to handle for some of them? It usually doesn't happen on the rest of their calves at least not to that extent. They do get the label of calf fighters in my calving book though.
I've had two like that in the last 24 hrs. and they sure know how to test your patience. Anyone have an opinion on what causes this?
I might have as much experience with this as anyone. When I started AIing, I used an ABS bull called Rito 2100. He was their showcase bull at the time and I was inexperienced. I bred 250 cows to him for 3 years straight. By the time I was done calving the first crop of heifers, I knew more about him than I wanted to.
10-20% of each of those 3 heifers crops were bad mothers. They run the gammit from calf killers to those that just weren't interested. I can't answer your initial question Big Swede because I do not know the reason why they were poor mothers, just that they were. I experimented by keeping them all for another year. They each did it again, so they all ended up in town.
The balance each group were good mothers and lasted a long time in our herd. I am convinced that it is hereditary. After I quit using Rito 2100 I got along well with other sires, but eventually ran into another bull with the same trait. Once again, after using him for two years and when his first heifers calved, there it was again and both crops of heifers had the problem.
However, I did learn how to handle them. Keep plenty of tranquilizer handy. Dose them heavy and let it take effect. Once she is sedated adequately enough, put the calf in the pen with her. If the calf is ready to suck, she will stand for it. By the next day, she should be OK to go. I always had to chuckle to see a glazed eyed heifer practically leaning against the side of the pen allowing the calf she hated moments before, to suck her willingly. I only had one or two heifers that this did not work on and they had to be sold.
I agree with you. This is a most disgusting trait and is largely why I gave up AIing. Among other reasons, I decided that I could make these kind of mistakes much cheaper and easier without AI.
I also blame the Angus Breed Association for allowing mothering ability traits like this to go on. I realize that those who have a lot of money invested in promoting a bull will not want to expose these things, but it is certainly a blemish on what is considered to be a maternal breed.
There's something else a vet was telling me to use with that concoction, but I can't remember right now.