Set of twins, but momma don't seet it that way

[BlackCattleRancher]

Had a cow have a set of twins out in the field. Well found the calves about 200' apart and looked like one only got partially cleaned up and she had the other one. She is really bonded up to one of the calves, and accepts the other one, but when he goes into nurse she always pushes him away, like she doesn't really claim him. Apparently he is getting some milk as they've been around for 4 days now, but I have them in a pen in the barn by themselves. Any ideas on how I can get her to show the same concern for both of them, instead of pushing the one away before I turn them out on their own?

 

[High Plains]

I would probably look for an opportunity to pull that lesser twin off of his mother and find him a new mother that would appreciate him a bit more. If you should have a cow that loses a calf at calving then it would be ideal to skin that dead calf, make a grafting skin jacket out of that hide, put it on this lesser twin and have yourself a graft. See Soapweed's photo of a grafting skin. That's the way to do it, and leave the tail on , for sure.

HP

 

[Just Ranchin]

Agree 100%. Just had 2 sets yesterday. The one cow will not accept the other calf, so we just started feeding it. Problem is, the weather has been so nice, nobody needs a calf right now. Still another 120 to go, so there should be another cow wanting it soon?

 

[Faster horses]

I'd be for bottle feeding the one she doesn't like, til you can graft it.
Leave him with the cow, but supplement him so he gets enough milk.

 

[gcreekrch]

A little extra work but separating both calves from the cow and putting them both back in at the same time every 6 hours or so will help with bonding twins. The cow is more likely to stand for both than she is for just the one she doesn't care for.

Works for us. :wink:

 

[Faster horses]

Just so the 'odd twin' gets some groceries. That's all I'm concerned
about. Not the why or how.

 

[gcreekrch]

Just so the 'odd twin' gets some groceries. That's all I'm concerned
about. Not the why or how.

Exactly what I was thinking young lady. :wink:

 

[Faster horses]

:lol: :lol: :lol: I'm with you.

 

[tenbach79]

Sounds like to me you might have bottle calf . I have had four sets of twins this year and only one of them claimed both and still has them on her but I plane on taking the other one off here in a week or so. The other three just walked away from the other one and I just pulled them off and bottle feed them until I need them for another cow.

 

[flyingS]

If you lose a calf and the cleanings are still there just throw the cleanings on your graft and put them together. She will lick the cleanings of just like she would her own calf. You'll have a match made in heaven and you won't have to skin a calf. If he's older guess you'll have to skin him.

 

[miocene]

I just had set #4 tonnight both calves appear to be good strong calves .2 sets were out of pb. simmental cows .the other 2 were out of 3year old commercial simm.cows.with this last set we are even with 123 head calved out 33 to go.with this last set of twins we will have 3 sets of intact twins .at one time normaly this time of year we have snow conditions that look like gcreeks.however this year with the el nino we are bare &dry so hopefully we get some rains to make things grow.

 

[Silver]

We just deduced today that set of twins #5 actually isn't a set of twins after all :shock: . We ran the cow into the barn and put it with the calf (that has been 24 hrs without a mother) to see what happens. The cow seems ok with the calf, but the calf isn't impressed. Will probably have to expedite things in the a.m. by putting the cow in the squeeze and coaxing the calf to suck. Oh the wonderful things that happen when too many cows calve too close together at the same time :?

 

[gcreekrch]

Mrs Gcreek's former maid of honor and her husband phoned the other day. They ranch south of Vanderhoof and west of Quesnel. 17 sets of live twins from the first 150 to calve. Very high percentage Simmental cow herd.

 

[Bward]

Same thing happened here yesterday. A cow that had twin girls last year and raised them both is rejecting her big male calf in favour of the 'freemale'. A heifer at father-in-laws had a 30 pound crooked calf that was dying, so I put her out of her misery, skinned it and tied this little square foot hide to the 90 pound calf. We put the heifer in a head gate and the calf went right to sucking. They are in a stall overnight and I hope I go back this morning and find a happy nursing pair and not a battered beaten baby. Crossing fingers and toes.

 

[WyomingRancher]

The first set of twins came yesterday, and I would assume the last since there are only 20 left to calve. I'm thankful no more sets have been born since I simply didn't/don't have a clean corral to put them in for the first few days... just frozen icebergs :shock: .

 

[miocene]

the simmental are known for twins espescialy the fleckviehs,the breeder havinghis sale in williams lake{ this weekend april 3rd.} routinely averages around 10%or more . the most we ever had was when we had straight herfords.one spring we had 8 sets but found homes for all by the time turnout came around.