Calving 2026

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Yesterday had the third calf born by limxpied bull out of blondex heifer. Found her in active labour with feet sticking out in the morning, so who knows how long she was calving. Once saw the size of feet, knew that she needed help. Got everything prepared and used jack. Calf had severely swollen head, but was alive. Gave him a shot of antiinflamatories to reduce swelling. He looked almost normal in the evening.
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He is a big calf, should be over 110lbs, but his mom is very tall, so she makes him look smaller.
 
How big is the cow? And just curious what percentage are assisted calving? Love the cattle but it does look like a bit of work. 3rd question do those ear warmers stay on? I’ve had trouble with them turning on the calf’s head and then it partly covers there eyes or eventually comes off but that could be poor design on the ones I used.
 
Josher said:
How big is the cow? And just curious what percentage are assisted calving? Love the cattle but it does look like a bit of work. 3rd question do those ear warmers stay on? I’ve had trouble with them turning on the calf’s head and then it partly covers there eyes or eventually comes off but that could be poor design on the ones I used.
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Would say around 1400-1500lbs. She has more height than weight. She is very close to my height, which is 5'6".
It really varries from the year. Two years ago have fed some good feed for the whole winter, so had an extremely high % of assists, but also our average birth weight was around 110lbs, with several calves reaching 132lbs +. With bigger birth weights it is more likely to have more assists, but it usually never ecceeds 10% including heifers. However, we rarely have a calf smaller than 85-90lbs and our average is always over 100lbs.
This year most are calving themselves, except for the backward calf and some bigger calves, especially from heifers. An assist with just ropes is not particulary necessary, but it helps cow to deliver calf more quickly and it makes them to get used to people being present at the calving and also helping. We need to be there at all calvings mostly because that birds became huge issue and they are able to injure the calf while it's still not born yet. Had that happen, and never want to see it again.
No, never turned to the side, only when the calf or most likely the mom takes the part on muzzle off. So stays on pretty well.
 
Backward calf is getting stronger. Mom is a good candidate for culling. There is a good reason why we have been feeding the calf with bottle until now... possibly two reasons, one of them being that cow let all other calves in the pen to nurse her, so she had no milk for her own calf by the time he was up everyday. The other reason is that only now she has settled down enough for us to try to walk up to her with the calf being present. That's her third calf and both previous were born in summer, so that's her first time being handled more and in a close enviroment.
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Newborn heifer calf for today. On 291st day, sired by belgian blue, out of limxherefordx cow, unassisted, but a very solid calf.
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That's the sire:
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Fourth calf by him, second heifer, the first to not have sire's colour and the first one to be born without help. The older heifer will be AI'ed this summer.
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This year having more bull calves so far, but heifers are more solid.
This one probably gonna be the most muscled one. Almost a month old. A real tank already.
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Two weeks old today. 75% blue. Filling up nicely and she is very friendly.
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Have five cows due from the 22nd to 28th. One of those is our only pure lim.
 
lithuanian farmer said:
Belgian blue sired bull calf arrived in the evening. 278days gestation, out of simxangusxbluex cow. Unassisted. Fourth calf for the cow, the first bull calf.
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Do the Belgian Blue cattle have a shorter gestation average than some other breeds? I would have thought they would have been longer especially from a mature cow, unless it’s just an individual thing.
I haven’t kept up with gestation days since I had registered Charolais. Most of them would go to right around their breed average of 287, give or take a couple of days sometimes.
A few times they’d go to 290 days. I would always get nervous when they passed up 287 days cause I was figuring on a pull. Sometimes I had to and sometimes not.
I like that calf he’s marked a lot like a Simmental.
 
Ky hills said:
Do the Belgian Blue cattle have a shorter gestation average than some other breeds? I would have thought they would have been longer especially from a mature cow, unless it’s just an individual thing.
I haven’t kept up with gestation days since I had registered Charolais. Most of them would go to right around their breed average of 287, give or take a couple of days sometimes.
A few times they’d go to 290 days. I would always get nervous when they passed up 287 days cause I was figuring on a pull. Sometimes I had to and sometimes not.
I like that calf he’s marked a lot like a Simmental.
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Yes, they do have shorter gestation on average. Lims, blonde and charolais been the longest here. The black blue heifer had longer gestation due to her mom's sire, as his calves almost always arrived after 290 days, some reaching 300days.
 
lithuanian farmer said:
The sire of the calf:
https://belgianbluegroup.com/bull/pepite-des-princes-de-ligne/?lang=en
Been very consistent in calving ease, which is harder to find in blues. Had ordered some more straws, as he could be a very good option to use even on heifers.
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Back when I was assisting the Belgian government as an advisor about importing and promoting Belgian Blue materials, I had two limo cross bull calves that were the same age and about as magnificent as any animals I've ever seen. I started to work them in yoke, thinking they would be fun to show off at fairs and pulling contests, etc. In the end I sold them before they were ever displayed. I still think about that, though. They would have been a head turner, for sure.
 
Finally another newborn. Born at 288 days, bull calf, sired by piedmontese, out of limx cow.
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Have four more due until the 7th of March and then gonna have abit of a break for 2-3weeks.
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Pure lim got a sensor on for tonight. She is on 287th day and had clear mucus showing today, so she should be close.
 
New heifer for this morning. Piedmontese sired, out of our only shorthorn cross cow. Third calf for her, second heifer. Her first daughter is due with her first calf this year. 285 days gestation.
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Have brought heifer in for calving. She is on 284th day, incalf by the limxpied bull. She looks abit uncomfortable today and her ligaments are rather loose, so better get her inside sooner. The last heifer to have the calf by that bull. Other three had calves in 281-284days range, so this one should pop soon as well.
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