17 month old heifer delivers healthy calf

[ny_grass]

I've been waiting to write about this because I wasn't sure that I'd correctly identified the animal but it's clear: about 2 weeks ago my oldest heifer, born last year in early February, gave birth to a healthy (albeit SMALL) calf. I didn't think this was possible. Has anyone ever had a 8 month old get pregnant?

JR

 

[djinwa]

Yes, it's possible. Look down the page of topics in beginners forum and see my thread Heifer Bred Too Young.

Vet said he had a guy with 13 month old heifers calve recently. One did it unassisted, the other needed a c-section. Lots of stories like that in the archives here as I've read.

Glad your heifer had a small calf. And if my math is right, she was less than 16 months old if born early Feb last year.

 

[slick4591]

Yep, just today I had my own bad experience.

 

[piedmontese]

Yep, just today I had my own bad experience.

please tell the story.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I once had a 15 month old calve unassisted, healthy live calf but small.

Katherine

 

[slick4591]

Yep, just today I had my own bad experience.

please tell the story.

Here ya go: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=71238

 

[Roadapple]

Had 1 calve 5 days short of 13 mos. few yrs. back. Gave birth to a 70 lb. heifer unassisted. Lute all heifers now when being worked in the fall.

 

[ny_grass]

Had 1 calve 5 days short of 13 mos. few yrs. back. Gave birth to a 70 lb. heifer unassisted

Wow!

 

[ny_grass]

Are there are any long term, negative effects to the mama of having a calf so early? I know with goats a too early pregnancy can stunt their growth.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

Are there are any long term, negative effects to the mama of having a calf so early? I know with goats a too early pregnancy can stunt their growth.

With the one I had she didn't grow off very well at all. Understandable since she was still a "baby" herself and raising a calf. I sold them both after weaning. Clearly she was very fetrile as was her dam and in my opinion it was my fault that it ever happened.

With that being said, I know of a few other folks who had similar situations where the very young calvers grew off just fine and went on to be good brood cows. In a couple of them (such as mine) that wasn't the case. I think diet/nutriton and genetics play a big role.

Katherine

 

[ny_grass]

Well, I'll be damne.d! My youngest heifer, born 4/20/10 just delivered a seemingly healthy calf!! I'd wondered why she, unlike most of the other calves (from last year), was looking a little skinny.

That makes two unexpected calves for the year.

I hired a bull from a very respected seed stock guy around here last year. Very glad I did (the bull was calving-ease)!

JR

 

[ALACOWMAN]

id let the calf get a good start, then pull it........ like having a 60 pound parasite stuck to a still developing heifer

 

[ny_grass]

id let the calf get a good start, then pull it........ like having a 60 pound parasite stuck to a still developing heifer

I didn't see the birth though I was out there several times today and didn't notice her laboring; seems to have dropped it pretty fast.

 

[B&M Farms]

id let the calf get a good start, then pull it........ like having a 60 pound parasite stuck to a still developing heifer

I didn't see the birth though I was out there several times today and didn't notice her laboring; seems to have dropped it pretty fast.

I think what Alacowman is saying is to let the calf nurse a while then haul it to the sale. The heifer doesnt need to raise a calf ontil weaning.

 

[Katpau]

I had one calve at 13 months and 1 day in 2003. We had to do a c-section on her. I never weighed the calf but it was full term and not real small.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

id let the calf get a good start, then pull it........ like having a 60 pound parasite stuck to a still developing heifer

I didn't see the birth though I was out there several times today and didn't notice her laboring; seems to have dropped it pretty fast.

I think what Alacowman is saying is to let the calf nurse a while then haul it to the sale. The heifer doesnt need to raise a calf ontil weaning.

exactly ..if she looses alot of condition she'll most likely be late rebreeding i wouldnt hesistate to feed her a little extra since it aint her fault

 

[ny_grass]

id let the calf get a good start, then pull it........ like having a 60 pound parasite stuck to a still developing heifer

I didn't see the birth though I was out there several times today and didn't notice her laboring; seems to have dropped it pretty fast.

I think what Alacowman is saying is to let the calf nurse a while then haul it to the sale. The heifer doesnt need to raise a calf ontil weaning.

Oh, thanks for clarifying.

 

[MasseyFerg]

You got lucky. u need to keep the bull away from the heifer calves by the time they are 5-6 months old or some will get bred. some breeds mature early

 

[hillsdown]

Usually they are bred by bull calves the same age. To avoid this situation, separate all bull calf pairs and heifer pairs or give them a shot of dexamethasone and prostaglandin at about 10 days after you have separated the group at weening.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Do you have a "calving season"? Or are they spread out quite a bit? Do you think the mature bull bred them or a older bull calf?
I sure would be checking the rest of my heifers.