chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
I shoot for a 45 day calving window. So I pull bulls after 45 days, then wait the required 28 days and draw blood.
TC is this your token red head?Lunch on the left, rugrat on the right. Yup, she's bred. Clearly, not an exact science but . . .
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That's true. But I monitor all activity as soon as I turn the bulls out & keep diligent records. If there's any question, I monitor her behavior. Is she getting hunched by cows or steers after I pull the bulls? Or is she walking the fence across from the bulls pasture - with them directly on the other side, looking pitiful? And when in doubt, I will have her legit preg checked when we wean. That said, there's been a number of times a cow was preg checked bred, and I still had my doubts until I saw the rugrat on the right. False heats? Nothing cystic was noticed.By the time you see the presence or absence of that rug rat on on the right you have potentially been feeding that open cow for a long time.
Yes, she is! Compliments of the neighbors bull. Bless her heart, you can spot her a mile away. She just turned 13 and due with her 12th calf in a couple weeks.TC is this your token red head?
I've been thinking about that statement.... Yes, the reproductive tract is usually to the right side when performing AI. However, one year the Vet was out for a C-section. Said he usually does C-sections on the left side, because the guts are on the right side. Vet did the C-section on the right side due to my headgate/chute setup. I remember because I had to scrub-in and hold the intestines, while he fished out the calf. The 2 statements don't add up (right vs left), so I must be missing something...Lunch on the left, rugrat on the right.
Believe it or not, I thought the same thing as nearly every cow that I had seen during C-section or seen photos of, had the scar on the left side, I assumed the calf was carried more on the left side. Then after that statement, I also wondered if it depended on which of the uterine horns the calf was carried in.I've been thinking about that statement.... Yes, the reproductive tract is usually to the right side when performing AI. However, one year the Vet was out for a C-section. Said he usually does C-sections on the left side, because the guts are on the right side. Vet did the C-section on the right side due to my headgate/chute setup. I remember because I had to scrub-in and hold the intestines, while he fished out the calf. The 2 statements don't add up (right vs left), so I must be missing something...
When we milked the Holsteins, we would "bump" the calf at about 7 months pregnant to know when to dry the cow up for the next lactation. "bumping" was a quick trust with your fist on the right side of the cow in the rear half of the stomach area. If you could feel the calf bounce off your fist, it was time to dry the cow up.I've been thinking about that statement.... Yes, the reproductive tract is usually to the right side when performing AI. However, one year the Vet was out for a C-section. Said he usually does C-sections on the left side, because the guts are on the right side. Vet did the C-section on the right side due to my headgate/chute setup. I remember because I had to scrub-in and hold the intestines, while he fished out the calf. The 2 statements don't add up (right vs left), so I must be missing something...
I've only had one c-section and it was on the left side. But like @Dsth, if I bump a calf, it's on the right side.I've been thinking about that statement.... Yes, the reproductive tract is usually to the right side when performing AI. However, one year the Vet was out for a C-section. Said he usually does C-sections on the left side, because the guts are on the right side. Vet did the C-section on the right side due to my headgate/chute setup. I remember because I had to scrub-in and hold the intestines, while he fished out the calf. The 2 statements don't add up (right vs left), so I must be missing something...
I haven't done many C sections however the reason is pretty much as described previously in that the rumen displaces all the intestines to the right side including the calf however in late pregnancies the calf occupies a big area and parts will be accessible behind the rumen to access the uterus and a limb or two and once pulled to the incission line forms a good plug to keep the intestines from pouring out.I've only had one c-section and it was on the left side. But like @Dsth, if I bump a calf, it's on the right side.
@gcreekrch, you've done a lot of c-sections. Can you explain?
Incision on left side. Reach down to bottom of abdomen under stomach and you can find hind legs of normally positioned calf. You then turn calf on its side essentially and bring hind legs to outer incision. Intestines should stay on right side as you mention. When preg testing, in most cases you are feeling for larger calves to right side of cow. I don't know why, it just is.I haven't done many C sections however the reason is pretty much as described previously in that the rumen displaces all the intestines to the right side including the calf however in late pregnancies the calf occupies a big area and parts will be accessible behind the rumen to access the uterus and a limb or two and once pulled to the incission line forms a good plug to keep the intestines from pouring out.
Ken
If you can AI, you can preg test. You already know what the uterus feels like when the cow is in heat. 1st trimester it's going to feel bigger than normal. 2nd trimester you won't be able to feel it, but will be able to feel it. 3rd trimester you should be able to feel the calf.I A.I. but have vet do fall vaccinations and preg check. He buys 3-4 bulls a year from us for his family ranch down in Kansas and does text consults when I have issues needing immediate attention. I would like to sleeve up and check a few when we preg check so I can learn to check the odd one myself before hauling to the auction barn.