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Big, dumb bull calf syndrome
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<blockquote data-quote="CattleAnnie" data-source="post: 73996" data-attributes="member: 220"><p>No doubt that the stress from a long, hard delivery causes oxygen deprivation and results in slow starting calves...thus more prone in calves that are too large for the cow to deliver quickly.</p><p></p><p>Had a real wreck about two years back at calving season with "dummy" calves that didn't have a fig to do with birthweight though.</p><p></p><p>Honey had bought a new two year old bull from a breeder that he hadn't tried before. Bull was a little short necked and on the boxy side, but his numbers were great (uh-oh...just got thinking that Ollie's gonna like this one).</p><p></p><p>Trouble was that we're pretty sure he sired at least thirty-odd calves.</p><p></p><p>Why trouble?</p><p></p><p>Because for a couple of weeks we had up to ten calves a day hitting the ground, two feet of snow (and wet snow at that - for you southerners that are unfamiliar with snow; it's very heavy and sticks to everything), winds out of the nor'east that just didn't seem to let up and then the offspring of the "Wonder Numbers" bull to contend with.</p><p></p><p>Thirty-odd calves that had the same style of conformation as that bull. Decent birth weight but no brains at birth. Thirty-odd calves that had no suck relfex (some for up to three days, most at least for two days). </p><p></p><p>Thirty-odd cows to run into the maternity pen, tie a leg back, and try and wrestle with a calf lacking the idea of what to do with a teat in it's mouth...even when drooling with hunger. So enter the joy of tubing to feed the calf until the "Hey! A teat! I wonder what would happen it I sucked this" light came on between it's ears.</p><p></p><p>Needless to say, the novelty of the performance wore off very quickly, for both the cows and ourselves. Unfortunately every calf needed the routine several times a day to be fed.</p><p></p><p>All the while being deluged in new calves during cruddy weather.</p><p></p><p>It was a rude calving season. We sold that bull in the spring before he had a chance to pass on his 'genetic gift' to any more calves and didn't keep any of his daughters. We have not had repeat performances since.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Take care....sorry for rambling again. Trying to stay awake till next check.</p><p></p><p>ps. Which is why I have the world of respect for any purebred breeder - regardless of the breed that he/she is raising - that does NOT sell as registered stock any calf that cannot get up and go on his/her OWN steam.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CattleAnnie, post: 73996, member: 220"] No doubt that the stress from a long, hard delivery causes oxygen deprivation and results in slow starting calves...thus more prone in calves that are too large for the cow to deliver quickly. Had a real wreck about two years back at calving season with "dummy" calves that didn't have a fig to do with birthweight though. Honey had bought a new two year old bull from a breeder that he hadn't tried before. Bull was a little short necked and on the boxy side, but his numbers were great (uh-oh...just got thinking that Ollie's gonna like this one). Trouble was that we're pretty sure he sired at least thirty-odd calves. Why trouble? Because for a couple of weeks we had up to ten calves a day hitting the ground, two feet of snow (and wet snow at that - for you southerners that are unfamiliar with snow; it's very heavy and sticks to everything), winds out of the nor'east that just didn't seem to let up and then the offspring of the "Wonder Numbers" bull to contend with. Thirty-odd calves that had the same style of conformation as that bull. Decent birth weight but no brains at birth. Thirty-odd calves that had no suck relfex (some for up to three days, most at least for two days). Thirty-odd cows to run into the maternity pen, tie a leg back, and try and wrestle with a calf lacking the idea of what to do with a teat in it's mouth...even when drooling with hunger. So enter the joy of tubing to feed the calf until the "Hey! A teat! I wonder what would happen it I sucked this" light came on between it's ears. Needless to say, the novelty of the performance wore off very quickly, for both the cows and ourselves. Unfortunately every calf needed the routine several times a day to be fed. All the while being deluged in new calves during cruddy weather. It was a rude calving season. We sold that bull in the spring before he had a chance to pass on his 'genetic gift' to any more calves and didn't keep any of his daughters. We have not had repeat performances since. Take care....sorry for rambling again. Trying to stay awake till next check. ps. Which is why I have the world of respect for any purebred breeder - regardless of the breed that he/she is raising - that does NOT sell as registered stock any calf that cannot get up and go on his/her OWN steam. [/QUOTE]
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