This old girl is 13. Always one of the first to calve, always has a bull calf and raises a whopper. Short solid mouth, draws down because she gives everything to her calf but I've never had to doctor her for anything, not even a wonky foot. Bless her heart, doesn't even have hair on the back of her ears anymore. Would it kill her to give me a heifer?!?! Well I'll be darned, this is the year!!! Sooo keeping the heifer - well, contingent on pelvic measurements but that's the plan.
In other news: Twins. Hate them! Two sets. Was supplementing the smaller ones but eventually sold one to a friend to adopt onto one of her cows (calf got stepped on at the bale ring - yikes!). Instant love connection, all good. The 3 remaining twins are thriving.
Aaaaand another preemie. Lucky for her she has an awesome mama that allowed me to get that tiny baby latched on for 3 days, no chute. Finally got the hang of it, turned them out to pasture after a few more days of TCL and the calf is doing great. She's a little pistol that thinks she owns the place!
Heifers. The bane of my calving existence and yet I keep retaining them. Fortunately all healthy, thriving calves (one heifer left) and good little mamas. With one exception. Little she-beast absolutely refused to accept her calf, despite quality chute time and copious amounts of molasses and Orphan No More. Sold her to the aforementioned friend for another adoption (she's having a rough year!) and the calf has a new mama that loves her. My heifer will be taking a ride. Buh bye!
So according to the gestation calculator, calving should have theoretically started 3/7. I call BS on that! 42 calves, 10 to go. Holy beef babies! And super thrilled with the progeny of my new bulls.
In other news: Twins. Hate them! Two sets. Was supplementing the smaller ones but eventually sold one to a friend to adopt onto one of her cows (calf got stepped on at the bale ring - yikes!). Instant love connection, all good. The 3 remaining twins are thriving.
Aaaaand another preemie. Lucky for her she has an awesome mama that allowed me to get that tiny baby latched on for 3 days, no chute. Finally got the hang of it, turned them out to pasture after a few more days of TCL and the calf is doing great. She's a little pistol that thinks she owns the place!
Heifers. The bane of my calving existence and yet I keep retaining them. Fortunately all healthy, thriving calves (one heifer left) and good little mamas. With one exception. Little she-beast absolutely refused to accept her calf, despite quality chute time and copious amounts of molasses and Orphan No More. Sold her to the aforementioned friend for another adoption (she's having a rough year!) and the calf has a new mama that loves her. My heifer will be taking a ride. Buh bye!
So according to the gestation calculator, calving should have theoretically started 3/7. I call BS on that! 42 calves, 10 to go. Holy beef babies! And super thrilled with the progeny of my new bulls.