Calving, 2018

[lithuanian farmer]

The first calf was born for this year. A heifer calf. 284days gestation, 102.5lbs weight. Probably the smallest calf for the cow.

The photo of the cow.

More calves are on the way too.

 

[Bright Raven]

The first calf was born for this year. A heifer calf. 284days gestation, 102.5lbs weight. Probably the smallest calf for the cow.

The photo of the cow.

More calves are on the way too.

Nice big calf.

How is your weather?

 

[lithuanian farmer]

The first calf was born for this year. A heifer calf. 284days gestation, 102.5lbs weight. Probably the smallest calf for the cow.

The photo of the cow.

More calves are on the way too.

Nice big calf.

Not that big. Especially for her. Her the 1st calf was 119lbs Angus sired bull calf, unfortunately dead. The 2nd wasn't weighed, but should have been ~100lbs heifer, the 3rd was 160lbs bull calf, the 4th was 112.4lbs breach bull calf and now this little heifer. I found just recently that cow's sire- Angus bull, was born at 121lbs...
No smaller that 90lbs calves so far this winter... And we just have started calving.

 

[Bright Raven]

Not that big. Especially for her. Her the 1st calf was 119lbs Angus sired bull calf, unfortunately dead. The 2nd wasn't weighed, but should have been ~100lbs heifer, the 3rd was 160lbs bull calf, the 4th was 112.4lbs breach bull calf and now this little heifer. I found just recently that cow's sire- Angus bull, was born at 121lbs...
No smaller that 90lbs calves so far this winter... And we just have started calving.

What is your average Birth Weight?

 

[lithuanian farmer]

What is your average Birth Weight?

No set one, as we have quite a big range in birth weights (the smallest we've ever had was ~57lbs, the biggest 160lbs, so far). For example, july-october calving cows/heifers had small calves, ~77lbs, maybe up to 88lbs. Since November we didn't had a calf smaller than 90 lbs (the biggest 116.8lbs).
Last year, average of all weighed calves was 101.19lbs. Fall born calves not weighed. We prefer when heifers don't go higher than 100lbs and most cows not higher than 110lbs. However, there are some exceptions with several cows, which can handle huge calves without assistance.

 

[Bright Raven]

What is your average Birth Weight?

No set one, as we have quite a big range in birth weights (the smallest we've ever had was ~57lbs, the biggest 160lbs, so far). For example, july-october calving cows/heifers had small calves, ~77lbs, maybe up to 88lbs. Since November we didn't had a calf smaller than 90 lbs (the biggest 116.8lbs).
Last year, average of all weighed calves was 101.19lbs. Fall born calves not weighed. We prefer when heifers don't go higher than 100lbs and most cows not higher than 110lbs. However, there are some exceptions with several cows, which can handle huge calves without assistance.

Thank you

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Thank you

No problems. I guess our average this season will be similar to the last year's. However, it can be completely different next season (starting october), as we will have quite many AI calves from several different sires of different breeds, like Angus, BB, maybe Charolais, Piedmontese, INRA95 and Blonde d'Aquitaine. Still hope that will be able to get some straws of one Parthenaise bull for heifers AI this summer.

 

[Muddy]

What is a INRA95?

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Looking good... And good luck with the rest...

 

[lithuanian farmer]

What is a INRA95?

A french breed bred using Charolais, Limousine, Piedmontese, Maine Anjou, Blonde d'Aquitaine, some has Belgian blue.
It's often called as a french Belgian Blue. That's a breed you would use only on mature easy calving cows. We had once a calf from this breed out of a dairy cow. Kill out was 58% at 15months age. Not bad for a half dairy calf.
http://www.trouverlebontaureau.com/nos- ... 8130139933 Used this bull then.

This time have selected easier calving bull and better looking in my opinion.
http://www.trouverlebontaureau.com/nos- ... 8130562111 He's abit more than 50% Charolais.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Looking good... And good luck with the rest...

Thank you. That's only the start, so hopefully everything will be fine.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

You just can't save them all. :cry2: Just found a big dead bull calf. Maybe 120lbs or more. Massive shoulders and head, so it took too long for the cow to calve the first half. The half sister of the first calved cow. That was her 3rd calf. Last year she had 112lbs heifer, with big head and big shoulders, but that time we saw her calving and helped abit.
Well, luckily the girl has calved herself and is fine. She should be in heat quickly, so hoping for a nice calf maybe even at the end of this year.

Some better photos of the previous heifer. Should grow into a fine animal.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

What is a INRA95?

A french breed bred using Charolais, Limousine, Piedmontese, Maine Anjou, Blonde d'Aquitaine, some has Belgian blue.
It's often called as a french Belgian Blue. That's a breed you would use only on mature easy calving cows. We had once a calf from this breed out of a dairy cow. Kill out was 58% at 15months age. Not bad for a half dairy calf.
http://www.trouverlebontaureau.com/nos- ... 8130139933 Used this bull then.

This time have selected easier calving bull and better looking in my opinion.
http://www.trouverlebontaureau.com/nos- ... 8130562111 He's abit more than 50% Charolais.

Our INRAx calf out of dairy cow. Skinny tall dairy cow.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

A new bull calf born this morning. 103,6lbs, the 4th calf for the cow. Calved without assistance.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

New bull calf was born on Sunday evening. Out of 3rd calver, 289days gestation. Weighed him today, 113.5lbs.

 

[Grundy53]

Always like seeing your pictures. Keep them coming.

 

[JCcattle]

Looks like your calves are coming along nicely! Would be interesting to see what you get when you're using several different kinds of sires.

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

Yes, keep the pictures coming!

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Looks like your calves are coming along nicely! Would be interesting to see what you get when you're using several different kinds of sires.

Yes, we're very interested in that too!

 

[lithuanian farmer]

The first set of twins. Bull and heifer. Heifer has aborted today. Shouldn't have calved until mid of March. Had some work to get the first calf out as it was very far and only chest could be felt. After an hour of work, finally managed to get the calf out. Checked for the second, and it thankfully was in a right position.However, the heifer wasn't fully opened, her body wasn't prepared for calving, even no change in pelvic ligaments. Calves- 29 and 32lbs. In my opinion quite big for such gestation.

Three cows are due on these days so waiting for some alive healthy calves.