Calving 2023

[lithuanian farmer]

So, the recovery position in conjunction with the needle, like acupuncture? Interesting. What gauge needle and do you leave it in until the calf shows a response?

Yup, exactly acupuncture. It's also used for puppies and kittens. Usually use what I have at the moment, so not a very tiny needle.
I personally leave it in for around 5mins, abit longer sometimes, depenting from how quickly I see that the calf started breathing normally.
Saw this technique on calf in one of Cody Creelman's videos on youtube.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

View attachment 25827

Rough start got ever rougher... Lost alot of blood it appears and body temperature dropped very low. My thermometer shows temperature from 89,6°F, but it didn't show even that. Currently managed to increase it up to 93,4°F. It's gonna be a stressfull night...
The worst part that he even had nursed by himself and walked with dam abit before he was attacked and we found him bleeding.

Well, some update on this one as well.. Not the best photo though.

He is abit smaller than similar age calves, but other than that he is doing fine. Real happy that managed to get him to live. His dam is due with another AI calf in January.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

View attachment 29950
View attachment 29951
Had the first victim to the ravens yesterday. Found 6 days old heifer with bloody back end and barely alive. But it meant that there is a free adoptive mom for a calf in need. Skinned the dead calf and introduced the new calf to the cow. She was really suspicious, was very hesitant to let the calf nurse at first, but motherly instincts won. In the evening saw both walking together. Cow had an empty udder and the calf was in a very good mood.

An update for this too.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Another bull calf born today. Sired by culard charolais bull, out of limxcharx cow, 287 days gestation. Will weight abit latet when he will be brought to the shed, but should be way over 110lbs. 5 th calf to the cow and the first bull calf.
View attachment 27719

The sire:

I think I forgot to add an update on this too. Unfortunatelly, found him dead in July... Heart issue it seems. Was a very impressive calf... Just a photo of him without skin. Was a real nice calf... hopefully will get a couple more his sire calves next year.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Bulls spell is broken it seems. Second heifer born today. This one is sired by charolais, 288 days gestation.
View attachment 28256

The last update for today This one is turning into a very lovely heifer.


Considering her family history she will be kept for breeding. Her dam is already 10years old. Incalf to charolais again and due at the end of February.

 

[MurraysMutts]

@Jeanne - Simme Valley and @lithuanian farmer

That Jefferson bull is dang sure something else isn't he?
Quite possibly the longest bull I've ever seen!

I do like the other two bulls. Real nice. Not near as much "European style" I guess. Look like they would do well here.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

@Jeanne - Simme Valley and @lithuanian farmer

That Jefferson bull is dang sure something else isn't he?
Quite possibly the longest bull I've ever seen!

I do like the other two bulls. Real nice. Not near as much "European style" I guess. Look like they would do well here.

They all look just what is a standart for each breed. There can be a real huge difference within the breed itself too. Charolais, for example, have three main types- beef, mix and breeding. Very different animals if compared between themselves. A similar situation with other breeds as well. There is a difference between countries too. Most French lims have lost their muscularity over the years, as they had been more focused on size, maternal stuff. Now again have to try to improve muscularity. If you look at irish lims, those are quite on a more extreme side. Each country has a slightly different market, so there can be found a huge variation within each breed in the Europe as well.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

One of those calves, which will be a straight ticket for his dam to the culling this year. The bull calf at the front was born on the 28th of April, out of 4th calver. The heifer at the back was born on the 10th of May out of heifer. Cow's calves always were on the smaller side, but this year it's just ridiculous.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

View attachment 25935
View attachment 25936

As expected bull calf. Will weigh tomorrow with the previous calf. Does seem smaller than a blue calf, but this one has more flesh on his bones, so that could add some weight. Overall not too bad for such long gestation.

Loving his colour!

 

[Travlr]

One of those calves, which will be a straight ticket for his dam to the culling this year. The bull calf at the front was born on the 28th of April, out of 4th calver. The heifer at the back was born on the 10th of May out of heifer. Cow's calves always were on the smaller side, but this year it's just ridiculous.
View attachment 35093

Rate of gain matters...

 

[lithuanian farmer]

You start to feel the new season coming when you see such bellies. This one is due on the 22nd of December. Will have five cows due from 22nd to the 31st. Busy holidays!

Still a good month or even two for some until weaning! This girl is only 5 months old.

Another similar age heifer.

Our first and only Gasconne cross first calver.


Two youngest calves.

Another heifer. Around 5 months age too.

Our one of the smallest cows.

 

[TCRanch]

Is that 5-month-old Blue the one you're keeping? Love her looks!

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Is that 5-month-old Blue the one you're keeping? Love her looks!

I do plan to keep her. Her dam is 8 years old and no daughters in production yet.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

This one will be an interesting one to see grow. I'm pretty sure that she will make quite massive cow. Not too tall, but really heavy one.

75% sim heifer from a heifer. Another exciting addition to the herd.



Real eye catcher. Don't think we ever had a heifer like her. Would be real interesting to get her pelvic meassured. She is also from a heifer. A huge compliment for her dam and she is due one month earlier next year compared to this year.