Nesikep
Well-known member
Well, I haven't had the first calf yet, but I'm getting ready for them, setting up the calving area electric fences, looking for my needles, syringes, tags, bands, iodine, chains and all that stuff.
Today I was vaccinating (scourgard) in the field, I got 16 of 20 cows, while the 4 that got away (one in particular) seem to know when it's that time of year and must be able to smell the vaccine and know they're getting a poke in the butt, they stay 30 feet away from me and keep a watch on me from the corner of their eye. I only broke 2 syringes (the cold makes them brittle) until maybe I got the hang of doing it again... didn't lose any needles though (whew). If I have any leftover vaccine I'm going to give my yearling heifers a shot, which saves me from giving them 2 shots 3 weeks apart next year, it's worked for us so far
The cows are getting pretty heavy now, but I'm wondering about some of the observed breeding dates I have... For example my 5S heifer (Mega) is supposedly due Mar 28th, but it's looking more like march 10th to me at this point, she's already got pudding-butt and has a good gallon or two worth of udder. Meanwhile the other heifer seems to be a week or two later and was bred a week earlier (so I've probably got her time right). Most of the cows aren't showing any signs yet, which is another puzzle for me since they usually show more than heifers do.
I know many (most even) of you have already started calving... hope everyone has a good one, I know there were a couple people with a lot of nightmares last year.
Today I was vaccinating (scourgard) in the field, I got 16 of 20 cows, while the 4 that got away (one in particular) seem to know when it's that time of year and must be able to smell the vaccine and know they're getting a poke in the butt, they stay 30 feet away from me and keep a watch on me from the corner of their eye. I only broke 2 syringes (the cold makes them brittle) until maybe I got the hang of doing it again... didn't lose any needles though (whew). If I have any leftover vaccine I'm going to give my yearling heifers a shot, which saves me from giving them 2 shots 3 weeks apart next year, it's worked for us so far
The cows are getting pretty heavy now, but I'm wondering about some of the observed breeding dates I have... For example my 5S heifer (Mega) is supposedly due Mar 28th, but it's looking more like march 10th to me at this point, she's already got pudding-butt and has a good gallon or two worth of udder. Meanwhile the other heifer seems to be a week or two later and was bred a week earlier (so I've probably got her time right). Most of the cows aren't showing any signs yet, which is another puzzle for me since they usually show more than heifers do.
I know many (most even) of you have already started calving... hope everyone has a good one, I know there were a couple people with a lot of nightmares last year.