waihou
Well-known member
Haven't posted on here for awhile, but another spring calving season is done, despite high rainfall, poor grass growth and scours! Twenty seven live, unassisted births from 26 pregnancies. If wasn't for a dose of Rotovirus going through the youngest calves in August, it would have been a good result. Lost one 12 day old bull calf despite a week of stomach tubing, IV fluids and everything the vet could throw at him. Ah well, we finished on a good note with twin heifers born in October. Nine live bulls and 17 heifers!
The dam is a second calving 3 year old, never looked big and in August when all the others calved I even wondered if she was pregnant. Checked by her one saturday morning to see her lying flat out-good she 's getting on with it.
At 10am checked closer, about 6 inches of membrane out, checked back at 11am, calf getting to its feet, saw it was a good sized heifer and all looked well. Another check (drive by) at 12noon, they had moved away and she was licking something on the ground-all's well, left them to it.
Paid a proper visit at 3pm to check calf had fed. Walked towards where she was licking the calf on the ground, past an afterbirth, and then another large dollop! Two placentas-perhaps two calves?
Sure enough, over by the fence was a nice dry heifer. According to the neighbour she saw the second at 12, I saw the first at 11.
Biggest surprise of all weighed less than 24 hours old, one was 37 kgs (81.5lbs) and the other was 41kgs (90lbs) she had quite a load on board. Best of all she can count to two and never hesitated that they are both hers!
The sire of them has averaged 39kgs (86lbs) for his calves from mature cows this year.
Less than 3 hours old
Sire of most of this years calves Steamroller!
The dam is a second calving 3 year old, never looked big and in August when all the others calved I even wondered if she was pregnant. Checked by her one saturday morning to see her lying flat out-good she 's getting on with it.
At 10am checked closer, about 6 inches of membrane out, checked back at 11am, calf getting to its feet, saw it was a good sized heifer and all looked well. Another check (drive by) at 12noon, they had moved away and she was licking something on the ground-all's well, left them to it.
Paid a proper visit at 3pm to check calf had fed. Walked towards where she was licking the calf on the ground, past an afterbirth, and then another large dollop! Two placentas-perhaps two calves?
Sure enough, over by the fence was a nice dry heifer. According to the neighbour she saw the second at 12, I saw the first at 11.
Biggest surprise of all weighed less than 24 hours old, one was 37 kgs (81.5lbs) and the other was 41kgs (90lbs) she had quite a load on board. Best of all she can count to two and never hesitated that they are both hers!
The sire of them has averaged 39kgs (86lbs) for his calves from mature cows this year.
Less than 3 hours old
Sire of most of this years calves Steamroller!