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cattle watch interval
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<blockquote data-quote="lawnviewfarm" data-source="post: 512162" data-attributes="member: 7051"><p>[<strong>short version]</strong></p><p>For those that watch their cattle closely at calving time, how often do you check on them</p><p> (a) as you approach 270 days (T minus 2 weeks)?</p><p> (b) once you're past the 283 day mark?</p><p> (c) when they start pacing?</p><p></p><p>[<strong>long version]</strong></p><p>So Saturday evening I bring the cows up to the feedlot per usual routine to feed them. I typically walk the '<em>line of tails</em>' to check them for the usual signs of impending calving (springing 'n stringing, bagging up, etc) while they're dining. I make a mental note that <strong>cow #3</strong> '<em>looks close</em>'. </p><p></p><p>Now the bull was turned in with the cows on May 27, 2007 so first calf would be '<em>due</em>' on March 5, 2008, <em>by the numbers</em>, assuming a cow follows the numbers and was bred on the day of the bull's turn-in. And we go about the rest of our daily chores.</p><p></p><p>Long about dusk, the Mrs. and I walk down to the mail box. By now we can hardly see 'cross the pasture and our walk takes down past the feed lot. Most of the '<em>girls</em>' are now just loafing around. On the return trip, I notice a cow pacing, walking circles she was. She heads out to the pasture, but I notice the rest of the herd doesn't follow. A quick check of those still loafing tells me its <strong>cow #3</strong> headed out on her own. So I make a mental note to check up on her later that evening.</p><p></p><p>Back at the house, I munch some vittles; sis calls, we chat some. Then I remember <strong>cow #3</strong>, and head out with flashlight in hand. Can't see <strong>#3</strong> from the driveway (insert note to investigate spotlight here). I walk down the driveway and notice most of the cows still in the feed lot. Down the road I go with flashlight in hand. I get to the path on the far side of the pasture and head down that way. A little later I see a pair of reflective eyes chest-high; okay, there she is. Walking further, I see a pair of eyes knee-high, oh wait, was that a pair of eyes or 3 eyes? A little further and there they are, 4 eyes knee-high, 2 eyes chest-high; 6 eyes there are-twins! The little buggers are all cleaned off and standing attempting to make the connection to their first meal. Our first twins, and for <strong>cow #3</strong>, this was to be calf #3. So, now it's #3b and #3h.</p><p></p><p>I enter the night's events on the record card for <strong>cow #3</strong> and see that she had calved a heifer calf on 4/18/2007-oh yes, the week '<em>the 3 heifers</em>' calved last year, how could I forget? Now twins on 3/8/2007; not bad, 1 cow, 1 year, 3 calves. I also noted that last year <strong>cow #3</strong> had allowed several other calves to nurse her. We'll see how she does with her 2.</p><p></p><p>From pacing to seeing nursing twins, about 2-1/2 hours had elapsed by my reconstruction of events. Obviously, my watch interval wasn't as often as it perhaps should have been. My question, how soon would <u><em>you</em></u> have checked back on <strong>cow #3</strong>?</p><p></p><p>--Marc</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="lawnviewfarm, post: 512162, member: 7051"] [[b]short version][/b] For those that watch their cattle closely at calving time, how often do you check on them (a) as you approach 270 days (T minus 2 weeks)? (b) once you’re past the 283 day mark? (c) when they start pacing? [[b]long version][/b] So Saturday evening I bring the cows up to the feedlot per usual routine to feed them. I typically walk the '[i]line of tails[/i]' to check them for the usual signs of impending calving (springing ‘n stringing, bagging up, etc) while they’re dining. I make a mental note that [b]cow #3[/b] '[i]looks close[/i]'. Now the bull was turned in with the cows on May 27, 2007 so first calf would be ‘[i]due[/i]’ on March 5, 2008, [i]by the numbers[/i], assuming a cow follows the numbers and was bred on the day of the bull's turn-in. And we go about the rest of our daily chores. Long about dusk, the Mrs. and I walk down to the mail box. By now we can hardly see 'cross the pasture and our walk takes down past the feed lot. Most of the ‘[i]girls[/i]’ are now just loafing around. On the return trip, I notice a cow pacing, walking circles she was. She heads out to the pasture, but I notice the rest of the herd doesn’t follow. A quick check of those still loafing tells me its [b]cow #3[/b] headed out on her own. So I make a mental note to check up on her later that evening. Back at the house, I munch some vittles; sis calls, we chat some. Then I remember [b]cow #3[/b], and head out with flashlight in hand. Can’t see [b]#3[/b] from the driveway (insert note to investigate spotlight here). I walk down the driveway and notice most of the cows still in the feed lot. Down the road I go with flashlight in hand. I get to the path on the far side of the pasture and head down that way. A little later I see a pair of reflective eyes chest-high; okay, there she is. Walking further, I see a pair of eyes knee-high, oh wait, was that a pair of eyes or 3 eyes? A little further and there they are, 4 eyes knee-high, 2 eyes chest-high; 6 eyes there are-twins! The little buggers are all cleaned off and standing attempting to make the connection to their first meal. Our first twins, and for [b]cow #3[/b], this was to be calf #3. So, now it's #3b and #3h. I enter the night’s events on the record card for [b]cow #3[/b] and see that she had calved a heifer calf on 4/18/2007-oh yes, the week ‘[i]the 3 heifers[/i]’ calved last year, how could I forget? Now twins on 3/8/2007; not bad, 1 cow, 1 year, 3 calves. I also noted that last year [b]cow #3[/b] had allowed several other calves to nurse her. We’ll see how she does with her 2. From pacing to seeing nursing twins, about 2-1/2 hours had elapsed by my reconstruction of events. Obviously, my watch interval wasn’t as often as it perhaps should have been. My question, how soon would [u][i]you[/i][/u] have checked back on [b]cow #3[/b]? --Marc [/QUOTE]
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