distressed heifer

[cornstalk]

Hello board;

Thought I'd run this one past the group.

This morning I noticed one of my yearling heifers appeared rather distraught. I'm pail feeding about 20 hd, all yearling's now weighing 900lbs (ish). My upset heifer was trotting around the pen, belloring/bawling, and looking over the fences, as though she was looking for something. She was/is quite upset about something. (Acting almost like a 2-3 yo cow that has been isolated from her calf). Even as I fed the group, she prefered to run around the lot in distress, rather than coming to the bunk. She is one of the heifers I plan on retaining for breeding purposes.

Does this sound like maybe an extreme case of heat? Just wanted to get a little insight.

What are some of the more typical signs of a heifer/cow in heat??

Thanks!

:cboy:

 

[warpaint]

Sounds like she may be cycling. First time heifers get pretty agitated.

 

[Victoria]

They hit the nail on the head, your heifer is probably in heat. Sounds like she is the type to come in strong. The ones we've had like that are the type who go find the bull and make sure they are bred instead of waiting for him to come to them. ;-)

 

[cornstalk]

Thanks for the replies.... I'll have to make sure she doesnt get over the fence, and in with the bull... :roll:

Can anyone describe, what are the more subtle signs of heat in a young heifer?

 

[sidney411]

If she's 900 lbs why not go ahead and breed her?

 

[Susie David]

The call of nature....should be quiet tomorrow morning.
It sounded like a feed yard here last week, cows mooing at the new calves and yearlings in season. Glad it is over now, had one that I hadn't noticed before and was worried that she got cozy with the bull when she wasn't supposed to.
DMc

 

[lakading]

If she's 900 lbs why not go ahead and breed her?

May not want to calve on January 8th. ;-)

 

[cornstalk]

If she's 900 lbs why not go ahead and breed her?

Because I dont want a calf next January. I live in South Dakota....January 1st average temps are typically sub-zero.

 

[dun]

Thanks for the replies.... I'll have to make sure she doesnt get over the fence, and in with the bull... :roll:

Can anyone describe, what are the more subtle signs of heat in a young heifer?

The subtle signs are those you described but more subdued and chinning others, trying to mount or standing while others chin or try to mount.

dun

 

[IluvABbeef]

Thanks for the replies.... I'll have to make sure she doesnt get over the fence, and in with the bull... :roll:

Can anyone describe, what are the more subtle signs of heat in a young heifer?

The subtle signs are those you described but more subdued and chinning others, trying to mount or standing while others chin or try to mount.

dun

Zactly what I was gonna say!! ;-) ;-) If one of them tries to mount, most likely she won't move to get away

 

[Rod]

I had one act like that just yesterday. My bull furthermore pointed it out as to what was going on.