I discussed the issue of calf growth after the expected due date and inducing labor with the vet this afternon. He figures the growth past due date to be round 1 1/2 lbs a day but feels that inducing labor opens anothe whole can of worms that is better avoided.
We had to jack a calf today from a heifer that was 7 days over due, calf was a monster 120 lb bull.
We've used that bull for a number of years and never had a calf over 70 lbs, this year we had a 90 lb heifer a week early and this monster a week late. A third heifer bred to him had a 65 lb bull calf with no problems.
When we purchased these two heifers we looked back 2 generations on there BW and calving ease. The numbers were just about ideal. We should have looked back a couple more generations. Each of them had a bull with BW of over +7 lbs, the breed average is +.7. Oh well, a lesson learned
dun
heifer":s26nln3r said:
Thanks! Should she go over that far, how much would I give her? How much more will the calf grow as that is my main concern?