early calves

Gather App
Inventry
UnlistMe
B

brimmer X

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
179
City & State/Province
Arkansas
I'm curious to know if anyone else is experiencing calves being born early this fall. I had a char cow bred to braunvieh bull give birth to about a 40 lb heifer calf. So, I went back to my calender and noted the bull bred her on 1-11-2011. She gave birth on 9-19-2011. That is about 31 days before she was due. The cow is a pure bred about 1600lbs and the bull a full blood with a 92 lb birth weight.

I have had 9 calves out of 8 cows. Two of the cows are F1 simbrahs. I have not had a calf over 75lbs. Three bulls and 6 heifers. The twin hfrs around 50lbs each. The calves seem to be growing well. The early calf is filling out, but still spends a lot of time resting.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have the calves, but was expecting 80lb birth weights. We had over 30 days straight 100 degree temps. Could this be a factor?
 
Last year i had a bull calf born early weight 35 lbs, but he made it, speacial note the momma never recovered, she got sick and I screwed up on docotoring her :bang: , lost her when the calf was 56 days old. I believe she got sick and basically aborted but the calf lived.
 
Hate to here that. The mother here is fine, maybe a little over weight. I noticed the calf bellered alot for a new born.
 
If cold northern winters will cause higher birth weights I don;t see why exceptionally high summer weights wouldn;t have the opposit affect. But I thihe heat issue would be counteracted by the better feed quality unless the feed was pretty crappy at the same time.
 
Fall calves in this area (Kentucky) are generally 7-10 lbs lighter than calves born in the spring. The heat causes less circulation in the core of the cow so the fetus doesn't receive all the nutrients that the spring calves will, so they're born smaller. It's kind of the opposite effect that Dun talks about.
 
Extreme heat can cause cattle to calve very early. Most people reported having fall calves very early this year. I think there was something written about it on an Oklahoma State cow/calf site, if you wanted more info.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
Thanks for all the comments regarding the early births. It makes sense. I have about 4 more cows to calf this fall, the rest to calve in the spring( Feb & March). I'll get a good chance to see the difference in birth weights.

My cows had some extreme heat this summer to deal with, but they have all been in real good condition. We are getting some rain now as this is being sent. First rain we've really had since August.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top