First winter calf!

[ny_grass]

I go out to feed the cows today and there, in the middle of the almost empty round bale feeder, is a cute little bull calf! According to the vet he wasn't due until the first week in Feb; I'd not noticed any bagging up of the mother so we were caught completely by surprise.

Upon discovering him we put him and mom into a pole barn with high sides on the north and west (so completely guarded from the wind) and 5 ft high sides on the other two.

I've talked to some neighbor farmers and they don't seem to concerned about the calf; though it was very cold today (probably about 5-10F when he was born), it wasn't windy and he was born on dry hay. He's walking around, nursing, is dry and out of the wind. Is there anything else I can do for him? (I mean, I know one answer would be: never do winter calving! Next year's calves will come out on schedule in mid-May but this whole batch will calve between now and late March).

One neighbor says that he has some shots that he gives to his winter calves to help with, I think, pneumonia. Is that something I should consider? Also when can I let he and his mom out of the barn? (Leaving it open for them get in if they want).

 

[hillsdown]

If he had his feedings of colostrum he should be Ok. The only thing I would really be worried about is his ears freezing.

 

[ny_grass]

If he had his feedings of colostrum he should be Ok. The only thing I would really be worried about is his ears freezing.

Thanks for the input; every good thing I hear takes some of the worry away. I'm not sure when he first fed; we saw him nurse within an hour of discovering him. He seemed a little clumsy finding the nipple (trying to suck higher up on her). But he was dry and walking around. Hopefully he fed well during those critical first two hours

 

[Roan]

The cow and baby can be let out with the other cows, if you are worried you can get a calf gate where only the calf can get in to laydown and stay out of the way of the cows. Congrats on the new addition. :banana:

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Congrats - I'm also in upstate NY - all of NY (and surrounding states) are Selenium deficient. Calf should receive a BoSe shot (must get from Vet), it is a Se, Vit E shot (100ml bottle pretty cheap). Also, should get a Vit A-D shot. We iodine dip all navals also (we use a dairy teat dip cup).
Because NY is so SE deficient, you should be sure to have your cows on a good "loose" mineral program with SE added.
Once calf is up & dry, can be out with herd, hopefully with a wind break of trees or something (hayfeeder works fine!)
You can PM me if you need more info.

 

[ny_grass]

Congrats - I'm also in upstate NY - all of NY (and surrounding states) are Selenium deficient. Calf should receive a BoSe shot (must get from Vet), it is a Se, Vit E shot (100ml bottle pretty cheap). Also, should get a Vit A-D shot. We iodine dip all navals also (we use a dairy teat dip cup).
Because NY is so SE deficient, you should be sure to have your cows on a good "loose" mineral program with SE added.
Once calf is up & dry, can be out with herd, hopefully with a wind break of trees or something (hayfeeder works fine!)
You can PM me if you need more info.

Calling my vet now to get some BoSe and A-D too. Thanks for the info. Will it still be useful 1.5 days after birth (it'll be tonight until I'm able to administer it)?

 

[bigbull338]

congrats on your new calf.

 

[KMacGinley]

So you kept your cows huh? Good for you.

 

[angie1]

Will it still be useful 1.5 days after birth (it'll be tonight until I'm able to administer it)?

Yep!

Good luck with the rest of your calving season!

 

[ny_grass]

So you kept your cows huh? Good for you.

Hi KMac, Why do you ask if I kept them? You remember me from the "Skinny cows" post last year? Yeah, that was a real learning experience ;-) My history after that post was:
- get some grain in them (I fed less than some people recommended through, about 3-4 lbs day per cow); they started looking better pretty quick after that.
- wormed them with a pour on

then Spring was here. Then

- in mid summer I sold a bull to a farmer

- in late fall we fixed the perimeter fence around our 75 acres and let them have the run of the whole place for about 1.5 months. That was GREAT! Nothing like doing exactly nothing for your cows (there's a stream they drink from). Talk about turning lemons to lemonaid! We fixed the fence because they had broken out of their front paddocks and gotten into the back of the property! But it needed to be done! ;-)

- in October I took 2 steers to the butcher. Selling it all has also been a "learning experience" (that's a whole other story ;-)

This year:
- I have 7 bred cows (now 6 to go).

- I'm feeding round bales with my tractor which has been great; every other day I drop a bale for them. I've got my hay pile next to the fence line where I have about 7-8 spots to drop the bales (so that the wasted hay, manure doesn't build up like it did last year when, at the end of the year, they were sitting on a pile about 5 ft high!). I have a round bale feeder to help prevent waste - as some other posts have discussed - I find the waste with the round feeder still unacceptable - might do a hay cradle next year - I need to buy a welder and learn how to weld anyway; make a great first project - like, I think, Backhoeboogie did.

- the watering system has been MUCH improved this year. Last year I was using 300ft of garden hose!!! (That was really fun when the temp was, say, -5F). We installed a frost-free hydrant so we just come out twice a day and turn it on for 5-10 mins and it fills up an insulated 100 gal trough thing my son and I built. I was planning on getting an electric, insulated waterer but didn't have the money at the time.

- I bought a brush hog last year so this spring I plan on doing lots of brush hogging over the endless multi-flora rose we have. I have probably 20 acres that could be dramatically improved by just a couple of cuttings.

- We got rid of some of our other animals. We still produced about 200 broilers but this year we'll do none! Did sheep last year again. Not this year.

- The goat herd will more than double this year so it'll be all cattle and goats. Lots of fence to put up since, now, we'll need to be able to let the goats get out to more of the property (which was why I originally got them).

So, we're still rookies but have definitely improved things ;-) Thanks for asking.

 

[ny_grass]

congrats on your new calf.

Thanks. It's a pretty exciting thing. Every time an animal appears that I wasn't expecting I get the same rush of excitement (and worry, actually ;-)

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Frost-free hydrant is like a miracle compared to any size hose - let alone 300 feet!!!! :shock:
If you make small improvements each year like you've been doing, livestock won't be nearly as difficult.
Newborns are such a pleasure!!!
Yes, BoSe is still needed. Then, after you get a bottle, you can give it to each calf when born.
Lack of SE can have dramatic affects - or very small suttle ones.
White Muscle Disease is caused by lack of SE - calves can be born too weak to stand - or can't manipulate their tongue (affects large muscles) - or get going good & one day go out running & keel over dead (heart is a very large muscle)
Cows with low SE - causes poor heats - poor conception - loose manure - slow labored deliveries - retained placentas - mastitis, etc.
May not cause any or all of the above. I've had people say - "I NEVER suppliment with SE and never had a problem - but this year, my calves are dying - why?" Sometimes your herd could go for years without symptoms, but trust me, in NY, they NEED IT!
We were part of a research many years ago, we had to triple the amount of SE in our mineral, to get the cattle up to a normal level.
Will you be going to the NY Beef Producers Annual meeting in Syracuse? 1-23-10

 

[KMacGinley]

Well done! Sounds like you are really getting a handle on things, keep up the good work. You might feed a loose mineral with selenium in it at all times.

 

[ny_grass]

Well done! Sounds like you are really getting a handle on things, keep up the good work. You might feed a loose mineral with selenium in it at all times.

Thanks Kmac! I usually feed minerals but then a rain will come in and soak them and the sun hardens 'em. I know, build a covered mineral feeder! I bought one from tractor supply but the piece of #@!(& broke within 6 months. Next time I get a couple of hours ;-)

I just checked; I've been using this mineral: http://www.vigortone.com/B-3V%20Next%20Generation.pdf
Hopefully that's enough selenium.

 

[ny_grass]

Will you be going to the NY Beef Producers Annual meeting in Syracuse? 1-23-10

Not sure yet. I'd like to. Time.

Thanks for the other info ;-)

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Here's link showing a picture of a homemade mineral feeder - best in the world!! and cheap!
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=21388&p=212818&hilit=make+mineral+feeder+picture+mineral+feeder#p212818
We all call it Dun's feeder, but waaayyy back when, I think I taught Dun :banana:
If you don't make it to the Annual Meeting - try to make it to the Farm Show in Syracuse - Feb 25-27? I'll have a heifer on display.

 

[greatgerts]

Here is one a college friend's dad had recently built for under $100. It's not as inexpensive as dun's model, but I really like the looks and strength of this one. Maybe I'll put this on a mineral thread too.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

But that will FILL with water & snow unless you drill holes in the bottom - then you can't feed loose mineral (which BTW, cattle CANNOT get enough mineral from a block if they stand and lick on it 24/7)
$100 :shock: yikes!
The barrel has a hole on only 1 side. The prevailing wind blows the hole away so it does not blow snow/rain INSIDE the barrel, especially if you tip it properly.
A barrel costs around $5 - you also need rope, swivel hook & eyebolt. Can't imagine you have more than $10 in them - and if you need to, they are easy to move - although I have 1 or 2 in every field cattle get into. If you don't have ANY trees, you can build a frame to hang it on.

 

[dun]

But that will FILL with water & snow unless you drill holes in the bottom - then you can't feed loose mineral (which BTW, cattle CANNOT get enough mineral from a block if they stand and lick on it 24/7)
$100 :shock: yikes!
The barrel has a hole on only 1 side. The prevailing wind blows the hole away so it does not blow snow/rain INSIDE the barrel, especially if you tip it properly.
A barrel costs around $5 - you also need rope, swivel hook & eyebolt. Can't imagine you have more than $10 in them - and if you need to, they are easy to move - although I have 1 or 2 in every field cattle get into. If you don't have ANY trees, you can build a frame to hang it on.

I sue chain now, a lot easier to hook and unhook and the chain won;t rot after 5-6 years like rope will

 

[novatech]

What's a sue chain?