Gives and takes away

[Dave]

I had two new calves today. The cows had taken a week off but they are back at it.

I also had a dead cow out there this morning. A good big healthy looking cow. I looked right at her yesterday afternoon. No real obvious reason for her tipping over. Some blood on her mouth and tongue. That was it. I figure with this old cow deal that a person will lose 5%. Generally I can see the reason. Not the case on this one. Oh well, as B says, "they don't all live and they don't all die." But I have a new black and a baldy calf today.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Even being as selective as we can upon purchase it happens.

Sorry to hear that. And I hope the rest do well for ya!!

 

[bird dog]

If you are honest with yourself with the percentages, you have to expect these things. I had one tip over like that a few weeks back with a 1 month old calf. Calf is still with the herd and seems to be doing okay.

 

[Dave]

If you have livestock sooner or later you will have dead stock. It was 64 years ago that I got my first steer. After raising them for years you learn not to become attached to them and some of them will die on you. Do everything you can to prevent it. But some just get tired of living.
On a good note both of the calves born today were bulls (now steers).

 

[farmerjan]

We just found a 2nd calf cow, with a 3 month calf... laying dead for no apparent reason at all, this past week. Got the calf in and it is up with my bottle calves... the oldest 2 in there are pushing 10-11 weeks and are on 1 bottle a day and eating good... this calf went right in the bunk with the bottle calves and is eating grain and hay along with them. It will do alot better with them than trying to steal off other cows... Have 6 that have been on bottles, all holsteins except the 1/2 angus/hol that was on the nurse cow that died back in Nov.... 2 younger sets of twins, smaller, but doing good. Looks like I am going to be raising more bottle calves for awhile... got a dairy that is situated further away from the stock yards and they want to work out a deal for me to just come get the bull calves at a pretty good price. Holstein feeders are bringing good prices... going to probably do some since they have a group of 20+ heifers due to calve in the next 8 weeks...
Yep, you have live stock and some dead stock... and try to do the best you can.

 

[greybeard]

Ya just never know about 'em...

 

[MurraysMutts]

We just found a 2nd calf cow, with a 3 month calf... laying dead for no apparent reason at all, this past week. Got the calf in and it is up with my bottle calves... the oldest 2 in there are pushing 10-11 weeks and are on 1 bottle a day and eating good... this calf went right in the bunk with the bottle calves and is eating grain and hay along with them. It will do alot better with them than trying to steal off other cows... Have 6 that have been on bottles, all holsteins except the 1/2 angus/hol that was on the nurse cow that died back in Nov.... 2 younger sets of twins, smaller, but doing good. Looks like I am going to be raising more bottle calves for awhile... got a dairy that is situated further away from the stock yards and they want to work out a deal for me to just come get the bull calves at a pretty good price. Holstein feeders are bringing good prices... going to probably do some since they have a group of 20+ heifers due to calve in the next 8 weeks...
Yep, you have live stock and some dead stock... and try to do the best you can.

Watched several baby calves sell at 600 bucks today.....
Incredible.

 

[farmerjan]

Watched several baby calves sell at 600 bucks today.....
Incredible.

Absurd really... but this evening watched 375-600 lb black steers bring 2.80 to 3.25 ....
Don't know what baby calves are bringing here... need to check...

 

[gcreekrch]

I looked right at her yesterday afternoon. No real obvious reason for her tipping over.

You uglied her to death!

 

[Dave]

It appears that yesterday morning I had a cow have a calf right by the river. The calf must have taken a nose dive into the river. Cow marching and bawling but no calf. Now I need to find a twin someone has.

 

[Dave]

I found a twin calf. It is a 10 day old bull calf from a set of twins out of a heifer. He isn't very big but he will grow. It was a pain getting the cow in. She walked right by a couple open gates. But two well mounted cowboys (one who happens to be female) who know how to handle cattle got it done. Cow stood like a statue in the chute. Calf was a little stupid. But when they have been on the bottle for a while they seem to forget how to suck. We will win this battle.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I found a twin calf.

We will win this battle.

Love it!!

 

[Dave]

I think we won the battle already. When we went to put her in the chute this morning she didn't want to go anywhere without the calf. And she was talking to him the entire time. They will get to stay in for 4 or 5 days to make certain before they get kicked back out in general population.

 

[farmerjan]

Calves on bottles either forget how to suck, or are so over enthusiastic that they butt the cow to death and she gets mad... but, at 10 days, he ought to get it pretty quick and when he figures out that there is a meal whenever he wants... he will "get it" real quick.
Sounds like you are having a year like all the rest of us... all sorts of things happening that aren't that great.
Glad you got her in and and as soon as he figures it out, she should be glad to have a baby...
Sorry for the losses, seems like that has been the way of it this year...

 

[Twisted]

Had a young bull die week before last, he was showing a little less condition after being in with the cows which is normal. I had bought 4 new heifers and had them pinned in the corral for several obvious reasons, one being him. The heifers got out of the corral one night and a couple of days later I found him dead. He was trying to mount one of the heifers when I checked on them the day before, I guess even bulls can have too much of a good thing.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Speaking of attachment to livestock - I keep the bones of the first and greatest horse of my life to be buried with.
Husband on one side, Tamar on the other

 

[wbvs58]

Had a young bull die week before last, he was showing a little less condition after being in with the cows which is normal. I had bought 4 new heifers and had them pinned in the corral for several obvious reasons, one being him. The heifers got out of the corral one night and a couple of days later I found him dead. He was trying to mount one of the heifers when I checked on them the day before, I guess even bulls can have too much of a good thing.

Sounds like he died with a smile on his face.

Ken

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Many old fellas with heart disease die happy. Viagra use is a risk in those with cardio myopahthy. Of course, if 'the effect' goes on for more that 4 hours they are supposed to go to the ER.