Happened Here Too

[FlyingLSimmentals]

Had our first 2015 calf born today in this Winter Crap at least she did have it during day light hrs. She did have it pretty much dried off and trailing her when I found them. I decided I would try and put them in the barn to keep a close eye on them. Found out carrying a calf through 12 - 15 inches of snow can get tiring quickly. She wasn't due until the 20th, I was hoping she would be a couple of days late. But for wishing that I got it 2 days early. Anyway, made it to the barn and then I found out the calf hasn't nursed as far as I could determine. The long legged heifer calf just wouldn't hunker its head down low enough to get a nipple. I try helping the calf latch on but the calf would just fight me and quit trying when ever I tried helping. I finally got a bottle of colostrum and gave it that for tonight, and left it licking the sidewalls. Hopefully she'll figure it out tonight or I'll have a lot of work tomorrow. This winter weather has about got me under the weather, ear hurts and I'm beginning to lose my voice with a sore throat. I'll try and take a pic sometime or the other when she gets going good, as well as myself.

 

[tom4018]

Got a few bagging up good, hope they wait until this mess is gone. Weekend looks to be messy.

 

[Nesikep]

Hope she figures it out by the morning on her own.. though you're probably going to be left humming and hawing about if she did nurse or not.

hope you get better soon too

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

Update:
Cow and Calf are doing well now. Ended up giving it a couple of bottles of milk and finally help taught it to hunker a bit lower to nurse mom. Cow has brought it out of the barn and are doing well outside.

I went to the ER Sunday evening and found out I had strep throat. Got some meds and have been staying indoors as much as possible. Almost totally lost my voice there for a day or two. The worse part has been basically being on a liquid food supply, finally was able to eat some solid food last night. Feel pretty well now besides when I yawn.

I'll try and get a pic tomorrow to upload, feels like it's been awhile since I posted any photos here. I can't wait until Spring, hope everyone else has had a better week than me and better weather. There has to be some somewhere.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Glad to hear the calve is doing well. Now you just take care of yourself!

 

[Tim/South]

Glad to hear the good update.

 

[kucala5]

It is always such a relief when they figure it out. I love seeing "milk mouth". Hope you are feeling better.

 

[Putangitangi]

...I went to the ER Sunday evening and found out I had strep throat. Got some meds and have been staying indoors as much as possible. Almost totally lost my voice there for a day or two. The worse part has been basically being on a liquid food supply, finally was able to eat some solid food last night. Feel pretty well now besides when I yawn. ...

I feel for you! One of my big fears for calving (apart from things going wrong with the cows, which they will or won't anyway) is getting sick when I have to be out there checking and sometimes in the middle of the night. I still remember watching a calving while snoozing under a big tree while the cold rain fell and I coughed and felt like death heated up to fever level. I hope you're much better soon.

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

Thanks everyone for all the well wishes. I'm closing in on getting back to 100% thank you Lord, other than still having a bit of a cough and a little congestion I'm there. Here is a pic of the cow and heifer calf.

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

More Pics I didn't have time to post last time.

 

[Nesikep]

Even though they're black :hide: They look really nice!

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

Thanks, Nesikep. I personally like the look of red cattle better as well, but a jet black calf can sure look nice as well. That's why I like using Heterozygous Black Bulls, to get some of both. I'll try and remember to post my first red calf just for your viewing pleasure since your not a fan of Black .

 

[Lucky_P]

Three on the ground in the past two days - one each red and black SH-sired bull calves and a nice BWF Simmental heifer. 9 more in this group..due TOMORROW. Hope they'll drop tonight, before this latest wave of crap blows through, or wait until Fri/Sat.
Snow almost disappeared today, after 16 days of total ground cover, with temps above 60 - but forecast to drop to -3 by Thursday night. Hate those kind of temperature swings!

 

[Nesikep]

When cattle are nice, a can appreciate them in any color, I just like the reds a little more.. I've gone to the extreme now and it looks like I'm done with the red, the golds, and I'm into the blondes now with the Limo calves... I gotta get me a nice red Saler again... been 20 years since we bought the last one.

Mega calved during the worst night in Feb... though it was pretty decent anyhow.. Calf got dried off before a windy rain, and the sun has been making appearances for them to sunbathe in

Good luck with yours Lucky. They'll know when the worst of the weather is coming through, and won't hesitate to force you out into it!

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

I feel you Lucky P, this weather has been terrible compared to the typical WKY weather most years. I'm just happy here that we have had only 1 born this year so far, usually we've got more by now. Our old bull were having a little trouble getting them bred I think before we shipped him therefore I think some have fallen back because of that. Hopefully I have a lot of April and May calves, with a few maybe late March. I suspect my heifers to be next hopefully the weather will finally break before they calve. One of them is due to RCR Stetson and I really like his calves so I hope it gets a pretty day to be born. Wishing you the best of luck with yours in this Cold Wet freaky Kentucky weather. Hopefully I can get some BWF Simmental calves late this season out of my new Packin Heat Blaze face herd sire.