Heifer due Oct 10....need some advice

[Mahoney Farms]

Our heifer was AI'd and is due Oct 10. Her bag is large and her teats have filled out as of this morning. She has softened and is protruding a little. From your past experience.....how early could she calve. We have her Dam and she is on date for heifers and over for bulls. Appreciate your knowledge....jmd :cboy:

 

[dun]

Being a heifer she could be a couple of weeks early and still be on schedule. It's hard to predict how close they are to calving. The only surefire way is when the feet stick out. But when she really gets close any discharge will change from sticky to very watery, typically lokking at her from the front or the rear she won;t look like she has a calf in her anymore, she'll seperate from the others (usually) and will start to be restless, maybe even mooing quietly or standing around with a far off look like she's looking into the distance.
Good luck

dun

 

[Mahoney Farms]

Being a heifer she could be a couple of weeks early and still be on schedule. It's hard to predict how close they are to calving. The only surefire way is when the feet stick out. But when she really gets close any discharge will change from sticky to very watery, typically lokking at her from the front or the rear she won;t look like she has a calf in her anymore, she'll seperate from the others (usually) and will start to be restless, maybe even mooing quietly or standing around with a far off look like she's looking into the distance.
Good luck

dun

She has displayed the standing around and separating herself this past weekend, this morning she is trying to boss the cows around. That is definitely not her normal behavior....really she could calf up to 2 weeks early....I'm not ready...... :lol:
jmd :cboy:

 

[dun]

really she could calf up to 2 weeks early....I'm not ready...... :lol:
jmd :cboy:

Doesn;t really matter if you are ready if she is

dun

 

[Beefy]

Mahoney-
post a picture!
what breed is the heifer?
when you think shes close, add 1 week to that. lol.


Also, has anybody noticed how really pregnant (like 9 months) cows like to ride other cows. whats up with that?

 

[dj]

horror moans

 

[msscamp]

Our heifer was AI'd and is due Oct 10. Her bag is large and her teats have filled out as of this morning. She has softened and is protruding a little. From your past experience.....how early could she calve. We have her Dam and she is on date for heifers and over for bulls. Appreciate your knowledge....jmd :cboy:

The best guess I can give you is that she will calve when it's time. I'm not trying to be a smarty pants, but we have had heifers calf with no loosening behind and no bag to speak of and we have had them calve when they were so loose that we wondered how they kept everything where it should be and their bags were so tight that we thought they were going to explode. Calving out heifers is a very interesting experience, to say the least.

 

[Beefy]

yeah, at least after the first calf you'll know more or less what to expect next year as far as guesstimating when she will calve.

 

[msscamp]

That's very true.

 

[jgn]

I can't tell you when but my advice is if and when you think she's close get her penned up so you can watch her and assist if there is any trouble with delivery. If you have to help it's a lot easier if she's in a pen than trying to catch her in the field.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I find that a heifer's bag will get reeeal tight & shiney, than after a few days, it will soften, then it will get real tight again. Going thru a stretching stage as it gets bigger. Usually when the teats get tight & shiney - they are close - sometimes :D Always a guessing game with heifers. Keeps you on your toes.
I strongly believe in keeping them up close, I lock them up at night, but like them to have a larger area outside for exercise during the day. Put them in if I see them in labor. But, don't do this if she has never been locked up. Will REALLY make her upset, especially if she's alone. I always have a herdmate to put with them.

 

[eric]

I agree that it's pretty much anyone's guess as to ecactly when a cow is gonna calf. I've about 10 calves born so far, and just when I think I've got pretty good at predicting the day, by looking for discharge, swelling teats and such, the unexpected happens. I put a cow in the small pasture and told my wife she is gonna calve in a couple of weeks, so I am gonna put her in the pasture with the other new moms and a roll of hay. Then we walk out the next morning, and there she is with a new calf by her side. So I really missed that one badly. But she didnt have the normal discharge, bag wasnt really huge or anything, so I just really wasnt expecting a calf for a few more days / weeks.

 

[Susie David]

I can't add anything...just keep her penned with plenty of fresh water, good feed and fresh hay...and check on her as often as you can. Sounds like she's getting ready.
Susie

 

[Mahoney Farms]

Mahoney-
post a picture!
what breed is the heifer?
when you think shes close, add 1 week to that. lol.


Also, has anybody noticed how really pregnant (like 9 months) cows like to ride other cows. whats up with that?

thanks for the info.....She is a 2 + year old reg. Angus heifer, we have her in the pasture close to the house with, as my husband calls her, a "free loader". I affectionately call her the Nanny.....Long story, kids pet. Anyhow....the heifer's behavior is so different than before. She was raised here so we have followed her throughtout her maturing and it is "weird" how they change. Working on getting a picture uploaded, live in the country...have slow net :D

How much do you generally feed, 1/2 a bale a cow a day....I think I have cows that have high matabolism....we go through a lot of bales here......thanks again, you people are great! jmd :cboy: