Heifer past due w/ 1st Calf

[dpounds]

Have a Simmental heifer, originally thought she was due in the last week of March, as that came and went and she showed no signs, I figured we missed which heat cycle she was bred in and were off by a month. The new calculation put us up into the last week of April, which has also come and gone with no calf.

She definitely appears to have a calf and about 10 days ago her bag began to fill pretty fast and I thought we would see a calf soon. Her bag has now shrunk up some and I am getting concerned. Her hips seem to have dropped and calf appears to be more to the rear, but the tailhead hasn't dropped and there is no swelling of the vulva.

She is a show cow and not in a herd at this time. When we enter the pen recently she is more difficult to handle and generally in a bad mood.

Thanks for any help.

 

[dun]

Two weeks before or after the due date is considered normal. I believe Simmenthals gestation is 289 vs the 283 day that is considered standard.
Keep an eye on her, don;t mess with her unless their seems to be an actual problem. The udder appearing to swell and recede is normal and is usually even more noticable in heifers.

 

[bigbull338]

she will calve when its time for her to calve.some cows/heifers calve early.an some calve late.

 

[ffamom]

Sometimes the cow's cervix gets twisted. If she starts looking ill, she may have a dead calf in her. Otherwise, it will come when its ready.

 

[TxSimbrahShower]

Has anything happened yet? If not, can you feel the calf moving around in her?

We know a junior whose heifer tried calving, had twins, both were trying to come out at the same time. Luckily, they were checking her regularly and caught it, called the vet, he rearranged calves and delivered both.

I was just kinda happy that we were out of pocket that day and weren't able to respond to the call.

mom