Heifers for breeding

[lithuanian farmer]

Finally have started AI for heifers. Going to leave 8 or 9. There is one 1st calver, which will be culled if she'll have a repeat heat soon.
One heifer was AI'ed last week. One is inheat today. One should be tomorrow. All heifers are 14-17 months old.

This one has already been AI'ed with Blonde.

This one is inheat today. Will use an old AngusxSalers bull, which we've used on BBx heifers before.

This one should be in heat tomorrow. Will use piedmontese.

If we'll need to cull the 1st calver, will have to choose one heifer from two. Both are nice heifers, with lots of potential. Have one full sister of both in the herd.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Nice "meat wagons" you got there. These will be a little young for what you usually breed, aren't they?

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Nice "meat wagons" you got there. These will be a little young for what you usually breed, aren't they?

Yes, they are abit younger and smaller, but we'll keep them on meal and won't keep with cows, so they should reach a nice size before calving.
At the moment we have one Angusx heifer due in August, which is 2 years old now. Will see how she does as a mother.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I always calve my heifers at (or very near 22-25 months) and would never hold them for an older age. They don't get any grain after they are bred - turned out on grass. But, come winter time, they are kept separate from the mature cows so they don't have to fight for their hay. Keep them separate after they calve also, until we turn out on grass.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

They are too small to be away from grain. Also the ones, which we'll cull are in the same group. Plus it's very dry now and not much of grass. Have to keep them growing.
Heifers will be kept away from cows during winter. Will let them out in the field before their calving and will keep in a separate group from mature cows next year. This year fall calving heifers will join them around May.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Only two left for their first AI. The 1st calver has repeated heat, so the red heifer will be kept instead.
Yesterday was he first term after AI for the first heifer, and she seems calm.

 

[Nesikep]

Always like seeing your pictures .. I do like the look of the Limousin influence cattle, but found I don't want more than half influence in any of my stock.. 1/4 is about perfect, with 1/2 Gelbvieh and 1/4 of something else

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Everybody has their own taste I like most of our crosses for different traits. Angus cows seem to be milky and have good growth, Limousine and especially BB adds some muscles, Charolais add some frame and etc. No bad breed.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Finally some grass for the girls. It should be a good boost for growth.

 

[Lazy M]

Everybody has their own taste I like most of our crosses for different traits. Angus cows seem to be milky and have good growth, Limousine and especially BB adds some muscles, Charolais add some frame and etc. No bad breed.

Except salers..

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Everybody has their own taste I like most of our crosses for different traits. Angus cows seem to be milky and have good growth, Limousine and especially BB adds some muscles, Charolais add some frame and etc. No bad breed.

Except salers..

Well, Salers is one of the easiest calving breed. I wouldn't mind abit of Salers in more cows. Have a couple with 25% or less.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

"some grass"???? Looks like a LOT of grass!! Nice

 

[Gators Rule]

Finally some grass for the girls. It should be a good boost for growth.

LOL. What is your definition of hardly any grass? Nothing like a lush green pasture!!

 

[Nesikep]

Everybody has their own taste I like most of our crosses for different traits. Angus cows seem to be milky and have good growth, Limousine and especially BB adds some muscles, Charolais add some frame and etc. No bad breed.

Except salers..

I don't know if I'd want high percentage Saler cows, but Saler crosses are just fine... They're some of my best cows, better calving ability, better udders, better feet, and if well selected, temperaments are good too

Saler x Herf at 16 years old

Daughters (SH or GV sired)

Granddaughters

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Finally some grass for the girls. It should be a good boost for growth.

LOL. What is your definition of hardly any grass? Nothing like a lush green pasture!!

:lol: Can't say that we had no grass, but it was small and not much of it. And it was hella dry for the spring and June. However, still tried to keep heifers on a bit better pastures at that time. Now can enjoy a nice fresh second grass. No more overgrown, dry, brown grass...

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

Everybody has their own taste I like most of our crosses for different traits. Angus cows seem to be milky and have good growth, Limousine and especially BB adds some muscles, Charolais add some frame and etc. No bad breed.

Except salers..

I don't know if I'd want high percentage Saler cows, but Saler crosses are just fine... They're some of my best cows, better calving ability, better udders, better feet, and if well selected, temperaments are good too

Saler x Herf at 16 years old

Daughters (SH or GV sired)

Granddaughters

Nesi, I like the cowbells! How do you decide who gets to wear them? Do they serve a purpose or just for fun?

 

[Nesikep]

It is mostly just for fun, but if they ever escape and go wandering down by the river, it helps finding them.. It might also help against predators, though we've never had a problem.. a few mean cows with bells ringing probably deters a cougar more than without them.

The cows that have bells know they're special, and I see them ringing them on purpose, or walking and swinging their head just a bit harder than what seems usual.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Here's a little trivia.
Does anyone know where or what "The Sounds of Music" was?
In Switzerland, each owner's herd wore a bell that the "bell maker" made just for that herd. Each herd had their own "sound" based on the fact (?) that cattle would stay with the same sound cattle. So, each herd had a different chime walking around the hills - thus "the sound of music".
Would you believe that many years ago, a group tried to stop the farmers from putting bells on the cows because it was "noise pollution" ??!!! Never heard how that turned out. Pretty sad.

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

It is mostly just for fun, but if they ever escape and go wandering down by the river, it helps finding them.. It might also help against predators, though we've never had a problem.. a few mean cows with bells ringing probably deters a cougar more than without them.

The cows that have bells know they're special, and I see them ringing them on purpose, or walking and swinging their head just a bit harder than what seems usual.

Sure, what girl doesn't like a little jewelry! Where do you buy them?

 

[NonTypicalCPA]

On second thought, it's been awhile since I bought my wife any jewelry. If I buy some of my cows jewelry.........ya that could be bad.