M5; we also skin out the dead calf and I will put it on a "replacement" calf. Occasionally I can get them to just accept a new calf because they are wanting a "baby" but usually the skinning out and putting it on the new one will do the trick. Have not had much luck this year, the longhorn had a dead calf, grudgingly accepted a calf for 2 days then decided she would put it against the wall everytime I turned away so she went down the road.
Had another older cow that had a big dead calf and when we got her in the chute to check her udder, she went nuts and kicked like she meant to kill my son. After a couple of tries and not being able to even get his hand around a teat, said that's it. I wouldn't subject a baby calf to that kind of b$%#^%t. She will go with a couple of other cull cows in the next few days.
Had an old cow that calved. Don't know if the calf was alive at birth but when I found them the next morning the buzzards were all over it and it was dead. We have had alot of other calves, and I have gotten a few up out of the muck and moved over onto some rolled out hay to get them out of the slop. So far, they are surviving. At least today was dry, very chilly and breezy, but the sun was out and it felt a little bit warm so that will be a big help.
KNOCK ON WOOD... have not had a bit of problems with the first calf heifers. 14 on the ground, 2 to go and they are about a week or two off. I probably jinxed it, but they have done great in all this crap weather. The ones I AI'd will be starting the first of May, there are 5 heifers and 2 cows due ; 5 in may, 2 later in mid june to a 2nd breeding AI. One I never could get in heat so got bred by the cleanup bull for a late June calf.
My oldest nurse cow dropped a small heifer calf last week. Angus cross. Cow (Lara) is a 1/2 jersey 1/2 holstein, but has the size and color of the holstein. I have gotten her to take a dk brown jersey/hol cross heifer, and an older b&w jersey/holstein cross heifer has also decided she can get a meal . So she is pretty much set with 3. I will bring her in to the calves to nurse so the calves will grow up tamer and when they get to the month old size may let them run with the cow also. Lara can be a bit moody out in the field, but milks good out of 3 quarters so I will deal with her little moods. Not too kicky, just not always acommodating out in the field. What I would give for a half a dozen like my old guernsey who lets them nurse anywhere they take a notion. She doesn't milk that good, but I am trying for a AI guersey heifer out of her before she gets too old. She was a rescue/starving to death from the stockyards, and has been a peach to work with. I so want a guernsey heifer out of her.
