I have two first calf heifers I am watching like a hawk. The first of three this season had to have her calf pulled. Mama and Frazier are doing well. My question...is there different signs with a heifer that she is getting close? I have the other two in the lot to keep a close eye, but frankly they don't look close at all and might as much as another month. I have read so many horror stories about heifers I am super paranoid! Did you see the Dr. Pol episode where he had to cut the calf out of the heifer? :shock: OMG
Heifers
- Thread starter kucala5
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Backbone Ranch
Well-known member
There are several signs that a heifer or cow is getting close to calving. Her udder will fill within a few days or hours of her giving birth. When a cow is going into labor, she will have her tail at a 90 degree angle and she will be extremely restless. She might pace along the fence line.
jerry27150
Well-known member
bone on each side of tail will sag way down
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
kucala5":2u5uk0al said:
Heifers are always a crap shoot I usually wont deal with them last year broke my rule and bought five.
One lost a calf.
Heifer #2 calved between midnight and four am without any issues. We check every two hours except between midnight and four am! Apparently she did not want my company in the delivery room. One heifer to go, best looking calf we have raised out of a great mom, however, the vet check on her pelvis advised against keeping her. We did anyway, so we will see how that goes for us. Anybody else have them checked before deciding what heifers to keep as mamas?
George
Well-known member
Heifers can be just as easy as calving cows,just have to have the right heifer bull!
Black and Good
Well-known member
Heifers are tricky. Watch for her to kick at her stomach. The ole "Pump Handle Tail". Laying down for short periods then getting right back up. They will normally cover a lot of ground in the couple hours right before calving. B&G
backhoeboogie
Well-known member
Some heifers, and cows for that matter, look like they are about to bust for a couple of weeks. On some, the birth canal swells, then the udder, then the calf comes.
I have 4 cows, that show very little sign. Udder swells slightly and that's it. Next day the udder is huge and there is a calf on the ground.
I don't lost many. Smooth shoulder bull with medium to low birth weight. Worst thing on cows is a block shouldered bull.
I have 4 cows, that show very little sign. Udder swells slightly and that's it. Next day the udder is huge and there is a calf on the ground.
I don't lost many. Smooth shoulder bull with medium to low birth weight. Worst thing on cows is a block shouldered bull.
Named'em Tamed'em
Well-known member
Watch for the Vulva to get real saggy, then a sunken area on each side of the tail head then your real close.
Kingfisher
Well-known member
Is Clyde in the blue shirt? 
how come y'all were on the outside of the pen?
how come y'all were on the outside of the pen?
Nesikep
Well-known member
Hard to tell where the cow ends and the calf starts in that first picture. Nice calf and she seems to know what to do.
branguscowgirl
Well-known member
:clap: :clap: Glad all is well!
