We leave our bull with the herd and let breeding happen when it happens. Most of our cows have calved every 12 or so months with this and we have had no issues. I have one cow, she's 6, she breeds immediately. Her last year calf is just about 9 months and 2 days ago she had another calf. She has done that 4 times in a row. (I took her calf off of her at 5months old so she did have a 4 month break from nursing). She is now all over the bull again today. Its hard for me to separate them at my property but if I leave her she will get pregnant again id assume. Is this ok to do? Does the girl need a break or is it ok to let nature take its course?
Leaving the bull with the herd
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bird dog
Well-known member
some are just fertile. Its considered a good trait. You just need to remember to pull her calves at 6 months or so. Three months off is enough for younger cows that are healthy.
It wont hurt her. I wouldn't pull the calves early unless you just know she is in bad shape. A cow should have a calf once a year for sure and every couple years you should get two in one year. If not, they need to hit the road.
bird dog said:
That's the operative phrase! One of my girls was spittin' out 2 a year and it was wearing her down. When I decided to go back to spring calving only I didn't cull her and gave her a 6 month "break" before turning out the bulls, subsequently getting bred again. She turned 10 this year, was one of the first to calve and I'm soooo keeping her heifer.
There are Brahman cross cows running around down here that may have a yearling and a calf in tow. They wean the calves on their own. The bull never comes out, nor does the cow.
TCRanch said:
The crappy thing about my crazy fertile cow is she is the ugliest cow I've ever owned haha. She is also small (mini breed). But I keep her because she is so fertile and so easy. Never had a vet bill or any inconveniences with her!
Her calf this year looks to have longer legs than her at birth haha. We called this little calf "blondie".
Don't discount ugly!! My Erma was butt ugly! I'm talking short, fat, nappy coat, small ears, eyes always looked bloodshot and she was an Angus/Hereford with splotches - not pretty markings. Woof!!! But I'll be darned if she didn't breed like clockwork, raised surprisingly pretty & large calves (kept all her heifers), one of my best cows and just the sweetest thing. Still miss her!cowgal604 said:TCRanch said:
The crappy thing about my crazy fertile cow is she is the ugliest cow I've ever owned haha. She is also small (mini breed). But I keep her because she is so fertile and so easy. Never had a vet bill or any inconveniences with her!
Her calf this year looks to have longer legs than her at birth haha. We called this little calf "blondie".
Your girl is a money maker - not crappy at all ;-)
Nesikep
Well-known member
are you sure that's not a foal?
If she's breeding back, I guess she's ready.. though if she breeds back early this time around the weather might be pretty ugly when she has a calf.. up to you on what you think of that!
If she's breeding back, I guess she's ready.. though if she breeds back early this time around the weather might be pretty ugly when she has a calf.. up to you on what you think of that!
Katpau
Well-known member
Question for those of you that leave the bull with the herd year around.
How do you prevent heifers getting bred too young? I remove the bull after only two months, so the oldest heifers should be under 5 months, but I've still had the occasional mishap. I give lute after weaning, but last year we still had a heifer that was not quite 13 months old have a calf. I would think there would be problems with dystocia in young heifers, when bulls are with the cows year around. We got real lucky last year, but that is not usually the case. Losing the calf and the cow, or an expensive C section is likely.
How do you prevent heifers getting bred too young? I remove the bull after only two months, so the oldest heifers should be under 5 months, but I've still had the occasional mishap. I give lute after weaning, but last year we still had a heifer that was not quite 13 months old have a calf. I would think there would be problems with dystocia in young heifers, when bulls are with the cows year around. We got real lucky last year, but that is not usually the case. Losing the calf and the cow, or an expensive C section is likely.
cowgal604 said:TCRanch said:
The crappy thing about my crazy fertile cow is she is the ugliest cow I've ever owned haha. She is also small (mini breed). But I keep her because she is so fertile and so easy. Never had a vet bill or any inconveniences with her!
Her calf this year looks to have longer legs than her at birth haha. We called this little calf "blondie".
Awe stop it I like her!!! She isn't ugly.
This! If I recall, both our oops babies were right around the same time. And yes, I pull the bulls a good 6 weeks prior to weaning and every heifer gets a shot of Lute. My heifer didn't breed back so I held her with the aforementioned cow that was giving me 2 calves a year (and ironically the heifer's mama) and she had a big bull calf this year, calved towards the first of spring calving so she's back on track.Katpau said:
Not a fan of leaving the bull year 'round or unplanned pregnancies. ;-)
Katpau said:
I move my calves, all of them, at 6 months. I've never had it happen but that being said my experience is very limited. I've yet to have a heifer reach sexual maturity before 12 months+ (According to my vet checks when I did keep heifers)
Katpau said:
That's a breed thing. Cattle with Brahman influence wont breed that early so you dont have to worry about that.
Redgully
Well-known member
Katpau said:
We used to sell all calves at 8-10 months as vealers so weren't too worried. Any replacements were removed with dams at four months into a seperate paddock from main herd so we could develop them. We only ever once had a four month old get in calf but she calved unassisted anyway.
regolith
Well-known member
what does the lute cost you?
I got the vet to do one of my calves last month after she went through three fences to find a bull, first time I've ever had to do that. Bill for $NZ40, 30 for the drug 10 for the vet sticking it in her, he was already on the farm to do vaccinations.
Makes me wonder about people who do all their heifers, we can hardly sell them for more than the cost of raising them here $40 is enough to wash out any chance of a profit entirely.
I got the vet to do one of my calves last month after she went through three fences to find a bull, first time I've ever had to do that. Bill for $NZ40, 30 for the drug 10 for the vet sticking it in her, he was already on the farm to do vaccinations.
Makes me wonder about people who do all their heifers, we can hardly sell them for more than the cost of raising them here $40 is enough to wash out any chance of a profit entirely.
Katpau
Well-known member
I purchased 100 ml of Lutalyse for $49.63 a few weeks ago. That works out to about $2.50 per heifer. We sell most heifers along with the steer calves at about 7-8 months. I only lute the replacements.
If my calculations are correct $40 New Zealand = $24 US.
If my calculations are correct $40 New Zealand = $24 US.
I lute all my heifers, regardless of whether I'm retaining them. Fully vaccinated, weaned calves & guaranteed open heifers get a much better price around here.
Silver
Well-known member
Is Lute a one shot deal? If it's as affordable as a few dollars a head I will be giving it to my replacements this fall. I've had oops babies every year for a long time and I'm tired of it.
Redgully
Well-known member
Yep one shot of 5ml does the job if they're only a few months along. You see a small discharge a few days later. I worked it out at about $3 a shot. Can store a bottle in animal drug fridge a fair while but women shouldn't use it. Very easy to do yourself, they don't even feel it if you get them in the right spot. When we had a few to do we used one of those guns with the needle on end of tube. Once primed it injects set dosage with each shot and you can get through a lot of animals quickly.
