mothers

[xbred]

finally had to get rid of one of the best mama cows i have ever owned about 3 weeks ago..it was a sad day... don't even like to think about it.....and then this weekend i have a 3yr. old 2nd calf heifer turn her nose up at her newborn and walk away, she kind of did this last year..ended up making her take the calf...they did alright and it was my mistake to think this year would be any better...its not the trouble of of all, ie. bottle feeding, penning cow for the calf, all that comes with this situation. its just the thought of that good mama that got so old and weak trying, and delivering every year. year after year after year after year, comming when called, never tore a fence down, brought calves through high water, sleet, hid 'em in the grass and kept bugs off them, bred back when she wasn't suppose to according to the book because of a tough winter...and then this fat heifer walks off from one in good grass.....makes you love a good one...

 

[BRAFORDMAN]

I have had first calvers turn their babies away. One i was able to get her to take the calve back two weeks later( had to wait for school to get out fo rthe summer and calved was bottle raised up until then). Had another months earlier who was a little young when she calved(accidently bred before we got her) and she dried up in a few days.
I kept both. The stunted heifer about 800 lb now( from calving to young) raised a 600 pound calf the next calving season.

I have had to get rid of some of the first cows i owned because of old age and health problems. It is hard

 

[cypressfarms]

Sorry xbred; nothing more valuable than a older cow who knows her stuff.

I've posted this before, but for the life of me, I can't understand why people value bred heifers so much. I really loath heifers. Sure I have them from time to time, but I cannot stand the uncertainty that goes with a heifer. You don't know when she's going to calve, you don't know if she's going to have trouble, you don't know if she's going to moma up to the calf and let it suck, you don't know if she'll have enough milk, etc.

I'd rather a 5 year old experienced calm cow any day over any bred heifer. What I may lose in calf output (years of production) I more than make up with peace of mind, and possible trouble.

I actually have a black brockle face now that just walked away from a really nice bull calf. I've been thinking on it for about a week now; pretty much decided to sell her. She's only 2 now, I'll probably get decent money for her. Dang shamed that I spent so much time selecting and getting her ready for her to just leave the calf. I can't really (or don't want to) take the chance that next year will be better with her!

 

[msscamp]

I truly don't understand all of this talk about the uncertainty that supposedly goes along with bred heifers. We always retained our heifer calves that made our cut, but we also always culled ruthlessly for mothering ability. I can name on one hand the number of times we had a problem with a first time heifer rejecting her calf, or us having to put her in the chute to make her claim that calf. At the risk of offending, perhaps those of you who are so against retaining heifers should look to your culling protocols rather than blaming the heifers. Just a suggestion.

 

[Suzie Q]

Touch wood we have not had any of our heifers reject a calf.

Mothers do leave their calves and walk away from them, but they come back and then later leave them in a creche with another cow.

I have read about cows rejecting a calf and that it is because there is something wrong with the calf. Mothers know.