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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 5334"><p>> You're very welcome. If you ever</p><p>> have to pull a calf from any cow</p><p>> and the calf is not coming</p><p>> backwards, make sure you pull WITH</p><p>> the cow's contractions. Most women</p><p>> understand this concept. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>> Our Murray Greys have never minded</p><p>> having us around when they're</p><p>> calving. Actually, one year I</p><p>> "stole" colostrum from 5</p><p>> different cows and first calf</p><p>> heifers. While the baby was</p><p>> nursing on one side, I milked some</p><p>> colostrum out from the other side.</p><p></p><p>> We often have young children over</p><p>> to watch the cows calve. They sit</p><p>> on the fence panel outside and</p><p>> watch the birth through the door.</p><p>> I only do this with our older cows</p><p>> who are used to the entire</p><p>> process. And, I do ask the kids to</p><p>> be very quiet and still. It's fun</p><p>> to watch the kids watch the</p><p>> birthing process, and to hear</p><p>> their comments.</p><p></p><p>> I have never had a Murray Grey</p><p>> heifer present any difficulty</p><p>> delivering the shoulders. Once the</p><p>> head is delivered, the babies just</p><p>> squirt out. Other ranchers in our</p><p>> area who have used Murray Grey</p><p>> bulls on their first calf heifers</p><p>> always comment on the easy</p><p>> birthing.</p><p></p><p>> Friends calve about 50 heifers</p><p>> each year. One year they pulled</p><p>> all of their calves. These calves</p><p>> were out of several different</p><p>> bulls. The next year they used a</p><p>> Murray Grey bull on their heifers</p><p>> and had 49 delivered without</p><p>> assistance. The one that had to be</p><p>> assisted came backwards.</p><p></p><p>> Their comment after ear tagging</p><p>> the calves? "Them suckers</p><p>> WANT to live!" They were</p><p>> laughing because all their lives</p><p>> they had held the calf between</p><p>> their knees to ear tag it. They</p><p>> had a heck of a time hanging onto</p><p>> the Murray Grey cross calves, due</p><p>> to the small head and sloping</p><p>> shoulders.</p><p></p><p>> I've never had a Murray Grey</p><p>> heifer or cow reject a baby, no</p><p>> matter whether we were involved in</p><p>> the birth or not. They are very</p><p>> maternal animals. The bonding I</p><p>> referred to for first calf heifers</p><p>> was because these very maternal</p><p>> cows sometimes go overboard.</p><p></p><p>> I have to tell you a story, and I</p><p>> hope I can describe it well</p><p>> enough. Our oldest cow is a very</p><p>> good mother. Her heifer was</p><p>> calving for the first time and we</p><p>> kept the heifer and calf together</p><p>> for a day or two, then put them in</p><p>> with the herd. The heifer was a</p><p>> good momma, too. Well this was</p><p>> feeding time, and the older cows</p><p>> immediately started butting and</p><p>> pushing the heifer around. The</p><p>> grandma cow immediately blocked</p><p>> the others and made them back off.</p><p>> The first calf heifer went over to</p><p>> a corner of the pasture with her</p><p>> calf and stood with her head</p><p>> hanging down, looking totally</p><p>> dejected. For the first and only</p><p>> time, I saw the grandma cow</p><p>> actually leave her food-she does</p><p>> love to eat. She went over to her</p><p>> daughter and started licking the</p><p>> first calf heifer's face and</p><p>> talking to her in low tones. In a</p><p>> few minutes the first calf heifer</p><p>> was visibly cheered up.</p><p></p><p>Linda, great story about a wonderful breed!</p><p></p><p> <a href="mailto:drmikeandleeann1@earthlink.net">drmikeandleeann1@earthlink.net</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 5334"] > You're very welcome. If you ever > have to pull a calf from any cow > and the calf is not coming > backwards, make sure you pull WITH > the cow's contractions. Most women > understand this concept. :-) > Our Murray Greys have never minded > having us around when they're > calving. Actually, one year I > "stole" colostrum from 5 > different cows and first calf > heifers. While the baby was > nursing on one side, I milked some > colostrum out from the other side. > We often have young children over > to watch the cows calve. They sit > on the fence panel outside and > watch the birth through the door. > I only do this with our older cows > who are used to the entire > process. And, I do ask the kids to > be very quiet and still. It's fun > to watch the kids watch the > birthing process, and to hear > their comments. > I have never had a Murray Grey > heifer present any difficulty > delivering the shoulders. Once the > head is delivered, the babies just > squirt out. Other ranchers in our > area who have used Murray Grey > bulls on their first calf heifers > always comment on the easy > birthing. > Friends calve about 50 heifers > each year. One year they pulled > all of their calves. These calves > were out of several different > bulls. The next year they used a > Murray Grey bull on their heifers > and had 49 delivered without > assistance. The one that had to be > assisted came backwards. > Their comment after ear tagging > the calves? "Them suckers > WANT to live!" They were > laughing because all their lives > they had held the calf between > their knees to ear tag it. They > had a heck of a time hanging onto > the Murray Grey cross calves, due > to the small head and sloping > shoulders. > I've never had a Murray Grey > heifer or cow reject a baby, no > matter whether we were involved in > the birth or not. They are very > maternal animals. The bonding I > referred to for first calf heifers > was because these very maternal > cows sometimes go overboard. > I have to tell you a story, and I > hope I can describe it well > enough. Our oldest cow is a very > good mother. Her heifer was > calving for the first time and we > kept the heifer and calf together > for a day or two, then put them in > with the herd. The heifer was a > good momma, too. Well this was > feeding time, and the older cows > immediately started butting and > pushing the heifer around. The > grandma cow immediately blocked > the others and made them back off. > The first calf heifer went over to > a corner of the pasture with her > calf and stood with her head > hanging down, looking totally > dejected. For the first and only > time, I saw the grandma cow > actually leave her food-she does > love to eat. She went over to her > daughter and started licking the > first calf heifer's face and > talking to her in low tones. In a > few minutes the first calf heifer > was visibly cheered up. Linda, great story about a wonderful breed! [email=drmikeandleeann1@earthlink.net]drmikeandleeann1@earthlink.net[/email] [/QUOTE]
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