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<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 5336"><p>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. <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 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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>> Thanks Linda, a lot of good info.</p><p>> one other tip my bother gave me</p><p>> is, if you need to help her birth</p><p>> the calf,only get the head and</p><p>> shoulders out, and don't hurry</p><p>> her, then get out of there and let</p><p>> her have that calf. She is a lot</p><p>> less likely to reject that baby.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 5336"] 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. > Thanks Linda, a lot of good info. > one other tip my bother gave me > is, if you need to help her birth > the calf,only get the head and > shoulders out, and don't hurry > her, then get out of there and let > her have that calf. She is a lot > less likely to reject that baby. [/QUOTE]
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