New Calve

[kerley]

Our first for 2015,
First Calve Heifer calved yesterday and it was an all day affair. Calve arrived at 4 pm, mother ignored it and then left. I called the Vet, he told me to give the calve Colostrum no later than 6 pm so we did, also dried him off with an old blanket. We were worried that he would lay there and die so we put him in the pickup and took him to the pasture hay ring where the cows including his mother were eating. Layed him on a small pile of clean hay and left. This morning at 6 am he was running across the pasture, at 8 am he was sleeping with his mother standing over him. We went to town and when we returned about 9 am he was sleeping by the hay ring and his mother was eating so I walked to him and he was asleep so I rubbed him and he was warm and looked like a new born should, his mother was about twenty feet away and watching my every move. I went back to the car then looked back and she was standing over him smelling and licking him so I assume all is well but i am still watching to verify that he is nursing, We did all we could and hope all is well.

 

[bigbull338]

kerley enjoy your calving season.we calved out about 45 cows and heifers in less than 75 days.we still have 10 or 15 to calve in the spring and summer.

 

[retro]

kerley sounds like your on top of things keep a eye on the calf if his sides are sunken in and looks gant then he might not be drinking, you should be able to look at her bag and tell if he's nursing Good luck hope it goes good 8)

 

[branguscowgirl]

Congrats Kerley!
I do not know if it would have helped with your heifer, but the first thing I usually do is give the mamma cow some hay next to the calf. Especially if all the others are off, away eating. That way she does not get it in her mind that she has to take off and go get her share at feeding time. Granted this can be dangerous if it attracts other cattle over to her space. You don't want them to come step on the calf. I have only had heifers that think hay is more important that their calf. My cows don't do that. I guess first time motherhood is confusing.

 

[AllForage]

If she were mine and she did that next year, I would consider shipping/selling her. I have a few with a more aloof style at mothering, but I generally do not like that behavior.

Glad she is mothering her now :)

 

[kerley]

Our first for 2015,
First Calve Heifer calved yesterday and it was an all day affair. Calve arrived at 4 pm, mother ignored it and then left. I called the Vet, he told me to give the calve Colostrum no later than 6 pm so we did, also dried him off with an old blanket. We were worried that he would lay there and die so we put him in the pickup and took him to the pasture hay ring where the cows including his mother were eating. Layed him on a small pile of clean hay and left. This morning at 6 am he was running across the pasture, at 8 am he was sleeping with his mother standing over him. We went to town and when we returned about 9 am he was sleeping by the hay ring and his mother was eating so I walked to him and he was asleep so I rubbed him and he was warm and looked like a new born should, his mother was about twenty feet away and watching my every move. I went back to the car then looked back and she was standing over him smelling and licking him so I assume all is well but i am still watching to verify that he is nursing, We did all we could and hope all is well.

After I made this post my wife told me that the Black Mexican Buzzards were all over the pasture surrounding the calve. Sure enough they were so I rounded up the cattle by starting my Tractor [they always come running thinking I an putt'n out grain except for the cow with the new calve, I had to go round them up. Finally all the cattle were in a 150' x 150' fenced area behind my house where I have a better visual of the herd. The new calve slept till about two thirty then got up and latched onto the teet and his little tail was wagg'n so after a very rough start he is good to go.