frieghttrain
Well-known member
Cute little stinker!
New year new calves
- Thread starter lithuanian farmer
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OP
lithuanian farmer
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~2/3 of cows have calved and it was pretty tough. Had many things happen for the first time during the time we had cattle. Like breach calf, twin heifers trying to be born at the same time, weak skinny calf at birth, cow/heifer lied down on the calf, frozen calf's legs, hooves bottom wall detaching, cow with partial vag prolapse, calf born with stiff muscles. Abit too much for just 2.5 months.
Not a nice view. Calf's rear legs. Photos taken two weeks ago. Now one hoof is almost healthy. Another still needs daily care. Pretty sure that happened because of the cold. Would say he still needs around 2-3 weeks to fully recover. Not sure why the worst things happen to the best calves. His full sister has injured her rear leg last year after weaning and unfortunately will need to cull her. Had a top bull last year with a horrible infection on his back. Well, atleast this boy should be healthy after some time and finally will be able to go outside.
Not a nice view. Calf's rear legs. Photos taken two weeks ago. Now one hoof is almost healthy. Another still needs daily care. Pretty sure that happened because of the cold. Would say he still needs around 2-3 weeks to fully recover. Not sure why the worst things happen to the best calves. His full sister has injured her rear leg last year after weaning and unfortunately will need to cull her. Had a top bull last year with a horrible infection on his back. Well, atleast this boy should be healthy after some time and finally will be able to go outside.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Some better photos. 
Some of the young calves.
White headed bull calf is 15/16 Limo and I'm not joking.
1 month old heifer.
Breach bull calf on the left and a heifer from his dam's half sister.
Yeah, only 1 month and 18 days old heifer.
Finally it's getting more dry and less muddy. Will be able to let yearlings outside. No grass for some time, but it'll be much better than being in old dark small barn.
Some of the young calves.White headed bull calf is 15/16 Limo and I'm not joking.
1 month old heifer.
Breach bull calf on the left and a heifer from his dam's half sister.
Yeah, only 1 month and 18 days old heifer.
Finally it's getting more dry and less muddy. Will be able to let yearlings outside. No grass for some time, but it'll be much better than being in old dark small barn.
frieghttrain
Well-known member
The bull calf in 3rd picture looks like that 160 lb bull calf from last year.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Yes, just abit smaller. It's not surprising as they are full brothers.frieghttrain":28t68c1n said:
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
More calves! Love this time of the year. Calved two half sisters. 277 and 280days gestation. Both have bull calves. One ~90lbs, another ~110lbs.
The black cow behind the big calf is his dam. She's a pretty tiny cow, weighs ~1150lbs, but calves without problems so far.
The black cow behind the big calf is his dam. She's a pretty tiny cow, weighs ~1150lbs, but calves without problems so far.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Have ended calving for now, but not very successfully. Have lost 3 calves in a week. One calf died at two months age. He was born weak, very skinny and had bloody scour at three days age, however somehow managed to save him, but we really had very little of hope. Now saw that he has very watery scour and his dam is nervous. Brought him to the shed, he kept his rear legs very straight and it looked that he hurts somewhere. Have stopped scour fast by the next morning. However he still looked bad. Gave him antibiotics and had a vet come, but after less than two days he died.
Had two cows calving on the Easter morning last Sunday, one cow calved okay with normal size bull calf. Found another cow with stuck calf. Could see calf's hooves and half of swollen head. Got the calf out with the calving jack. The cow isn't very big and that's her 2nd calf, no problems with the first calving, calved very fast, had a small heifer calf. Now she had a 119lbs bull calf and only 281 days gestation. The calf was already dead and cow couldn't stand up. She stood up by herself only after 4 days. At least have saved her. She's probably the sweetest girl in the herd.
Two days ago saw another cow calving. She was on 278th day of gestation and looked pretty big, so we were almost sure that she'll have twins. Gave her some time. Later came to make sure that everything is okay. As we thought she had twins, bull calves. Both went in normal position and except for very strong water bag everything else went quickly and smoothly. Unfortunately the calf which was born first died after ~2 hours. He got weaker very quickly. Tried to do everything possible. At least cow has one calf which is alive and strong. Probably the smallest calves we ever had, both 57lbs. Cow is 2nd calver, 3/4Angus.
The 119lbs calf. Stuck twice: on shoulders and on hips.
Young mother with her twin bull calf. The one which died was red.
Had two cows calving on the Easter morning last Sunday, one cow calved okay with normal size bull calf. Found another cow with stuck calf. Could see calf's hooves and half of swollen head. Got the calf out with the calving jack. The cow isn't very big and that's her 2nd calf, no problems with the first calving, calved very fast, had a small heifer calf. Now she had a 119lbs bull calf and only 281 days gestation. The calf was already dead and cow couldn't stand up. She stood up by herself only after 4 days. At least have saved her. She's probably the sweetest girl in the herd.
Two days ago saw another cow calving. She was on 278th day of gestation and looked pretty big, so we were almost sure that she'll have twins. Gave her some time. Later came to make sure that everything is okay. As we thought she had twins, bull calves. Both went in normal position and except for very strong water bag everything else went quickly and smoothly. Unfortunately the calf which was born first died after ~2 hours. He got weaker very quickly. Tried to do everything possible. At least cow has one calf which is alive and strong. Probably the smallest calves we ever had, both 57lbs. Cow is 2nd calver, 3/4Angus.
The 119lbs calf. Stuck twice: on shoulders and on hips.
Young mother with her twin bull calf. The one which died was red.
reeler
Well-known member
Very sorry for your losses.You've certainly experienced both the highs and lows in this season. Glad you have your "sweetest girl".You do have a beautiful herd, would enjoy updates on them, with pics.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Thank you. Want to take photos of calves growing, but recently had no time. Very stressful week. Now it should be abit calmer, so hopefully the weather will be good enough for a photoshoot.reeler":3rn56547 said:
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OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
This year sure is hard for many people. Never had such year before. Talked with other farmers, they said the same. One had to bury over 50 calves, another had the first ever c-section on dairy heifer last week. We were almost ready to have some rest as have finished with calving season for some time, but have lost the lastly calved cow. It was only her 2nd calving. She has left a very young calf (twin). Luckily the one cow, which had a hard calving and a dead calf has accepted an orphan calf without problems. She calls for him and licks him, just like true mother. Been relieved after that, but days later one cow has badly injured her calf. Well, hopefully will have better times later. Also spring is very cold and late. At this time last year all cattle were out on grass. Now still feed cows and maiden heifers.
Some photos of calves:
Some photos of calves:
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Heifer which had to be adopted by another cow. Her foster dam is a 1st calver.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Took some photos of calves today. Having a nice day. Started making feed for the winter too.
Kindergarden
Kindergarden
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OP
lithuanian farmer
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Well, this boy is 15/16 Limo...
1st calf heifer.
January born, dam on the right, Angusxdairy.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
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March born heifer. 
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Twin bull calf with his step mother, which has lost her calf this year. She's the one, which had hard calving. Doing a great job for this little fella.
14yo Herefordxdairy cow. Will be culled after weaning her calf. That's only the 2nd heifer from her.
2nd calver with twin heifer.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Waiting for one heifer to calve soon. She's due on 26th of June. Lost her half sister this year, which had only her second calving.
These two should calve in summer too. The polled cow will have 3rd calf, the horned- 2nd calf.
Other heifers, which were bred later already shows signs- udders getting more noticable. They will start calving from the end of August. 3 from 11 don't show udder formation yet.
And recently brought one heifer to the herd. She weighs 1130lbs. Hope for a nice calf next year.
These two should calve in summer too. The polled cow will have 3rd calf, the horned- 2nd calf.
Other heifers, which were bred later already shows signs- udders getting more noticable. They will start calving from the end of August. 3 from 11 don't show udder formation yet.
And recently brought one heifer to the herd. She weighs 1130lbs. Hope for a nice calf next year.
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Heifer has calved two days ago ~2hours after moving cows to the new pasture. Has a nice small bull calf and she is a good mom.
Duramaxgirl
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Beautiful pictures!
OP
OP
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Thank you
