no cows to check

[plumber_greg]

Kinda lost this morning, got done calving yesterday. I actually have one left, she's gonna' be awhile. She calved first last year and last this year. Had close to 80 calves the first 30 days, then since the first of March the last dozen or so got done.
Lost three, one my fault. Got up at 2:30 AM to check them, but didn't pay enough attention to a heifer that was calving. She just laid there with the calf started out. When I found her, I didn't use chains, just my hands and pulled him out dead. Lost one set of twins born dead, and lost one ten days old with scours.
I am so tired of calving. Most of the season was with a foot or more of snow, brutally cold. Almost all went through the barn in the calving pens. Can't wait to start breeding season so I can do it next year!!!
Gonna' call my vet and set up a day to work the cows and calves, got the electric fences fixed on 80 acres this weekend. May first is my target date for turnout. All is good. gs

 

[Angus Cowman]

glad your done Greg don't know why anyone with any sense at all would want to calve in the dang snow when the can do it in the sun in September :lol: :lol:

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

We are nuts, aren't we???
We don't calve out as many as you (40 spring - 5/10 fall), but I know what you mean. We are down to last two. Had 3 due to clean-up bull, so they were the tail-enders. One calved this weekend, last two due 25th & 28th. (started with ET's 1-16 - so, over 60 day season).
Just checked my records, because my brain couldn't remember - we only touched one at calving. First calf heifer took longer than we liked. She was down in pen pushing, hubby just slipped into pen & hand pulled while she layed there.
1 set of twins born DOA, and 1 ET calf born skinny 45# - died at 2 days. 1 set of live healthy twins.
All cattle got worked this weekend. We split it up, and did 53 on Sat & 15 on Sun. (due to so many different groups to catch up). Castrated a few over-wt newborns.
Got all the cattle BRED ==== on paper!
Already excited about the new prospects.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

glad your done Greg don't know why anyone with any sense at all would want to calve in the dang snow when the can do it in the sun in September :lol: :lol:

SUN - what's that????

 

[mrvictordomino]

glad your done Greg don't know why anyone with any sense at all would want to calve in the dang snow when the can do it in the sun in September :lol: :lol:

I calved in Feb./ March for over twenty years. Switched to fall calving in 98 and it is great.
Would probably quit if I had to go back. No mud, no scours, lighter calves, more daylight hours.
DM

 

[1982vett]

glad your done Greg don't know why anyone with any sense at all would want to calve in the dang snow when the can do it in the sun in September :lol: :lol:

SUN - what's that????

It's that thing that comes out when it isn't raining.... :)

 

[SRBeef]

You folks are rubbing it in! My calving just started and I'm sort of wishing it hadn't yet looking at the weather forecast for the next week or so. I took a picture of a couple cows out walking their new heifer calves along the ridgetop fenceline yesterday.

A large storm and cold temps in the teens for the next few days along with high winds today. Ideal calving weather!? Currently 37 degrees F, 22 mph winds and rain and hail, to be followed by snow according to the forecast.

And folks expect a big quick increase in the US cattle herd??? Folks working the cattle futures exchanges should be required to spend a "spring" calving season on a northern cow/calf operation...you get a whole different view of the cattle business!

A cow that can calve successfully in these conditions earns her keep. These two have. Here they are "walking" their 2 and 3 day old calves. I have a bunch more that look like any day now. Barometer is very low, hope they can hold off a few days. Glad you are done Greg.

I have one heifer's calf that had a "flexed pastern" I guess it's called with one hoof bent back. I am keeping them both in the corral for a few days. I made a splint out of some wooden paint stir sticks, cotton padding and vet tape. It helps him stand up to nurse. When I'm sure he is nursing fully and able to walk and keep up with mom I'll turn them out with the others. He does seem to be putting more weight on it. He was hobbling around on one or both "knees" at first.

Don't mean to hijack your thread, Greg. Just wishing my calving was either done or not started yet.

Jim

 

[ANAZAZI]

. No mud,
no scours,
lighter calves,
more daylight hours.
DM

Now, this is poetry!

 

[mrvictordomino]

. No mud,
no scours,
lighter calves,
more daylight hours.
DM

Now, this is poetry!

Poetry in motion for sure, :D

 

[plumber_greg]

Jim, I had two calves front legs do that this year. One actually walking on his "knuckles". I just kept them in a calving pen for a couple of days and the legs straightened right out on their own. Just wondering, with a splint will it take him longer to get them straight and learn to walk? I don't know, just always let them go on their own. How old was he when you put the splint on? gs

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

We get one or more every year. From what I've learned it's caused from calf being curled up too tight & not stretching the tendons inside of mom. We totally ignore them, other than if weather is crappy, we keep them in until they are getting around good enough. The more they use the legs, the faster they straighten out.
I'm sure there are severe cases where the calf just can't get up, but I've had them hobble around on their "knuckles" for days. We had two very minor cases this year - only knuckled over for 1st day.

 

[SRBeef]

At first he was on both knees, his second day the left one straightened out. That is when I put the splint on when I was concerned it looked like he had not nursed. Yesterday was his third day and after having the heifer in the headgate and him nursing their to make sure they both knew their jobs, I took the splint off.

As soon as he is up on both legs and I see him nurse on his own I'll let them both out of the corral. With my hills and with a first calf heifer I want to make sure he is mobile and she is nursing.

Here's a picture of them yesterday just before I took the splint off. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Jim

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Always better to be safe than sorry. An extra day or two being pampered never hurts. that's her meal ticket for the next year.

 

[plumber_greg]

I agree Jeanne, ever lost one and thought,"Man, if I just would've....". When I lost the one that was my fault, it bothered me for weeks, still does. If Jim turns him out and something happens he'll be saying, "Man if I just would've........" . gs

 

[1982vett]

Bad and good luck hit here today...Bad - cow had a dead calf...Good - cow had the dead calf. First calf heifer and neighbors Beefmaster bull made about a 100 lb calf.