Hello , this is my first time posting . I have a mini heifer that was AI'd May 9th 2024 . She is due the 15th of this month . Her belly looks pregnant but absolutely no udder show . Backend doesn't look much different either. I haven't seen her in a standing heat at all . What's your thoughts on if she is pregnant or not :)
No udder development
- Thread starter TexasLady
- Start date
Did you have a bull with her after AI?
Dsth
Well-known member
heifers are always very mysterious creatures. I would just keep an eye on her and see what happens. I have AIed heifers and wondered the same thing in the past. some will start filling out their udder months in advanced and some are just the same as yours. recheck your gestation table and make sure you are looking at the correct breed. different breeds have different average days gestation. 10 days after expected due date is normal and a few will go longer than that. since this is her first calf, she may just not want to part with it yet. If you feel comfortable putting on an AI sleeve and sticking your arm up her behind, a calf that size is generally easy to feel. Good luck
Farmgirl
Well-known member
You should be able to bump a calf at this point. Go to the right side. Just in front of the flank on her belly make a fist and push. If the calf is laying right you can feel it bounce back against your push. Put her in a chute or alley to do this. Most will not stand for you to do this.
farmerjan
Well-known member
Was she ever confirmed pregnant by a vet or even blood or urine test? Maybe she is just fat.
That said, she might have gotten pregnant, might have absorbed it, might have slipped/aborted it... might have gotten a cyst on her ovary and not cycled after that...
Agree that heifers are unpredictable about udder development.
If you are not comfortable with "arming her" to check inside, and cannot "bump" a calf by the above method.. I would suggest a vet check or an experienced neighbor that could use a glove and go in and arm her. This close to due date. the calf should be very obvious in most cases.
Due dates are approximations with a variation of about a week according to breed. According to the date you say she was AI'ed, Feb 15th-20 would be a reasonable expectation. I am thinking that she has lost it somehow and has gotten fat... hope that is NOT the case for you. I am not aware of any differences in mini's for average pregnancy length.
That said, she might have gotten pregnant, might have absorbed it, might have slipped/aborted it... might have gotten a cyst on her ovary and not cycled after that...
Agree that heifers are unpredictable about udder development.
If you are not comfortable with "arming her" to check inside, and cannot "bump" a calf by the above method.. I would suggest a vet check or an experienced neighbor that could use a glove and go in and arm her. This close to due date. the calf should be very obvious in most cases.
Due dates are approximations with a variation of about a week according to breed. According to the date you say she was AI'ed, Feb 15th-20 would be a reasonable expectation. I am thinking that she has lost it somehow and has gotten fat... hope that is NOT the case for you. I am not aware of any differences in mini's for average pregnancy length.
Some heifers - and cows - don't get much of an udder until they calve. I'd suggest bumping her or getting either your vet or someone with experience to glove up. In the meantime, take a good look at her from behind. The rumen is on the left and will be higher, calf on the right and will hang lower (lunch on the left, rugrat on the right). This cow is only 7+ months bred - can you see what I'm talking about? Clearly not an exact science and the calf will drop in place (generally a few days) before she actually gives birth.
