OK, Now What is This?

[Hasbeen]

November marked my first year in "the business". With the help of the members of this board and local mentors and my own dumb mistakes, I've learned a great deal although still very much the greenhorn. One thing I've learned is to go ahead and ask the stupid question, laugh when I get drilled for it, and learn. Here is my latest observation.

I have eight heifers. All are due to calve Feb 1st thru 15th except one who delivered a stillborn 6 weeks early. I'm noticing some behavior changes in the past week. They are much more aggressive toward each other even challenging the boss cow to some sparring. The low cow in the order is having a miserable time right now, being knocked from one cow to another like a pinball. Yet after a few minutes of pushing and shoving they spend even more time licking each others face and necks. Also, one will stand behind another with their nose next to the other's udder. I watched this closely as I was afraid I had some milk thieves, but they never suck, just seem to enjoy the smell. I'm also noticing the bull has been busy checking them recently. I'm guessing this is all due to hormonal changes and the mothering instinct kicking in. Am I right?

 

[Caustic Burno]

November marked my first year in "the business". With the help of the members of this board and local mentors and my own dumb mistakes, I've learned a great deal although still very much the greenhorn. One thing I've learned is to go ahead and ask the stupid question, laugh when I get drilled for it, and learn. Here is my latest observation.

I have eight heifers. All are due to calve Feb 1st thru 15th except one who delivered a stillborn 6 weeks early. I'm noticing some behavior changes in the past week. They are much more aggressive toward each other even challenging the boss cow to some sparring. The low cow in the order is having a miserable time right now, being knocked from one cow to another like a pinball. Yet after a few minutes of pushing and shoving they spend even more time licking each others face and necks. Also, one will stand behind another with their nose next to the other's udder. I watched this closely as I was afraid I had some milk thieves, but they never suck, just seem to enjoy the smell. I'm also noticing the bull has been busy checking them recently. I'm guessing this is all due to hormonal changes and the mothering instinct kicking in. Am I right?

The pecking order seems to be a constant battle with heifers until they get older and then one has to challenge the system even then.
I have a pasture with 8 hiefers I retained this year to haul to replacement sales this spring and they constantly are fighting.
As far as checking each other out this occurs with older cows as well.

 

[mwj]

November marked my first year in "the business". With the help of the members of this board and local mentors and my own dumb mistakes, I've learned a great deal although still very much the greenhorn. One thing I've learned is to go ahead and ask the stupid question, laugh when I get drilled for it, and learn. Here is my latest observation.

I have eight heifers. All are due to calve Feb 1st thru 15th except one who delivered a stillborn 6 weeks early. I'm noticing some behavior changes in the past week. They are much more aggressive toward each other even challenging the boss cow to some sparring. The low cow in the order is having a miserable time right now, being knocked from one cow to another like a pinball. Yet after a few minutes of pushing and shoving they spend even more time licking each others face and necks. Also, one will stand behind another with their nose next to the other's udder. I watched this closely as I was afraid I had some milk thieves, but they never suck, just seem to enjoy the smell. I'm also noticing the bull has been busy checking them recently. I'm guessing this is all due to hormonal changes and the mothering instinct kicking in. Am I right?

The pecking order seems to be a constant battle with heifers until they get older and then one has to challenge the system even then.
I have a pasture with 8 hiefers I retained this year to haul to replacement sales this spring and they constantly are fighting.
As far as checking each other out this occurs with older cows as well.

I thought you said those heifers were to expensive too keep around :P

 

[Hasbeen]

The pecking order seems to be a constant battle with heifers until they get older and then one has to challenge the system even then.
I have a pasture with 8 hiefers I retained this year to haul to replacement sales this spring and they constantly are fighting.
As far as checking each other out this occurs with older cows as well.

You're right, of course, but these gals have been together over a year now. The first few months was constant battling to establish an order but once they were bred this had mostly stopped until the past few days. Most aggressive of all is the one who lost her calf. I've even seen her sparring with the bull a couple of times. Another strange thing I saw was when one heifer stood behind another with her nose down towards the other's udder, the front one would actually back up to increase the pressure. They're behaving almost as is they are in heat even to the point of occasional mounting. I figured hormones.

And before anyone asks, they are all definitely bred and according to my figures and the signs (beginning to bag up, sloppy vulvas, pronounced tailheads, etc.) are nearing calving time.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

November marked my first year in "the business". With the help of the members of this board and local mentors and my own dumb mistakes, I've learned a great deal although still very much the greenhorn. One thing I've learned is to go ahead and ask the stupid question, laugh when I get drilled for it, and learn. Here is my latest observation.

I have eight heifers. All are due to calve Feb 1st thru 15th except one who delivered a stillborn 6 weeks early. I'm noticing some behavior changes in the past week. They are much more aggressive toward each other even challenging the boss cow to some sparring. The low cow in the order is having a miserable time right now, being knocked from one cow to another like a pinball. Yet after a few minutes of pushing and shoving they spend even more time licking each others face and necks. Also, one will stand behind another with their nose next to the other's udder. I watched this closely as I was afraid I had some milk thieves, but they never suck, just seem to enjoy the smell. I'm also noticing the bull has been busy checking them recently. I'm guessing this is all due to hormonal changes and the mothering instinct kicking in. Am I right?

The pecking order seems to be a constant battle with heifers until they get older and then one has to challenge the system even then.
I have a pasture with 8 hiefers I retained this year to haul to replacement sales this spring and they constantly are fighting.
As far as checking each other out this occurs with older cows as well.

I thought you said those heifers were to expensive too keep around :P

if their brahman F1's . theres a rancher just wait'in on em like money in the bank.

 

[Caustic Burno]

November marked my first year in "the business". With the help of the members of this board and local mentors and my own dumb mistakes, I've learned a great deal although still very much the greenhorn. One thing I've learned is to go ahead and ask the stupid question, laugh when I get drilled for it, and learn. Here is my latest observation.

I have eight heifers. All are due to calve Feb 1st thru 15th except one who delivered a stillborn 6 weeks early. I'm noticing some behavior changes in the past week. They are much more aggressive toward each other even challenging the boss cow to some sparring. The low cow in the order is having a miserable time right now, being knocked from one cow to another like a pinball. Yet after a few minutes of pushing and shoving they spend even more time licking each others face and necks. Also, one will stand behind another with their nose next to the other's udder. I watched this closely as I was afraid I had some milk thieves, but they never suck, just seem to enjoy the smell. I'm also noticing the bull has been busy checking them recently. I'm guessing this is all due to hormonal changes and the mothering instinct kicking in. Am I right?

The pecking order seems to be a constant battle with heifers until they get older and then one has to challenge the system even then.
I have a pasture with 8 hiefers I retained this year to haul to replacement sales this spring and they constantly are fighting.
As far as checking each other out this occurs with older cows as well.

I thought you said those heifers were to expensive too keep around :P

I am not keeping and breeding them, at one year old and open. I am selling them at replacement sales this spring where they will bring a premium.
Ranchers were hurt bad north of here last summer had to sell down due to drought, they will be bidding wars over good replacements this spring.
Those heifers will bring a 1000 or better at Crockett salebarn in March or April.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

id like too be in the position one day to do the same thing trouble is im keeping all replacement. a good F1 heifer well sell herself. she just needs to be seen ;-)

 

[Chris H]

Get the bull out of the pen unless you want the heifer who delivered the stillborn to be bred right now. She may even be bred already.

Hormone changes will result in all the behavior you have noticed. Continue to watch for any nursing. Watch for calf stealing when they start calving. Some of the agressiveness seems to be natures way of telling them to develop their own space, that helps to get a calf bonded to it's own mother in the first 24 hours.

 

[Caustic Burno]

id like too be in the position one day to do the same thing trouble is im keeping all replacement. i good F1 heifer well sell herself

Got lucky we had rain grass and hay last summer.
All the heifers are red white face some with a touch of brimmer, thats why I held on to them. Every rancher with a black bull will see black baldie calfs when they go through the ring.
You have to capitalize on nickels when you can.