One hour old!

[Rafter E]

Just hatched an hour ago, the newest member of the family. Any ideas on breed???

 

[stocky]

looks like out of a limousin bull to me

 

[bigbull338]

limosin cross calf can tell by the white ring round his/her eye scott

 

[Bez]

I would agree - but if you are not sure of the background be aware that sometimes new born Red Angus / Red Angus cross can have the same ring - as evidenced by a couple of calves out of our now permanent guests born here over the past week.

Had a new one myself today - out of our old 12 year old lead cow. I was desperately hoping for a heifer - the kids got one heifer apiece out of her over the past two calvings - so of course wife and I had to settle for a bull calf when our turn came. He will stay whole to see about potential future prospects. She always puts out a number one calf.

If she stays around for the next season the kids will have to wait for wife and I to have another chance at getting a heifer from her. They definitely will NOT be happy about that - but the King and Queen here make the rules - and change the rules as the game is played! :lol:

I like the pic of your new mom - is that an ear notch, or the remains of a rip from an old tag in her left ear?

Gotta' like it when they are born on dry ground and get up fast.

Regards,

Bez

 

[Rafter E]

Thanks stocky, bigbull and Bez. I am new to the business and couldn't tell, we bought her bred. This cow is a real character, she waits at the gate near the house...for cake. If I am late she roars a particularly 'suspicious' sort of a moo. She is one of the last to calve out of 50 cows, kinda been waiting for this one. She is a favorite of ours (they all are in their own way), hope to keep her a few years.

Bez, the notch out of her ear may be a torn eartag hole, the skin is missing. Maybe its a small earmark? As I said, I am new to this Cow/Calf stuff, it will be a year next month. I personally do not like the idea of notching ears. Many of our cows have ears that were BUTCHERED and it seems pointless to me. What is your position on notching ears? My ignorance could be obvious here...

Yes, the ground where she had her calf (bull/heifer?) was just right, she walked a cattle guard into another pasture that we lease to 'get away' and have her calf. We had an awesome thunder and lightning storm with nearly an inch of rain just a couple of hours before she calved, she timed it pefectly. I saw her spin around in a couple circles before laying down, ran to get the camera and missed the birth by just a few minutes.

One question...Do I have to wait for the calf to pee to see (from 25 feet or so) if its a bull or heifer? Sounds silly to y'all I bet, but like I said, I am a rookie.

P.S. Calf is sucking like a champ.

 

[Bez]

Yup - your coments indicate you are new - I had a good chuckle at your post - laughing with you not at you.

Every farm and ranch has one character animal - usually they become a favourite. She has obviously been hand raised if what you say is true - so do not fall in love with her to the point you will not sell her if she fails you.

Notching is an ancient method of marking an owners animals - not too many do it now - and I have to admit we do not. Lots of times folks think the ear is notched when in fact it has been torn or simply damaged in some type of fracas. Most will not like this - but I see no problem if notching is done correctly.

As for telling the sex of a calf - you can simply stand behind it and watch when it switches it's tail. :lol:

I try to tag them early - easier to catch and less stress - moms sometimes object to this so beware!

Glad it is healthy.

Bez

 

[Bernard]

Those guesses on the calf are as good as any, I believe. Pretty good looking cow, too - but you might want to watch her bag on the right side. Looks like she might have one tit that's pretty big for a calf to suck on right away, and if so, and if that quarter doesn't get emptied, she could have a problem. Then, maybe not.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I would guess Limo or Red Angus also. As far as the ear, I have a couple cows with notches, their notches were for "Bangs" Vaccination I.D.
Nice looking cow.

Katherine

 

[jerry27150]

cow has some brahma in her & calf could be gelbvieh or santa-gertrudis

 

[jerry27150]

ears are short for gert, so i guess gelbvieh

 

[frenchie]

ears are short for gert, so i guess gelbvieh

I think your right.

 

[Australian Cattleman]

Calf could easily be a South Devon cross. Cow looks like a poll Hereford/Gelbvieh.
Cow looks good.
Colin

 

[sidney411]

Your cow and calf look good. That looks like an ear notch to me on your cow. I would deffinately watch that right quarter on the cow, the teat looks ballooned out and those are sometimes difficult for a new calf to navigate.

Good Luck!

 

[preston39]

Nice Limousin calf.

Next time breed that cow to a good angus bull...and you should get a motley faced/white face...black body calf....should be a nice one.

sidney is on top ...watch the front teats...may need to assist for a while until the calf is taking more milk.

Nice mixed cow...good herford blend with small % braman. Neighbor has ...oh...probably 25 or 30 of those cows in his commercial herd of 200+...excellent moms.....good calves...good milkers...usually good personalities.

Good luck.

 

[Rafter E]

Bez, Bernard, Workinonit, Jerry, Frenchie, Australian, Preston, thanks to all of you, I appreciate your responses.

As stated above, it is very easy to get attached to these critters, I have learned and will continue to learn to remind myself that they are 'stock', not pets. "Simone" may well have been hand raised. She disappeared for a day, and this evening as I pulled up to the house, she was standing at my fence with her calf. She was not very interested in a snack, I guess she was just passing by to get a drink, or perhaps showing me her new calf...who knows. Whan I notched (reluctantly) our limo calfs ear last year, it bled very much and took a long time to heal. No more notching here. I am looking into freeze branding, we still use a hot iron.

Regarding the cows bag, yes, her front quarters are suspect. Her bag looked OK before she bagged up a few days before calving. We have a few cows with bad bags and mastitus is something I need to learn about. Prevention, treatment, when to cull...stuff like that.

I want to express thanks for the encouraging words regarding the cow and calf "looking good". Many of you mentioned that. Being new in the business, I don't often know what is good or not. This one was on my 'good' list...you all confirmed it. I have a bunch that will be culled this fall. Working towards a healthy, low labor herd.

We have registered Simmi and black Angus bulls, do you agree with Preston that the Angus bull would be best for this cow next time?, or would the Simmi be just as good?

 

[preston39]

rafter,

a new mother generally will not eat...especially high protein feed for a few hours...maybe 24...after birth....sometimes a little grass/hay/water.

Looking at that... excellent calf/color...I wold almost bet his dad... was a simmie?

My suggestion of Angus was based on what is sought after by buyers in our area. May not be so in yours. The Angus/motley faced is the top money getter here.

 

[stocky]

here in my part of the country, a charlois would be best for that cow. get a yellow calf and take the ear off---would sell outstanding as well as get the charlois weight gain. parts of the country, where blacks sell as well as yellows would be fine to put a black angus with the cow to get a black baldie calf, but you will still have the ear which can be 10 dollars per hundred discount in alot of areas. the main thing you want to do is get rid of the red----black or yellow---both would be very good

 

[preston39]

Bez, Bernard, Workinonit, Jerry, Frenchie, Australian, Preston, thanks to all of you, I appreciate your responses.

As stated above, it is very easy to get attached to these critters, I have learned and will continue to learn to remind myself that they are 'stock', not pets. "Simone" may well have been hand raised. She disappeared for a day, and this evening as I pulled up to the house, she was standing at my fence with her calf. She was not very interested in a snack, I guess she was just passing by to get a drink, or perhaps showing me her new calf...who knows. Whan I notched (reluctantly) our limo calfs ear last year, it bled very much and took a long time to heal. No more notching here. I am looking into freeze branding, we still use a hot iron.

Regarding the cows bag, yes, her front quarters are suspect. Her bag looked OK before she bagged up a few days before calving. We have a few cows with bad bags and mastitus is something I need to learn about. Prevention, treatment, when to cull...stuff like that.

I want to express thanks for the encouraging words regarding the cow and calf "looking good". Many of you mentioned that. Being new in the business, I don't often know what is good or not. This one was on my 'good' list...you all confirmed it. I have a bunch that will be culled this fall. Working towards a healthy, low labor herd.

We have registered Simmi and black Angus bulls, do you agree with Preston that the Angus bull would be best for this cow next time?, or would the Simmi be just as good?

==========
rafter,

That picture reflects ..."Guardian 1st class". If i came over the hill in a strange field and saw her...I would give mom a wide berth.... :lol:

 

[Rafter E]

Llama (like Preston) coming over a hill, giving Simone a wide berth.

 

[preston39]

Llama (like Preston) coming over a hill, giving Simone a wide berth.

===========
uh hu! The Llama gets the idea. I don't see a smile on mom's face ...even at that distance! :lol: