Over-heated calf

[IluvABbeef]

I have a question that is just plain out of curiousity.

I went to my uncle neil's farm for a visit and he showed me this day-old calf that had been born out in the hot afternoon (+30 C). As soon as he found the bull calf he put him in the calving barn out of the hot sun and separate from the momma. The only time the calf's with momma is when he lets the calf nurse from her when she's restrained in a headgate in the barn. When I seen the calf it was still panting like it was hot, but because it was a hot day yesterday (and even more so today) and in the barn too, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, should I? My uncle raises good cattle and I don't question his methods, as he does everything he can to have a healthy herd and raise healthy calves, but I've never really been something like this. Can't help but learn something new everyday anyway, eh?

Now here's the question I want to ask: what would you do if you had a late calf born on a hot August day, or any hot day for that matter? I know that the best way to avoid this is have calving in the fall or early spring, but sometimes things happen, and you get a really late calver. The calf was a red angus X btw.

 

[dun]

I would make sure the cow and calf have shad and the cow plenty of water. That's it. I sure wouldn;t put one in a barn

 

[redcowsrule33]

Shade and water with plenty of ventilation. A pole or wood shed in August is the hottest place on earth.

 

[Jim62]

I don't understand why he's messing with the calf at all. :???:

That's what cows are for.

 

[ga. prime]

Now here's the question I want to ask: what would you do if you had a late calf born on a hot August day, or any hot day for that matter?

Stick some "Sons of the Pioneers" in the CD player.

 

[TexasBred]

Now here's the question I want to ask: what would you do if you had a late calf born on a hot August day, or any hot day for that matter?

Stick some "Sons of the Pioneers" in the CD player.

August is as good as any month. When I dairied August was actually my heaviest calving month followed by September. Just easier to get cattle bred in November and December.