What do you do with them? They get so wound up (in a positive way???) when they calve. They knock their calf around so they can't get a second to catch their feet - over attentive - waaaay overattentive. I get tired of working with these overzealous mommas. Do you cull for such a thing?
overzealous momma
- Thread starter angus9259
- Start date
TennesseeTuxedo
Well-known member
What breed and how many do you have that are acting like that?
Suzie Q
Well-known member
I agree you say you hate working with mommas like that, whereas I don't work any mommas with new born calves. I leave them alone as they know what they are doing.
Suzie Q":35jywbua said:
Not sure I understand, I'm not doing anything with the momma but watching - not working her at all. I'm just watching the calf from a distance to make sure it gets up and eats and such. Momma just gets to pushing her own calf around out of her own being wound up.
Suzie Q
Well-known member
It was just the way that you said you get tired of working with these overzealous mothers. To me that meant you were doing something.
I have not experienced seeing a mother get the calf up like you are describing.
Normally they hide the calf and go off. Maybe they feel the calf is in danger. I guess it depends on what is winding her up. You also seem to be talking about more than one mother. So they are either upset about something or learning it from each other.
I have not experienced seeing a mother get the calf up like you are describing.
Normally they hide the calf and go off. Maybe they feel the calf is in danger. I guess it depends on what is winding her up. You also seem to be talking about more than one mother. So they are either upset about something or learning it from each other.
![Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes, Clinically Proven, Fragrance Free, Unscented, Water Based, Hypoallergenic, Multi-Use, Hand Wipes 336 Wipes Total (6X Flip-Top Packs) [Packaging May Vary]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41KLBHu9CAL._SL500_.jpg)
Suzie Q
Well-known member
The only time I have heard of something always getting a calf up is when someone lost their cow and put the calf onto a horse. Cows hide and leave their calves where as foals drink from their mothers over a hundred times a day and stay with their mother.
The mare was very upset that the calf was not following her all the time. I have not heard of it with cows.
The mare was very upset that the calf was not following her all the time. I have not heard of it with cows.
i have heard of over mothering, they push them in the creek or under fences. i calve 1st calf heifers at my house i can watch out the window, i have to pay attention. i have to agree with the other post, it is like watching one calve they are so sensitive to something being around, you need to go back to the house and check on them about 2 hours later. i like to watch too, but it makes them to nervous and it also makes you want to do something. after awhile you figure out it works out anyway.
waihou
Well-known member
Yes I have seen the occaisional cow, usually a first time heifer, keep bellowing and knocking her calf to the ground when it tries to get up.
Depends how long it lasts. If the calf gets up and has a feed usually the hormones settle down and the mothering kicks in!
When the cow/heifer continues to circle in front of the calf when it is trying to get under/behind her can also be a problem-but once again-once it suckles she calms down.
Even if you have to confine the heifer to let the calf get a chance to stand up and feed works wonders.
We would cull the cow on continued aggression to calf and human alike. We handle our calves as soon as they are born-weigh and tag-so I have to work alongside the cow, often alone-so we definitely cull on the cows bad behaviour-though having said that, it's years since we had to do it, as it is an inherited trait!Here is dear old 13 year old matron supervising the weighing and tagging of her twelfth, a 48kg (98lb) calf last week.
Depends how long it lasts. If the calf gets up and has a feed usually the hormones settle down and the mothering kicks in!
When the cow/heifer continues to circle in front of the calf when it is trying to get under/behind her can also be a problem-but once again-once it suckles she calms down.
Even if you have to confine the heifer to let the calf get a chance to stand up and feed works wonders.
We would cull the cow on continued aggression to calf and human alike. We handle our calves as soon as they are born-weigh and tag-so I have to work alongside the cow, often alone-so we definitely cull on the cows bad behaviour-though having said that, it's years since we had to do it, as it is an inherited trait!Here is dear old 13 year old matron supervising the weighing and tagging of her twelfth, a 48kg (98lb) calf last week.
Eventually I tried pulling the calf out and letting it walk around awhile to get its legs. Then put it back with its momma who proceeded to knock it over every time it got up. I put momma in the chute and let the calf nurse, then she was fine (as you suggested).
I'll steal my own thread - nice looking cow - big calf! Looks like that little guy came out ready to breed!
I'll steal my own thread - nice looking cow - big calf! Looks like that little guy came out ready to breed!
coolpop
Well-known member
I had to first time mothers that I actually had to put halters on and tie to a barn post so their calves could suckle. After that cows and calfs were fine. It was that initial birth and excitement that was scary. The one mother I actually thought was trying to kill her calf.
vclavin
Well-known member
Like Waihou, I work them mostly alone so they must be gentle. Crazies go to salebarn. Last one went years ago. We took them from the cow if she persisted in her nonsense before she killed the poosr calf.
Valerie
Valerie
