Result of failure to wean?

Carnivore · May 13, 2016

Hi all, it's been several years since I was last here, but today had a question for all to consider. Will a calf that is one year old, who has been in same pasture with dad and should have likely been bread, not come into heat because she is still sucking on momma? I ask because we butchered the 1 year old today, which had not been weaned, but found no fetus. She was big enough to be pregnant, and was with bull daddy for the last year. I have had some experience with early breeding of heifers, and of course, if I had planned on keeping this one for breeding I would have weaned her, but knew I was going to slaughter her young.

Mom usually kicked her calves off so didn't bother to wean her, but not this time. Thoughts?

BTW, nice to come back and check things our here.

Nesikep · May 13, 2016

Welcome back

I think it's Murphy's law.. if you want them to be bred, they won't be, and if you don't, they will be.. Quite easy to miss it, I've seen it happen at 6 months.

Rafter S · May 13, 2016

I don't think the fact that she was (or may have been) still nursing kept her from coming into heat, but at 12 months of age I'm not surprised that she wasn't. She may have just not been quite big or old enough. Some of them won't come into heat until they're 15 months or older.