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Breeding / Calving Issues
Stunted growth question
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<blockquote data-quote="Nite Hawk" data-source="post: 949225" data-attributes="member: 18682"><p>You said that you have maybe 1 calf every 2 years out of 75 cows that doesn't grow properly.By doing the math that is one calf out of 150 calves that is a poor doer. </p><p>It is frustrating to have even one calf that does not do well, but 1 out of 150 calves probably isn"t a bad statisic if you looked at other farms with a similar number of animals. They possibly might have a similar number of calves that are poor growers.</p><p>With that said, a number of years ago the Hereford breed had problems with a dwarf gene, and if I remember right it was fairly widespread, so there is possibly a genetic connection.</p><p>Are you breeding for easy calving?( low birth weights?)</p><p>Some low birth weight bulls will throw small calves that once they are born will grow incredibly, but some low birth weight- blood lines are born small and stay that way, never picking up after birth and really growing.</p><p>Also, is it possible that there is a mineral deficiency in your soil that may be contributing to the problem? as you said they were all grass fed, so I asume that means no grain at all.</p><p> Some breeds / bloodlines do better on a straight grass diet than others. Some animals /breeds require more care than others to maintain body condition and growth.</p><p>Also, what kind of milkers are the mothers to the poor growing calves? Its not always the volume of milk but the quality that can also make a difference in growth.</p><p>Also, Some animals will get in and just mow the grass down, and others are picky, finicky eaters and want only certain types of grass, and the fincky eaters are usually hard to keep the weight on, so they probably won't grow as good as other cattle.</p><p>Growth rate is basically summed up between genetic and nutritional. If its not genetic then something is lacking either in the quality or volume of feed, or the animal is picky and won't eat properly, or are getting shoved out of the hay stack.</p><p>Hope you solve your problem..</p><p>Nite hawk</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nite Hawk, post: 949225, member: 18682"] You said that you have maybe 1 calf every 2 years out of 75 cows that doesn't grow properly.By doing the math that is one calf out of 150 calves that is a poor doer. It is frustrating to have even one calf that does not do well, but 1 out of 150 calves probably isn"t a bad statisic if you looked at other farms with a similar number of animals. They possibly might have a similar number of calves that are poor growers. With that said, a number of years ago the Hereford breed had problems with a dwarf gene, and if I remember right it was fairly widespread, so there is possibly a genetic connection. Are you breeding for easy calving?( low birth weights?) Some low birth weight bulls will throw small calves that once they are born will grow incredibly, but some low birth weight- blood lines are born small and stay that way, never picking up after birth and really growing. Also, is it possible that there is a mineral deficiency in your soil that may be contributing to the problem? as you said they were all grass fed, so I asume that means no grain at all. Some breeds / bloodlines do better on a straight grass diet than others. Some animals /breeds require more care than others to maintain body condition and growth. Also, what kind of milkers are the mothers to the poor growing calves? Its not always the volume of milk but the quality that can also make a difference in growth. Also, Some animals will get in and just mow the grass down, and others are picky, finicky eaters and want only certain types of grass, and the fincky eaters are usually hard to keep the weight on, so they probably won't grow as good as other cattle. Growth rate is basically summed up between genetic and nutritional. If its not genetic then something is lacking either in the quality or volume of feed, or the animal is picky and won't eat properly, or are getting shoved out of the hay stack. Hope you solve your problem.. Nite hawk [/QUOTE]
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