Udder too big?
- Thread starter EasTex
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Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
She should calve tonight.
That is a lot more udder than I would like for a heifer, and I raise Simmentals.
That is a lot more udder than I would like for a heifer, and I raise Simmentals.
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
It looks like a good udder though.
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Stop worrying until you have a problem.
OP
OP
EasTex
Well-known member
I was hoping she would wait until after the freeze. Today would have been good.
OP
OP
EasTex
Well-known member
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Just like women no two are the same.
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
That a lot of udder for a heifer!
Nice size, but I don't care for the short fat teats. As long as the calf makes em work it's all good tho!
Nice size, but I don't care for the short fat teats. As long as the calf makes em work it's all good tho!
Rafter S
Well-known member
I'll take those over long fat ones that a calf has trouble getting on.
BFE
Well-known member
I have to wonder if that's what's to come for this heifer. Probably be fine until she's had 4-5 calves, then be too much for a new calf to handle.
Not in my world.
Dsth
Well-known member
it does seem large for a first calf heifer. if she has not calved yet, you may want to consider inducing labor before problems develop. like other post, udder will generally continue to increase in size with each calving cycle. I would not keep replacements from her. if calves can nurse shortly after birth, it shouldn't be a problem. good luck
coachg
Well-known member
She is going to be a milk wagon . Over time if she develops balloon teats she will need to be culled . I'd rather have too much milk than not enough.
lithuanian farmer
Well-known member
Nice big udder. It might cause trouble in the future, but now she seems okay. She should have calf very soo. It's better to have too much milk than too little.
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
OP
OP
EasTex
Well-known member
Unfortunately I don't live out there. It's just a weekend place at this point. About 1 hour and 10 minutes from my house. I may try to get out the Wednesday after work and check on her. I worry like they are my kids!
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
I know the feeling!
No need to worry based off the picture at this time.
When we bought our original Brangus cows I went through quite a few bag issues and learned some hard lessons.
Looking back I compounded the issue at one point by buying the low bw, high growth Black Angus bull. The calves came out tiny. I bet they weren't #60. I'm not sure if their size slowed them down or if if those big cows were spitting them out like water melon seeds and they were hitting their heads, but they wouldn't aggressively go after those cows to milk. After a couple weeks the calves would suck them down and grow like weeds but those cows bags always looked like they were about to bust.
Looking back I think that was hard on those cows bags also. Heaven forbid a calf not get on one and suck it down she was dang near ruined.
I still don't run big bw bulls but I like to be in the 80s or so. It seems like those calves get up and get after those mommas bags a lot better.
There may be more to it but it's just some thing I experienced.
Hpacres440p
Well-known member
Interesting you mentioned that-the calf on my cow with the big bag nurses, but isn't overly concerned with it. Maybe after a few days he'll figure out that's some good vittles.
Dsth
Well-known member
I have notice several post assume that udder size determines the amount of milk available. Is that the mind set of the beef business? ask most people in the dairy business that question and most will tell you one has nothing to do with the other. I had a first calf heifer last year raise a set of twins with an udder about 1/10th of the size of the heifer in the first pic. the bull calf ended up being the biggest calf in the group at weaning time. just curious.
