We're Off and Running Too

[randiliana]

Well, we have started with a bang, cows were not due to start til March 6 and we have 17 calves out of 15 cows so far. Wish this cold weather would quit though, the last 5 heifers we've had calve we've had to pull. One was a leg back, which she wouldn't have had any trouble with other than that. 2 just wouldn't settle in the barn and we finally had to intervene, just about too late for the one. And the other 2 were just a bit too big. Wish we could leave them outside but 10 minutes in the weather we've been dealing with = frozen ears at the very least. On the plus side, 2 sets of good healthy twins, with no problems. I'm bottle feeding one until either the milk cow calves or we need a foster calf.

 

[I luv herfrds]

I know that cold is just about driving us nuts. Hope the weather liars are right this time and it gets warmer this week. You guys have been colder then us, so you have my sympathy.
That first cow of ours to calve must be part mule deer. She jumped over the gate to her pen twice. She wanted to help the heifer claim her calf even though it wasn't born yet.

Got a 6 year old cow that was swinging her tail and sniffing around. Thinking about putting her in the corral just to be on the safe side. She was walking towards barn when I checked them, but hasn't bagged up or really sprung yet. Those old cows aren't dumb they know a good spot to calve. In the barn in cold weather.

 

[randiliana]

Yeah, this weather is just nasty! We've been below 0 F every night for the last 10 days, last night was -32 C. But, we haven't been as cold as most of the rest of the province either. Crossing my fingers that it warms up, this cold weather is simply exhausting.

We've got one old girl that will come up to the barn and bawl to be let in when she is ready to calve. Even if it is really nice out.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Just wish my right arm wasn't so sore today.
Every time I grabbed that leg the heifer would push and jam my right hand and the calf's leg against her pelvic bone.
there is such a sharp edge there.

A neighbor south of us told us about a cow they had that would come up to their barn and wait for them to pull her calf.
Who says cows are dumb?

 

[randiliana]

Yeah and they never push so hard as when you are trying to fix something either.... Took both DH and I to straighten our leg back out too.

Some of them are pretty smart, some I swear are dumber than posts too.

 

[angus9259]

After I bury this last frozen calf, I'll be thankful when my last two "spring" calvers freshen . . . . because then I'm going fall calving all out. Switched most the herd last year . . . this is my last little group.

 

[bigbull338]

yall are making me shiver thinking about calving cows in yalls nasty cold weather.goodthing yall have calving barns.

 

[Anonymous]

You all are making me jealous, calving now that is. Mine are 3-5 months away. With my luck it will be right as a hurricane gets here. I don't envy your cold weather though

 

[bigbull338]

You all are making me jealous, calving now that is. Mine are 3-5 months away. With my luck it will be right as a hurricane gets here. I don't envy your cold weather though

ive got 2 cows springing right now,an the bad thing is they are bred to a ding dong angus bull.

 

[randiliana]

Well, we had a 2 day break, but then one yesterday and 2 so far this morning. They'll come fast now.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Got 2 heifer calves now. Starting pretty slow but should start picking up soon. Got alot more bagging and springing.
2 calves out of the bull we got from H'76 and 1 out of our Churchill bull.

Up to the 50's today. water is running and the ice is FINALLY melting.
not too sure how long it is going to last. The northern lights were out last night. Got a saying around here that they foretell a weather change in 2 weeks.