ny_grass
Well-known member
howdy
Last night the truck rolled up and we unloaded my new angus cows; 5 bred and due any time, one with I little gal at her side (it having calved on 4/15). Four hours after arriving and cow #2 calved; the labor seemed quick and calf seems healthy (though when I woke up this morning it had gotten lost outside the paddock - I helped it back in and it took to nursing immediately).
My concern is what the guy I bought them from told me; he says that "probably 20%" of his cows require intervention when calving!
I decided long ago that I didn't want to be in the cattle midwife business and started looking at breeds like belted galloway which are said to have few issues. When I couldn't find any belties for a price I was willing to pay I started looking at angus (pretty much forgetting that they're known for calving problems). So I'm now feeling some buyers remorse that I'll forever have to be on the watch when they are about to calve.
My question:
Is there anything I can do to minimize the likelihood that I'll have problems? I guess for this batch of calves I'm out of luck, but I figure for the next batch I can breed them A.I. and ensure that I use a bull who's known for not having problems. And, of course, at that point it will be all the cows 2nd (or 3rd) calf (which should reduce problems, right?). I'm stressed since I don't yet have a confinement structure to isolate the about-to-freshen cows (they are just on pasture in electric paddocks). I guess better get busy and build one! ;-)
Thanks much for any insight,
JR
Last night the truck rolled up and we unloaded my new angus cows; 5 bred and due any time, one with I little gal at her side (it having calved on 4/15). Four hours after arriving and cow #2 calved; the labor seemed quick and calf seems healthy (though when I woke up this morning it had gotten lost outside the paddock - I helped it back in and it took to nursing immediately).
My concern is what the guy I bought them from told me; he says that "probably 20%" of his cows require intervention when calving!
I decided long ago that I didn't want to be in the cattle midwife business and started looking at breeds like belted galloway which are said to have few issues. When I couldn't find any belties for a price I was willing to pay I started looking at angus (pretty much forgetting that they're known for calving problems). So I'm now feeling some buyers remorse that I'll forever have to be on the watch when they are about to calve.
My question:
Is there anything I can do to minimize the likelihood that I'll have problems? I guess for this batch of calves I'm out of luck, but I figure for the next batch I can breed them A.I. and ensure that I use a bull who's known for not having problems. And, of course, at that point it will be all the cows 2nd (or 3rd) calf (which should reduce problems, right?). I'm stressed since I don't yet have a confinement structure to isolate the about-to-freshen cows (they are just on pasture in electric paddocks). I guess better get busy and build one! ;-)
Thanks much for any insight,
JR