calf due in about two months, training needed

[mikecoen]

Cindy, our first calf heifer is a belted galloway, has her first calf by her side still at almost 8 months old and is due in a little over 2 months by my guess. I bought them as a pair a few months ago. What is a good resource for learning and/or preparing for a normal birth or common complications? Years ago we pulled a calf for a rancher friend as he calmed and held the cow from the front end. That is about the extent of our experience except having 3 children and 9 grandchildren and a couple of litters of kittens.

 

[jhm47]

If she's had a calf already, she likely won't have any problems with her second one. Just let nature take it's course. I'd make sure the older calf is weaned ASAP.

 

[Royd Wood]

She should be fine as thats one of the traits of Galloways - easy calvers.
You need to remove calf as the cow needs to go dry
Is she pregnant to a Belted bull

 

[mikecoen]

Thanks for the reassurance on the calving process. We decided to let the cow wean the calf when she needed to because we want to keep the two together for some years and they both do better if they have company. We aren't very well suited here to keep them separated but we probably could if it is really necessary. I'm open to your advice, that's why I post things, so let me know what reasons there are for the normal weaning at 6 to 7 months. Again, thanks for taking the time to respond. The dad is a belted galloway from Aten's rancch in Loveland, Colorado, nearby. The cow's father is Diesel and he is also the sire of the 8 month old heifer according to Don Aten. Father of the coming calf is Aten's Gary I think.
Now I am going to have to check on that.

 

[herfrds]

Weaning the calf allows the cow to get back up into condition to have the next calf.
If the older calf is left on it will also steal the colostrum from the newborn that needs it.

Look into a weaning ring. You place it in the older calf's nose. Every time it goes to nurse the ring pinches it's nose and it backs off.
Looks pretty funny, but some guys swear by it.
We just seperate them in October and they don't go back out with their dam's again until after they have had their first calves.

 

[animalfarm]

You only need to keep them separated NOW and for about 1 month after the calf is born. A simple electric string with step in posts and small battery charger will quickly solve your space/fence issues and still let them have company; just no nursing.

Even if condition is not an issue, some cows don't wean naturally and the new born cannot compete for milk with an older sibling. You really don't want to risk it not getting colostrum either.

Yearlings will also be nosy parkers, interfering and getting in the way of the mother bonding with the new calf, even if the yearling is weaned. If that happens, you will now be bottle feeding a calf that won't nurse from its mom because it was busy sucking on its sister and learned that nothing comes out so don't bother.

I wean at 10 months if it hasn't happened already, and I learned the hard way DO NOT let ANY yearling around when a cow gives birth.