Calving questions

[kelsey2017]

Hooray! So glad it went well, congratulations! :bun

 

[Royd Wood]

First cow gave birth at about 9 tonight, all went well. It appears we have a healthy black(at least currently while wet) calf. We all got to watch & even video tape the birth. Checked on thence couple times, calf is standing and nursing

Great news - these old breeds do it best - pics when you get chance Mike

 

[greybeard]

I've got a neighbor's 4-5 yr old cow on one of my pastures that's been bagged up for over a month now. (will be her 2nd or 3rd calf) Sire is a big ol Charlais/Beefmaster X bull, but gawd this cow looks like she's carryin doubles for sure. Everyday for the last 2 weeks I think "Gotta be today for sure......"
She'll probably drop it some night in the middle of a raging thunderstorm (or the very next morning)

 

[redtailgal]

lol Greybeard.

I knew an old cow once who did that. She was as big as the barn. I swear, during the hottest part of the day, the rest of the herd sought her out for the shade she offered.

Then, right in a NASTY thunder/lightening storm, she popped out (and I do mean POPPED OUT) a very small bull calf (considered stuffing him back in and giving her a "do over"). The amount of fluid that came out of that old cow made me oh so TREMENDOUSLY thankful for the raingear.

 

[Mike Fronczak]

Update, our first calf is doing awesome she looks to have doubled in size. The second one, which appeared to be progressing about two weeks behind is now 4 weeks behind. We keep saying any day now, the third is getting larger, especially now that we weaned her 6 month old steer from her. I will say the Highlands cause me more worries in the summer than they did in the winter, it has been in the 80's here they haven't fully shed out. We had two water troughs (both 2x2x4), just added 2 more (2x2x8)'s I found on craigslist for $ 50 for both. We just called about some brushes (worn out street sweeper brooms)they can use for rubbing on to help them shed out easier.

 

[kfacres]

Update, our first calf is doing awesome she looks to have doubled in size. The second one, which appeared to be progressing about two weeks behind is now 4 weeks behind. We keep saying any day now, the third is getting larger, especially now that we weaned her 6 month old steer from her. I will say the Highlands cause me more worries in the summer than they did in the winter, it has been in the 80's here they haven't fully shed out. We had two water troughs (both 2x2x4), just added 2 more (2x2x8)'s I found on craigslist for $ 50 for both. We just called about some brushes (worn out street sweeper brooms)they can use for rubbing on to help them shed out easier.

are your pastures high in fescue? If so-- most likely your cause for a lack of shedding-- is endoyphyte.

 

[Mike Fronczak]

As far as fescue they have some but, they are a good mix clover, rye, in as well, I couldn't say what is in the hay. They just don't have a ton of stuff to rub on, they have rubbed on anything they can find though, I have some pretty polished barn posts & a 4x4 post as well. The other pasture has a couple old RR ties set in the ground with old traditional cattle fence on them the used that alot as well.