Heifer with new born calf gets hostile

[plumleyfrm]

We have 2 heifers that were raised together. Immediately after giving birth one of them started fighting with the other. I understand this and we were right there and immediately separated them. A few day later I tried to put them back together because she no longer cared where her calf was. Well, WW3 broke out. She did not even know where the calf was, just wanted a piece of the other heifer. So, back to separate pastures. Now I am beginning to wonder when and if I should try it again. Will definitely wait at least a week after the other heifer has her calf.
Has anyone else had this problem? My hay guy says he just lets them fight it out and they are usually done within 5 minutes and peaceful after that. Side note they are polled

 

[purplequeenvt]

I agree with your hay guy. Adding a calf to the mix has changed the herd dynamic and they need to figure out where everyone fits now. I'd say that, given the cows are polled, unless somebody is getting hurt, let them fight it out.

 

[Azriel]

I agree also, as long as
1 - There is plenty of room in the pasture for the looser to get away
2- The pregnant one is not going to be hurt and cause injury to the unborn calf
3- The calf is out of the fight and in no danger of being trampled and injured

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Hormones play a huge part in how the herd dynamic--including how a cow or heifer will act towards you--plays out. You are just messing things up by separating them, putting them back together then separating them again. Just let them duke it out for however long it takes for them to sort out Who's Boss Now, separating them will just make things worse.

But, it's possible that those two started fighting because the pregnant heifer wanted to steal that other heifer's calf, and that other heifer wanted nothing to do with her. Or, it could be just down to raging hormones...

 

[plumleyfrm]

Thank you everyone. I will go with the group consensus. The other heifer should have her calf any day now, as soon as that happens I will put them back together. They only have a single Hotwire separating them now. Will be back to update after the boxing match!