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- #11
Is this a mucus plug?
- Thread starter CB901
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- heifer mucus
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- #12
Writing today with an update photo. I think she is progressing, I am still checking every three or so hours and putting her up at night. She is still eating and acting normal, her teets are huge, way larger than a store bought nursing nipple. Do I still just sit and wait and watch? Lol
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farmerjan
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The udder looks alot better... like she is getting ready. I think maybe give her a couple more days if she is acting fine.... but maybe if she hasn't done anything by Monday then call the vet.
When your brother brought the bull over did he only let him breed then take him home? Did the bull stay there for a few days? Her breeding date was Oct 17th or 18th? She is definitely going over on time.... if you said that July 26 was 284 days......then she is looking at 295+... that would have me concerned. What does your brother say? If he is able to use a glove and do a rectal, have him check her. Her udder looks like she is getting close....I like to see a fuller, tighter bag when they are close so that I can feel more confident that she will have milk for the calf. Still 2 weeks over is not unheard of...
290-292 is not unheard of.... but she is definitely pushing the limit....but if she does not act like she is uncomfortable, is eating and acting normal.... then you have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Still, I would have her in the chute and check her if she was mine and I was sure of her breeding date.
One thing, how big a field/lot is she in during the day? Is there any chance she has calved and "hides the calf" as some will do? Or worse case, she calved and the calf was dead and she just "quit" ?
Does she still look as big around? Can you put your hand on her right side and hold it there and maybe feel the calf move?
Does she let you touch her udder? She seems to be very friendly from your pictures. If so, take and get your fingers wet with water (not lick them) and slide your fingers on the teat. If there is a hidden calf sucking her... the teat will feel slippery/slimy to your wet finger....
We once had a cow we swore must have lost her calf, and got her in the barn and I did the "feel" test and I thought it was slimy feeling.... kept her locked up for over 12 hours... and it took 4 more hours of just meandering around, and when she thought I was not watching her, for her to finally make a beeline for her calf. That calf was probably 5 days old.... she was determined she wanted to make sure her calf was HERS..... and I was not going to take it away from her or something....
There is a very rare occasional case of a heifer not "going into labor" , and that her system never showed any labor signs... but it is not common.....
When your brother brought the bull over did he only let him breed then take him home? Did the bull stay there for a few days? Her breeding date was Oct 17th or 18th? She is definitely going over on time.... if you said that July 26 was 284 days......then she is looking at 295+... that would have me concerned. What does your brother say? If he is able to use a glove and do a rectal, have him check her. Her udder looks like she is getting close....I like to see a fuller, tighter bag when they are close so that I can feel more confident that she will have milk for the calf. Still 2 weeks over is not unheard of...
290-292 is not unheard of.... but she is definitely pushing the limit....but if she does not act like she is uncomfortable, is eating and acting normal.... then you have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Still, I would have her in the chute and check her if she was mine and I was sure of her breeding date.
One thing, how big a field/lot is she in during the day? Is there any chance she has calved and "hides the calf" as some will do? Or worse case, she calved and the calf was dead and she just "quit" ?
Does she still look as big around? Can you put your hand on her right side and hold it there and maybe feel the calf move?
Does she let you touch her udder? She seems to be very friendly from your pictures. If so, take and get your fingers wet with water (not lick them) and slide your fingers on the teat. If there is a hidden calf sucking her... the teat will feel slippery/slimy to your wet finger....
We once had a cow we swore must have lost her calf, and got her in the barn and I did the "feel" test and I thought it was slimy feeling.... kept her locked up for over 12 hours... and it took 4 more hours of just meandering around, and when she thought I was not watching her, for her to finally make a beeline for her calf. That calf was probably 5 days old.... she was determined she wanted to make sure her calf was HERS..... and I was not going to take it away from her or something....
There is a very rare occasional case of a heifer not "going into labor" , and that her system never showed any labor signs... but it is not common.....
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- #14
hello,
My brother brought the bull over on the 12th of October and picked him up on the 22, we timed it with her cycle to get her and our other heifer bred at the same time. She come into heat on the 17th and we seen them together. We have them on 7 acres that is cleared and can be seen from our house. Her belly looked a bit smaller this morning, she is very calm and I have touched the teets to see if anything is coming out and nothing comes out. They are very squishy. Yes I have stood there feeling a calf move. My brother just tells me she is getting closer, he doesn’t seem to be worried. This is why I posted here to get some more opinions.
My brother brought the bull over on the 12th of October and picked him up on the 22, we timed it with her cycle to get her and our other heifer bred at the same time. She come into heat on the 17th and we seen them together. We have them on 7 acres that is cleared and can be seen from our house. Her belly looked a bit smaller this morning, she is very calm and I have touched the teets to see if anything is coming out and nothing comes out. They are very squishy. Yes I have stood there feeling a calf move. My brother just tells me she is getting closer, he doesn’t seem to be worried. This is why I posted here to get some more opinions.
farmerjan
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Okay.... seeing her get bred is not a guarantee that she was in full heat and cycled that day(passed an egg)... I always figure from the day we take a bull out.... so Oct 22 nd bull out, means Aug 1st is 284 days... so today is the only 288.... I agree with your brother... don't worry. You can figure 2 weeks after the bull went out for a max date.....
If she seems smaller, the calf has probably turned and getting into position for birth...
Touching the teats for the slimy feeling on the outside... from a calf sucking... if they are squishy then she is not ready yet....If you feel the calf move, then don't sweat it....
I think she will surprise you in a day or 2....
If she seems smaller, the calf has probably turned and getting into position for birth...
Touching the teats for the slimy feeling on the outside... from a calf sucking... if they are squishy then she is not ready yet....If you feel the calf move, then don't sweat it....
I think she will surprise you in a day or 2....
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- #16
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain everything. I will sit and watch and wait! I will cross my fingers and come back in a couple days for an update. Hope you have a great evening and I will remember the teet trick.
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- #17
Hipshot
Loving the herd life
Just watch delievery for heifers can be hard .If the weight and frame of the bull
Hipshot
Loving the herd life
Are much larger than the heifer .The calf can be large .How big was the heifer when calved ?How big are the bulls shoulders and rump ? But really just look for signs of distress .Intense straining .Getting up and down and constantly looking at her side .dilevery should go quick.The position of the feet is important .one front leg should be a little behind the other .Head should be on top of the legs .Dont be afraid to assist. Breach can be any of a number of things .From completely reversed to one foreleg being back to the head being back .Holves down one behind the other .If nessary feel for the head that should be nose to knee.I think you are looking at a large calf .Be prepaired. Google pulling calved and large births .Good luck .
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- #20
