Wehner Homestead 2018 Calving: Done

[Devonviolet]

You've got some nice looking bull calves there! Are they going to stay that way, or will you turn them into steer???

 

[Wehner Homestead]

You've got some nice looking bull calves there! Are they going to stay that way, or will you turn them into steer???

They’ll all be steers! The last three will be show calves for sure. The first will depend on how he grows...

 

[greybeard]

Gotta be able to move on those feet and legs!

How far and how much energy expended?
Do you intentionally breed for the short legs, short body length, and what's up with those short stubby tails?

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Abby Jane appears to have been bred 3 weeks (one cycle) prior to when we last saw her cycle. That would’ve made her due Sunday. She had major changes from afternoon to midnight and is off to herself today with her tail out. Abby is obviously uncomfortable! for a heifer! (This is he only breeding that we have a gender preference on!)

@greybeard I’ve got a headache that’s trying to turn into a migraine so I’m struggling to tell if you are serious or sarcastic...as in the calves are just different from what you have or you are teasing that they are just calves...

 

[Wehner Homestead]

HE’s here! With the help of some chains, Abby Jane delivered a bull calf. She should be having her second calf this year but wasn’t given ample enough time to be exposed the year she should’ve had her first breeding due to being shown. This put her at a higher risk of complications so when she wasn’t obviously progressing, we intervened to make sure we had a positive outcome as we could tell the calf was definitely alive. He tried to come with his head between his feet too. That was quickly remedied though to get him in a dive. DH couldn’t even get in up to his wrist so I took a quick feel and both feed and a nose were right there (FIL says feet were out prior to bringing in barn.) I worked the chains up his legs and he came out fairly easy with two grown men on the chains when Abby Jane laid down. I keep going to check on him since he hasn’t gotten up yet. They both seemed pretty stunned. I had to make her get up as she was losing as lot of blood and just laying on her side. DH was working the calf and took several attempts to get him breathing regularly. DH had to go back to work but will be off soon. If the calf isn’t up yet, we will milk her and either give him a bottle or tube him. She was iffy on cleaning him so they’ll stay in the barn for now to make sure they bond. Whew! That got eventful fast! They’ll both get an antibiotic shot tonight. Abby Jane because I didn’t wear gloves and calf because fluid was the likely culprit for the initial breathing issue.

For those that noticed, this was the only breeding that we were hoping for a heifer to keep. Got a bull instead. We will see how he turns out but he will have show potential. Just thankful for being able to get him out safely and that Abby should be fine.

Still damp pics. (Abby Jane looks tiny in this pic. I promise she’s actually quite large.)

 

[Mike CHS]

Abby Jane is a pretty lady

 

[Hens and Roos]

Congrats and glad it went smoothly for all!

 

[RoahT]

Aww, even when calves are wet and unsteady they are so cute!! Congrats!

 

[Latestarter]

Glad you were there to help things along. Sorry it wasn't the heifer you were hoping for. Also sorry to hear you're fighting another headache.

 

[greybeard]

How far and how much energy expended?

@greybeard I’ve got a headache that’s trying to turn into a migraine so I’m struggling to tell if you are serious or sarcastic...as in the calves are just different from what you have or you are teasing that they are just calves...

Your stated goal is steers for club/show calves. It's not like they're going to be chasing 20-30 cows their whole life around 100 or so acres or spending 10+ years walking to find finding good grass and then back to water.
Steers have a pretty easy life..show steers even easier.
They ain't gotta move far...just to a feed pan, water trough, a cool room in summer maybe, grooming/wash & shampoo stand, a few times in front of the judges and not long after, to the kill line.

What was the birth weight of the newest calf?