Heifer that might be in calf...

locky76

I've a yearling heifer that might be in calf, she's around the 420kgs mark and is around 15 months.
I was thinking of scanning her and all her compatriots for peace of mind, any recommendations as to what I should do if they turn up in calf?
How far can they be gone if I want to inject them to abort?

Bizzum

First thing is scan all. You could be worried about nothing.
How long incalf do you think they could be? What are they likely to be carrying to?

greysides

Can inject with prostaglandin up to 120 days with confidence; may or may not work 120-150 days. Wouldn't advise it after then, take your beating and manage the stock carefully to minimise calving difficulty.

1chippy

We have one calved at 15/16 months. bit of a pull but super calf. shes a runt of a cow but we kept her cause i would get nothing for her if i brought her out. calved another smasher this year but she will never be over 500kg.

yellow50HX

1chippy wrote: »

We have one calved at 15/16 months. bit of a pull but super calf. shes a runt of a cow but we kept her cause i would get nothing for her if i brought her out. calved another smasher this year but she will never be over 500kg.

we had a few of them a few years ago, 2 calved at 16 months and 1 at 14 months. lucky the bull was AAX all calved by them selves, small calves but hardy and alive. kept the older 2 and they have been ok since, not massive cows (AAX too) but plenty of milk and always have good calves. sold the younger one as she was a FRX met the lad who bought her and he has her in an authum calving suckler herd so she was about 30 months when she calved again and he is happy out with her.

we alwyas watch for heifers bulling and if they have been bulled young we inject them at weaning when they are sperrated from the bull calves

vanderbadger

had one this yr as well, calved there end of may by section. that was after being on hay and oats since 12 th march, mother and calf fine now

moy83

Say you have a cow that has the breeding in her to go big and breed big calves but ends up In calf young thus stunting her growth ( if it does ) . Does it hamper her ability to throw fine calves down the line .Because of her stunted growth like ?
If it didnt wouldnt it be an ideal way of getting a fine cow capable of throwing the export type calf while being kept small and light for bad ground herself ?

grazeaway

moy83 wrote: »

Say you have a cow that has the breeding in her to go big and breed big calves but ends up In calf young thus stunting her growth ( if it does ) . Does it hamper her ability to throw fine calves down the line .Because of her stunted growth like ?
If it didnt wouldnt it be an ideal way of getting a fine cow capable of throwing the export type calf while being kept small and light for bad ground herself ?

depends on what she is crossed with. i try to calf my heifers at about 2 years old, i notice that they put on a nice growth spurt after calving and my 2nd calvers that calved at 3 years old tend to be fine cows at 3.

i have had a couple of heifers that ended up calving at 18 months (bulled just before weaning) and while i was very worried about them when they were calving they were ok. looking at them today as 5 & 6 year olds they are grand cows and look not different to thier sisters that calved at 24-28 months

locky76

Just after scanning the 24 heifers, 1 on point of calving at 16 months, 1 in calf 5 months, feeling relieved to tell you the truth as I was talking to a mate yesterday who got caught with 13 heifers last year...
Lessons learnt would be:
Use bander for bullocks at 3 months old- no stones, no issue
Keep bull seperate from cows with heifer calves once they go over 5 months
Have a good strong electric fence :-)

Any other advice gratefully received
Yours in relief
Mister relieved...

greysides

Make sure animals to be banded are vaccinated for tetanus first.

locky76

just after pulling a lovely heifer calf from the first heifer who is actually just over 14 months old- both of them doing grand so really relieved, hopefully the other lady will go ok in October/November, needless stress all the same so lesson learnt hopefully!!!