Heifer-caesarean

L1985

Hi guys. Scanned the heifers today and as suspected one of them is in calf-roughly 17 months old and is 7 months in calf. She is in calf to a CH we think and is a Chx herself. Chances are extremely high she will need a section. My question is -she was getting nuts twice a day for the past month with the others. We would normally restrict her diet but at this point knowing it's going to be a c section should we just feed her up anyway to build her up for the calf?? She's in good condition.

greysides

I would be ready for a caesarian but I wouldn't be working towards one. While they are generally successful, it is surgery and it carries risks. Infection, held cleanings, reduced fertility.
Often, it's the one you're worried about that calves ok......
At seven months you're in time to let her hold condition and feed her so as not to blow up the calf. A smaller healthy calf would be preferable to a big soft dope in my book. Healthy calves grow and big dopes are hard work and may succomb.

L1985

thanks greysides-the outcome I'm working for is a live calf and a healthy mother!! So I'll put her on grass and try keep her diet down. Just when someone said it I thought feeding her might put her in good condition if its looking like a c section anyway. We have had teenage pregnancies before unfortunately but only once needed a cascerean. In this case I'd be surprised if we get away with it!!!

whelan2

L1985 wrote: »

thanks greysides-the outcome I'm working for is a live calf and a healthy mother!! So I'll put her on grass and try keep her diet down. Just when someone said it I thought feeding her might put her in good condition if its looking like a c section anyway. We have had teenage pregnancies before unfortunately but only once needed a cascerean. In this case I'd be surprised if we get away with it!!!

We had 2 "slapper" calvings this spring, both calved fine. 1 calved herself and the other was an easy pull

anthony500_1

Yea had one here too this year she calved at 20mts I'd say she was hardly 500kgs, small fart of a heifer. Sim bull, was dreading and I mean dreading it. Checked her at 4am no calf, checked again at 6am. Calf up trying to suck. If you can feed hay and rolled oats, it will keep the calf small and the oats will give the heifer energy to fire out the calf.

L1985

Thanks all-oats are a v good idea!! Ah look it could work out ok but she's quite big and isnt the tallest of heifers. We havnt ever calved one of our CH before so we will see!!! Due date is in no way accurate as well as she's so far along which isn't great but anyway. She will be kept v close to home and we just have to watch her! Fingers crossed!

carrollsno1

Check out this Article I found - https://www.farmersjournal.ie/farmer-writes-no-point-in-big-fancy-heifers-that-are-not-fertile-275699.

irishoak

+1 for the hay! 75% of growth occurs in the last 3 months. You have plenty of time to control the size of the calf. (Theoretically).

L1985

carrollsno1 wrote: »

Check out this Article I found - https://www.farmersjournal.ie/farmer-writes-no-point-in-big-fancy-heifers-that-are-not-fertile-275699.

I don't have online access unfortunately but thanks anyway!!

Never wrestle with pigs

You won't need oats this time of the year if she's out. If you could keep her in a half acre corner of the field so she's fairly restricted in what she can eat would be better imo. You won't need to starve her but you certainly won't have to feed her much. Pump the meal into her for a few weeks after calving and she'll be grand. Ch x ch is big bone. Did the scan man say she had much room when he handled her?

Base price

anthony500_1 wrote: »

Yea had one here too this year she calved at 20mts I'd say she was hardly 500kgs, small fart of a heifer. Sim bull, was dreading and I mean dreading it. Checked her at 4am no calf, checked again at 6am. Calf up trying to suck. If you can feed hay and rolled oats, it will keep the calf small and the oats will give the heifer energy to fire out the calf.

irishoak wrote: »

+1 for the hay! 75% of growth occurs in the last 3 months. You have plenty of time to control the size of the calf. (Theoretically).

I haven't kept sucklers for years but used to keep a few between pbr and cross breds. For what it's worth I would limit her grass intake at this time of the (normal) year. Spring/May grass is rocket fuel and feeds the embryos growth.
As previously suggested feed her rolled oats with a sprinkle of molasses and or coarse ration for palatability and restrict her grazing area.

patsy_mccabe

I agree with all the above but - I know the size of the heifer at calving is important, but to me the shape of the hips is the one to watch. If heifers/ cows are big and roomy in the hips they'll calve anything.

Lady Haywire

Ach I wouldn't plan for a section. The auld neighbour i help out here had a blue heifer a few years back, had a winter of heavy feeding and only noticed she was incalf when she was springing!! Ch weanling had got to her but she popped out a little heifer herself at 16 months of age. Calved no problems ever since!!
We've two late calvers that we're unsure of with calving- one will be 20 months calving & other has a large enough bull on her- so have them on a bare hill, enough to keep them going but not enough to fatten them. Will prob give oats before calving too.

whelan2

Ai man was telling me he was helping at a section last night. Shorthorn x bb second calver in calf to limousin. On meal all winter with a group of finishing bullocks. Massive lim bull calf. All good.

L1985

I suppose if I have in my head it will be then anything else will be a bonus!! I'll let her do her thing anyway. I dont intervene unless I have to. She's going out on a field that badly needs reseeding as it got ploughed last month. Waiting for it to dry before going at it so she can pick at it and get some oats. Have a cow there with a sore foot as well so they can keep each other company-cows getting nuts thou but she won't share. Hopefully she will be fine-she's a nice quiet heifer but we just don't want to be calving CH cows and a CH bull-the cross seems to work for us. Could have been worse there was a few others I was worried about!!!
Thanks for all the advice