Getting cows back in calf

john mayo 10

Hi
Probably a bit early to post this but no harm in knowing either. Have suckler cows calving from Jan to March so would like to have them bulling 6 weeks or so after calving. Any suggestions as to get them cycling again. Some guy suggested given them dairy nuts? ALloyd suggestions welcome

50HX

Minerals pre and post calving either as a bolus or bag version

plenty of energy in their feed, i used molasses this year and found it v good

most importantly/effectiively would be twice a day drinking for the calf- break the bond between cow and calf

that gets em cycling in no time but you need a good set up for this, cow is under enough pressure if calf is swinging out of her ad lib

Dunedin

50HX wrote: »

most importantly/effectiively would be twice a day drinking for the calf- break the bond between cow and calf

that gets em cycling in no time but you need a good set up for this, cow is under enough pressure if calf is swinging out of her ad lib

That’s the best of all but as you say, you need a good set up and also you need the time to be there morning and evening. Once you get it going, it’s a ten minute job but it takes a bit of time to get them going.

patsy_mccabe

Shorter days at this time of year, make it harder to pick up heats too for AI.

L1985

We have a bar up in the shed and th calves go out to get nuts in the morning. When they get past 2months I close the gate and they are in the field until the evening and I let them back in. Works v well and after a couple of days eh cows get used to the routine. Doesn't cause too much distress to be honest the only thing is to keep an eye on the calves that they don't get sick in the Field

john mayo 10

Letting the calves in twice a day would be great but I work 12 hr shifts so time in the mornings to do this would be hard. No problem at weekends. Any other supplements the cows could be given after calving

148multi

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Hi
Probably a bit early to post this but no harm in knowing either. Have suckler cows calving from Jan to March so would like to have them bulling 6 weeks or so after calving. Any suggestions as to get them cycling again. Some guy suggested given them dairy nuts? ALloyd suggestions welcome

Dairy nuts high in protein, high energy is really what's needed, when you turn out cows will impact on heats as they will stop cycling for a couple of weeks, my understanding it's the high protein spring grass. Worked shift once and used to check on way home was amazed at the amount of calves suckling in the middle of night.
Creeping calves to grass is a brilliant way and most cost effective.

Hard Knocks

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Letting the calves in twice a day would be great but I work 12 hr shifts so time in the mornings to do this would be hard. No problem at weekends. Any other supplements the cows could be given after calving

Try giving 2 allsure bolus
What’s your silage quality like, depending on the results will tell how much nuts to give

john mayo 10

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Try giving 2 allsure bolus
What’s your silage quality like, depending on the results will tell how much nuts to give

I gave them all boluses in July so will give them more in January. Usually give the cows and easy calfer nut coming up to calving time but am looking for a nut for afterwards. As was suggested here a high energy nut. Anyone use a suckler Cow nut the grennans ( nugget ) do ?

Dakota Dan

148multi wrote: »

Dairy nuts high in protein, high energy is really what's needed, when you turn out cows will impact on heats as they will stop cycling for a couple of weeks, my understanding it's the high protein spring grass. Worked shift once and used to check on way home was amazed at the amount of calves suckling in the middle of night.
Creeping calves to grass is a brilliant way and most cost effective.

Dairy nuts? I’m pumping dairy nuts into my milking cows all year and 5 out of twenty failed to go incalf and one early calver aborted last night, so much for dairy nuts.

Hard Knocks

john mayo 10 wrote: »

I gave them all boluses in July so will give them more in January. Usually give the cows and easy calfer nut coming up to calving time but am looking for a nut for afterwards. As was suggested here a high energy nut. Anyone use a suckler Cow nut the grennans ( nugget ) do ?

What about beet pulp?

White Clover

Hard Knocks wrote: »

What about beet pulp?

The best energy source you can get is the solution. Maize or maize meal would be my recommendation.A high protein diet will strip condition off of a suckler.

greysides

Dakota Dan wrote: »

Dairy nuts? I’m pumping dairy nuts into my milking cows all year and 5 out of twenty failed to go incalf and one early calver aborted last night, so much for dairy nuts.

What do your milk tests say about your Lepto status? It those things are tied together, it could be worse without the nuts.