Calving 2019 - Advice and Help thread

Lady Haywire

Mac Taylor wrote: »

How does this work, we have the drinkers in the shed? Just wondering how I would get it into every cow. Tks

We have drinkers in the shed too but I'd use a small syringe to put 1/2ml iodine behind the float in the drinker (used Lugol's the stronger stuff) twice a day at feeding so even though the first cow probably got most of it, they'd probably all end up getting enough. Also sprayed some on the cows coats to ensure they'd lick it off, just up at the start of the ribs.

Just noticed calves had a lot more 'get up & go' compared to other years. Though cows were being supplemented with meal too so this year will sow us if it was the iodine or the nuts.

lanod2407

whelan2 wrote: »

The importance of adequate biestings soon after birth has to be adhered to. The calf will be on the back foot now for a while.

Being v premature I was caught offside when he dropped, so it would have been around 6 hours between birth, finding him and then getting the colostrum from the chemist - which I'd understand is too long.

Anyway, I'm getting 3 litres of milk into him a day now, and he's slowly starting to perk up - not moving around much at all, and I put a jacket on him yesterday as I've no access to power up in the shed for a lamp and his mother is in and out to him - she's broken back out to the others a few times, so I decided to let her have access in and out. Seems to be happier with that.

wiggy123

have heard-to be careful with the iodine.. to much can be bad for the calf.

White Clover

Cattle don't store iodine so no fear of overloading them.

wiggy123

meant the resultant calves.. heard reports-about lambs! being lively at birth-then bang(to much iodine)

whelan2

And we're off proper, fr heifer calf fr2239

Mooooo

Was she early or on time?

whelan2

Mooooo wrote: »

Was she early or on time?

Served 23rd April. Had to pull it big enough calf

Angus2018

4 weeks until we start here.

I make a list every year of what I need so I'm prepared well in time. When its 4 AM and I have to jack a calf, milk the cow, stomach tube the calf and warm it up with a hairdryer I'm glad I have it all sorted in advance. Am I missing anything?

High bike

Angus2018 wrote: »

4 weeks until we start here.

I make a list every year of what I need so I'm prepared well in time. When its 4 AM and I have to jack a calf, milk the cow, stomach tube the calf and warm it up with a hairdryer I'm glad I have it all sorted in advance. Am I missing anything?

fair play not too many that organized including yours truly

greysides

Disinfectant for water while calving and for pens later. Cable ties to substitute for the straw that goes up the nose to stimulate breathing. Handles for calving ropes (manual pulling). Head rope, to keep head coming with legs.

Lady Haywire

I've never had to use a head rope yet, it's just behind the ears is it?

greysides

Lady Haywire wrote: »

I've never had to use a head rope yet, it's just behind the ears is it?

Yes, behind the ears and under the jaw. Helps keep head coming in tandem with the legs. Don't put too much force on it with a live calf though.

Angus2018

High bike wrote: »

fair play not too may that organized including yours truly

I've had quite a few experiences of running around looking for something in the middle of the night. The glass bottle and old sheet are for prolapses. Very rare but the night we had one I had to empty a bottle of wine down the sink. I've slowly been adding to this list every year.

greysides wrote: »

Disinfectant for water while calving and for pens later. Cable ties to substitute for the straw that goes up the nose to stimulate breathing. Handles for calving ropes (manual pulling). Head rope, to keep head coming with legs.

Cable tie is a good one! I'll make sure I have one in my jacket all calving season.

I use straps instead of ropes most of the time. Its a full loop with a knot near the bottom for your hands so its like a handle. I find it much easier on the calves legs and easier on my own. I'll get a picture tomorrow. We couldn't get a calf out with a jack one year but using the straps I was able to twist and pull it out in a few mins.

Never used a head rope but I'll look into it.

greysides

A hammer handle through the calving ropes helps pull. An old trick of Eddie Straitons was to have the ropes joined (I.e. one rope) and 'sit' in it, using your legs, and hands on the cows rump, to pull the calf.

patsy_mccabe

I keep forgetting every year to freeze some colostrum. I tend not to need it, but you know yourself. The year you need it, you won't have it.

squinn2912

After 5 heifer calves we finally got a bull out of a maiden heifer tonight. Bit of a pull with the jack but all good.
Dairy man round the road usually get colestrum from him then freeze it. Easier than trying to charm the lim ladies!

greysides

Needs must, when the devil drives. Just keep in mind that something like 20-30% of Irish dairy herds are infected with Johnes Disease. As diseases go, it's a bad one to introduce.

squinn2912

greysides wrote: »

Needs must, when the devil drives. Just keep in mind that something like 20-30% of Irish dairy herds are infected with Johnes Disease. As diseases go, it's a bad one to introduce.

I get your point but I have lots of confidence in this herd

tanko

greysides wrote: »

Needs must, when the devil drives. Just keep in mind that something like 20-30% of Irish dairy herds are infected with Johnes Disease. As diseases go, it's a bad one to introduce.

So Johnes can be transferred in frozen biestings as well as fresh milk?

charolais0153

greysides wrote: »

Needs must, when the devil drives. Just keep in mind that something like 20-30% of Irish dairy herds are infected with Johnes Disease. As diseases go, it's a bad one to introduce.

Why is their less of a risk with sucklers

greysides

tanko wrote: »

So Johnes can be transferred in frozen biestings as well as fresh milk?

Yes.

charolais0153 wrote: »

Why is their less of a risk with sucklers

Someting like 7.5% of suckler herds are estimated infected.

grassroot1

It came in here in a limousin stock bull.
He melted in 3 days. We haven't had any cases since thank god

Buford T. Justice XIX

charolais0153 wrote: »

Why is their less of a risk with sucklers

Mother to daughter transfer mostly in milk whereas, in dairy herds, one cow can feed 10 calves or more every day.

Limestone Cowboy

greysides wrote: »

A hammer handle through the calving ropes helps pull. An old trick of Eddie Straitons was to have the ropes joined (I.e. one rope) and 'sit' in it, using your legs, and hands on the cows rump, to pull the calf.

My father messed up his back years ago doing that, No doubt it's effective but maybe a better idea to reach for the jack.

bogman_bass

greysides wrote: »

A hammer handle through the calving ropes helps pull. An old trick of Eddie Straitons was to have the ropes joined (I.e. one rope) and 'sit' in it, using your legs, and hands on the cows rump, to pull the calf.

Doing that for yers here and you can have a second man on the ropes too

stretch film

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

My father messed up his back years ago doing that, No doubt it's effective but maybe a better idea to reach for the jack.

Exactly
You don't need to hammer away

Edit ..no pun intended

patsy_mccabe

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

My father messed up his back years ago doing that, No doubt it's effective but maybe a better idea to reach for the jack.

I hurt mine years ago at the same crack. Pulling while bent over is not good for the back.

whelan2

Another thing to watch for this year is that silage is nearly too good for dry cows. Have had 3 big calves this last day or so. Friesian heifer calves out of cows.Pulled the 3 of them. Going to feed more straw and use more silage bales on dry cows.

squinn2912

whelan2 wrote: »

Another thing to watch for this year is that silage is nearly too good for dry cows. Have had 3 big calves this last day or so. Friesian heifer calves out of cows.Pulled the 3 of them. Going to feed more straw and use more silage bales on dry cows.

That’s true our cows condition is improving despite not being over fed. Second cut stuff very wet though.
A neighbour talked her about putting the ropes on a tractor then jumping on them. Lunacy. If the calf isn’t going to come out on the jack then the vet gets a shout