When's calving starting 2022

squinn2912

I had another lad on the slats this morning. That’s 6 over the weekend now. Jesus I could do with a break. Late for work after spending an hour tying up gates in the passage for somewhere to keep her. He got a suck anyhow which is something. I’m hoping they lie about until I get back home from school. Put in the last bale this morning as well. Will look to let another few out later or in the morning. Never ending at the moment.

High bike

Had one on the slats here yesterday a full month early whatever happened her.A tiny little bull calf,he can get up but not strong enough to suck.Am milking the cow and tubing him twice a day,am I wasting my time or do ye think he'll come in time

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118815525#Comment_118815525

Where there’s life there’s hope. Years ago i was watching a nearly two year old heifer to come bulling, got fed up waiting and injected her with estrumate to speed things up. The following week she calved a tiny premature calf which barely survived. I used to sit on a stool and lift the calf up off the ground so it could suck the heifer, after a few weeks he was able to reach up himself. Think i got €500 for him as a weanling. Had the cow for years after.

High bike

Suppose we'll keep at it for a while and see if the little fecker would suck I'd hopeful.Lucky the cow is quiet so no problem milking her

squinn2912

My father got home today and straight home to help a third calver get this lad out. Huge calf biggest this year

High bike

Half reared already

High bike

patsy_mccabe

Handy tip around calving time. If your spraying iodine on a calf's naval and you don't have gloves, dip your hands in water first and the iodine won't stain your hands.

High bike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118816448#Comment_118816448

I'll give that a try Patsy normally end up with more on myself than the calf

patsy_mccabe

Have another one for you - when putting on a replacement tag on a hairy ear, mark the hole first with a marker and it's simple job. I discovered this one yesterday.

Dozer1

First 3 calves landed in the last 24 hours all 2 year old heifers no hassle and quiet as lambs . Long may it last

High bike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118816684#Comment_118816684

Why do u mark it?

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118816805#Comment_118816805

So you can see the original hole to place the pins of the replacement tag into - much easier on man and beast.

High bike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118817042#Comment_118817042

Oh right didn't realise he was talking about replacements,good idea

High bike

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When I said a tiny bull I wasn't exaggerating,had a good suck off the cow this morning so hopefully he's turned the corner

James2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118816448#Comment_118816448

I use a plastic jar that the father's medicine used to come in. Fill it up an inch and stick the calf's navel in it, then shake once its at the top. Rarely every spill a drop but I have gloves ready for iodining so that's not a problem. That way it gets right up to the point where its needed.

patsy_mccabe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118819272#Comment_118819272

Ya, good idea. Must try that. I don't like spraying that much.

funkey_monkey

I use a lid of a spray paint tin. Put a glug of iodine into it and dip the navel into it and then lift up to the stomach and give a few good shakes and jolts. Still get a bit on my hands though.

squinn2912

I use a sprayer and take whatever comes my hands’ way so that I can get the rest of myself out of the way of the cow!

Lime Tree Farm

I glued a coffee lid to the end of a lath, to iodine calf from a distance. (I had intended posting pic on the guntering thread). It fell apart before I had a chance to use it. Lesson learned, can't glue plastic to timber. Will try again using a bit el trunking.

Base price

The one thing that I've noticed over the years is that the most passive cows can get excited even slightly aggressive after dipping/spraying the calves navel with iodine. I always ensure the calf has had a good suck before dipping the navel to avoid any possible confrontation. I assume it's due to the smell of the iodine cause most cows lick the navel afterwards?

minerleague

Anyone else not use any iodine? haven't used anything on calves for years - see no issue so far anyway

funkey_monkey

2 calved here now.

What is folks feeding out to freshly calved cows now? Are you giving dairy nuts/ration alongside, or just silage?

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826369#Comment_118826369

For all the price of iodine, there are corners to be cut elsewhere on the farm. Risk of navel infection when calving indoors is not worth it.

ABitofsense

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826445#Comment_118826445

I like to give small bit of ration to cows after calving once calf is sucking. Helps settle them. Anything with smallish milk I give dairy nuts.

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826369#Comment_118826369

Have seen well over a thousand calves born here over the years, i’d say twenty of them got iodine, it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference as far as i can see.

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826465#Comment_118826465

Calve as much as I can outside, but cant recall any infections or joint ill since stopping. Years ago any calf showing sign of scour got antibiotics straight away and have largely stopped this also. Basically look to what nature intended for animals and you cant go too far wrong

patsy_mccabe

Is it not just easier spray on a bit of Iodine, than all the hassle of dealing with a sick calf.

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826616#Comment_118826616

Ah don't mind me , I'm just contrary for the sake of it, but didn't people say the same about antibiotics

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826587#Comment_118826587

Yeah, that's why I specifically stated calving indoors. Outdoors is a different ball game and usually on clean pasture, not on dung in a warmish environment which can promote infections.

straight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826651#Comment_118826651

My father hasn't used anything on navels in about 40 years and no problems. I give them a bit of a spray myself for the sake of it. You could be buying sh1t for them every day. I'd say keep them on dry beds with full bellies and you've a great chance.

James2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826465#Comment_118826465

I got joint-ill once from a calf that was early in a mucky pen. The cost of iodine and time spending iodining for 6 years still isn't close to what that calf cost in vet bills. There's plenty of arguments to be made for not doing it but I sleep easier knowing I won't get joint-ill again.

funkey_monkey

Approx 2hr old ST bull. Up, sucked and walking the passage.

golodge

Latest calves. Limx bull calf from bluexcharx second calver and piedmontese heifer from limxbluex cow. 293 and 280 days gestations.

Anto_Meath

Took Tanco's advice last year and put a Curaheen Earp straw on this girl, happy with the result, nice heifer calf

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James2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118833473#Comment_118833473

Earp is giving very consistent framed animals from what I've seen.

Anto_Meath

Yes I like the look of this calf anyway.. feet appeared at half 7 this morning and calf landed by 10 to 8. So happy with that, bigger bone & frame than the limos I normally uses, but hopefully make a good cow in a few years.

whelan2

Pedigree Angus heifer calf born when we got to outfarm this morning

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Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118816684#Comment_118816684

That's a great tip, Patsy. Replaced 6 on hairy ears this morning.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118826886#Comment_118826886

It’s worth keeping the area where you have to assist in calving clean and maybe have a bit of straw there to keep the calf clean

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118833473#Comment_118833473

Nice to get a heifer there. I like Earp a lot, he breeds a real nice type of beefy cow with good milk and very good bull calves also.

Katie 2018

Finished calving for the year.nice lm roan heifer calf

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Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118849891#Comment_118849891

Make a lovely cow

RD10

Had vet out this evening to put a calf down.

Got bad dose of pneumonia before the weekend and after several vet call outs, we decided it was kinder to put her out of her misery.

Did our best to save her, but Sickened we couldn't .

Like everyone else, hate to lose one

whelan2

Bad a cow calved yesterday morning out in a paddock, fr heifer calf. All good. Brought them in, she cleaned. She had another calf with her this morning. 2 good sized calves

GNWoodd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118855613#Comment_118855613

Twenty four hours or so between them ?

whelan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118856596#Comment_118856596

Yes. First calf yesterday morning was up and drinking at 6am. No sign of anything at 8pm last night

patsy_mccabe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118855613#Comment_118855613

Could be a neighbour dumping one. 😀

JustJoe7240

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118858106#Comment_118858106

I know fellas well capable of trying that, only for the fact it's a heifer calf

ABitofsense

Nothing better than when a black LMx cow has a red calf. Her 3rd LM Knell bull calf but this is her first red one.