When's calving starting 2022

tanko · 25-04-2022 12:32AM

Yeah, I’d say on average Charolais calves are harder calved and can give more bother than other breeds. I’ve noticed a lot of part time farmers switching from CH to Lim bulls in recent years. Hard to beat a good easy calved Lim bull imo for part timers.

I’ve used Fiston a good bit, always found him very easy calved and very lively calves, some of them were nuts when they were older tho. He’s gone now but have seen sons of his about.

patsy_mccabe · 25-04-2022 08:09AM

I've seen Fiston calves here locally and you'd laugh if you saw them. They are unreal. I've never seen calves grew and fill out as quick. I polled one last week. Only about a month old and he was a serious animal. The farmer reckoned he'd get €600 for him in the mart and hard to disagree with him. Never seen them dopey when young though.

26-04-2022 02:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118972060#Comment_118972060

Limo all the way, more durable

James2022 · 26-04-2022 04:26PM

Fiston has lively calves. Easy calving too. Pity he's gone. I tried simmental AI this year and they were tough. All needed a bottle and encouragement standing, no interest to suck the mother. The bulls just wanted to lay down and give up when born. Great calves though but would not want many of them since they needed extra attention.

Had a calf who took a bottle of colostrum when born but wouldn't suck the mother or feed from a bottle again. Left it alone for 12 hours. Mother wasn't to happy with a bag near bursting the next morning. Stuck the calf under her and he drained all 4 quarters. 90% of the time hunger is the answer.

Hard Knocks · 26-04-2022 07:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118979896#Comment_118979896

All Charolais calves bar 2 here, no difference in any, up and sucking within 10-15 mins, cows would be on oats, reduced silage and get a bit drench 21-28 days pre calving is a good help

Omallep2 · 26-04-2022 10:06PM

Hi Hard Knocks, what type of drench do you give?

Hard Knocks · 26-04-2022 10:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118981401#Comment_118981401

We’re giving Cow Fertility

Stationmaster · 27-04-2022 10:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118972060#Comment_118972060

we got a new ch bull last year. He's on the small side but lovely shape. 10 calves so far and only 1 pull with a LM cow. Savage looking calves. All calved outside (and during the day which was an extra bonus!).

Gudstock · 27-04-2022 10:55AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118982748#Comment_118982748

What breeding is he?

minerleague · 27-04-2022 10:59AM

What starts has to finish, last one last night midnight. Cow goes loco around calving so had her in since morning, big lazy bull and hard to latch onto teats meant had to put her behind gate to suckle but he was helping so easy enough. Its always the wildish ones seem to need most help 😋 All out alive anyway, 2 older cows with mastitis ( easy cured thankfully ) this year and a bit of scour in 1 batch of calves, 3 first calvers calved on own and took to calves like oldtimers so happy overall.

alan10 · 27-04-2022 02:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118904378#Comment_118904378

Not so lucky with next AA5373.

LMX Heifer 2 year old, walking round field with tail up for 2-3 hr Sunday morning~ 9am, took her in 1pm and feet there. Left for another hour, no pushing so I started jacking. Struggle to get head out and then hips stuck @ pelvis and lost the calf. Had to get vet out to quarter calf.

Huge calf – back quarters unreal for Angus – heifer very muscle/flesh also

Heifer down since calving, presume nerve damaged, lifted with hoist and once a day – no joy. Rang vet and nothing else they can recommend.

She’s eating, dunging (not urinating – it flows out when I lift her)

Waiting on knackery to collect this evening.

Shes a twin – this is a pic of her sister, they are identical - she was due Sunday also (they were synchronized to same bull) – not looking forward to this one.

Any recommendations?

Wonder if I tackled too early? Water bag wasn’t out …and she wasn’t pushing?

whelan2 · 27-04-2022 02:23PM

I'd give her time. A week is what I normally do.

James2022 · 27-04-2022 02:54PM

It's a hard call to make if you acted early or not. There is a point where you have to get the calf out. Housing/moving an animal that's calving always delays them calving too. No waterbag usually means a calf is coming backwards or has some malpresentation preventing it from coming. No pushing is a bad sign though, especially after 4 hours.

My recommendation is have her housed and have the vet on speed dial if there is a problem.

Stationmaster · 27-04-2022 09:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118982916#Comment_118982916

I was thrown in at the deep end here - first year at it so learning even the basics as I go! Do you mean what were his sires and dams names?

patsy_mccabe · 28-04-2022 10:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118983917#Comment_118983917

Have you given up on the down heifer? You know, they do often get up. I find if you turn them over on the other side every day, it helps a lot with trapped gas etc. It also stops one side getting sore.

Mooooo · 28-04-2022 10:48AM

Finished yesterday, well I think so one heifer who I thought was empty has me wondering so will scan her. Week earlier than last year. If I could pull another week this year, just remind myself in June!

tellmeabit · 28-04-2022 01:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118987409#Comment_118987409

Same as that. It's an effort but can sometimes you get reward. Can walk out some day and they would be up. Being outside helps a whole lot

whelan2 · 28-04-2022 01:26PM

You'd know after a few days if they're going to get better. Always worth a chance

ginger22 · 28-04-2022 01:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118987435#Comment_118987435

Why would you need to scan her. Just put a hand in her same as AI, you will know if there is a calf there or not.

Lime Tree Farm · 28-04-2022 02:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118988258#Comment_118988258

Is that be rectal palpation?

RD10 · 28-04-2022 02:28PM

@Funkey Monkey

I had that in a calf last year, absolute torture for a long time, although I don't think calf was diagnosed properly at beginning, a lot of messing with several different antibiotics for weeks. Calf was getting different stuff and might improve for 2 o 3 days but go bqck to square one again, sore drooped ear and not feeding right. was ready to give up on him a different vet suggested one last intervention. It worked thank god. Forget the name of it now but once he was a few weeks clear I shipped him and the mother off, wasn't chancing him getting sick again.

Did your cow have a mastitis by any chance?

my Cow was out in field and noticed her kicking at calf, taught it was down to her having lot of milk, was bringing calf in twice a day for a suck and didn't realise she had a mastitis til few days later on closer inspection. calf was starving coming in each time so would nearly suck her dry. I think he knew the bad one but still took little bits which I think led to it. I read somewhere before that can be the cause of it. Will post link if I can find.

Out of curiosity how is ur calf?

RD10 · 28-04-2022 02:56PM

Droopey ear, cough, head tilt, swelling above the eye and after few weeks a bit of balance issue were all signs in my own calf but they all resolved thankfully. He was left with the slightest head tilt but would have to look at him very closely to notice.

Remember vet saying those middle ear infections are a bad dose and hard to treat and take a long time to heal.

If I remember correctly most antibiotics will not work against it, has to be a specific treatment so what I will say is make sure vet gives you the right stuff.

I Keep a diary here every year and Have all info wrote down, must check back on it this eve.

Great if calf is suckling well but definitely worth a look to check for mastitis.

alan10 · 28-04-2022 03:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118987409#Comment_118987409

I have given up Patsy, shes down Since Sunday. I have been lifting, turning - doing all I can. At this stage I think its right thing to do for her also. On to Vet again and fact she not urinating not good either.

Thankfully below helped the mood around the place...

Her twin sister...

Started walking the place 7am, feet sticking out 10am with small pushing then nothing. Handled and head in passage but felt big again - reluctant to jack and get stuck on hips again, rang vet (same one called as Sunday) and based on twin mother, same bull decided side door - vet reluctant to jack also

I think right call - big lump of bull, bit yellow when out but got goin and drank. think these are big Angus

the down heifer in background...

Jaysus..I'm wrecked 😀...1 to go

Starting AI next week and off we go again!