When's calving starting 2021

squinn2912 · 25-04-2021 10:11PM

TooOldBoots wrote: »

Spent the whole Sunday looking for a cow on the point of Calving. Located her in the Woods with her new calf. Nice end to the Sunday hike!!

Super calf

TooOldBoots · 25-04-2021 10:19PM

thks, I'm delighted, the mother is half Irish Moll and it's in the calf too

tanko · 25-04-2021 10:34PM

The feeling of dread wondering what you're going to find when looking for a cow calving out in the fields like that isn't very nice.
It's some relief when you come across both ok and the cow sucked.
It can go the other way too.

Mooooo · 25-04-2021 11:56PM

Someone give me a kick up the hole if I leave the bull with the cows in to July this year. Trying to treat a cow just calved for milk fever that isn't down but still all over the shop... 8 more left...

Gawddawggonnit · 26-04-2021 07:11AM

Mooooo wrote: »

Someone give me a kick up the hole if I leave the bull with the cows in to July this year. Trying to treat a cow just calved for milk fever that isn't down but still all over the shop... 8 more left...

Poor old bull even gets blamed for milk fever...maybe Covid is his fault too!!

Cows calving off grass?

Mooooo · 26-04-2021 07:27AM

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

Poor old bull even gets blamed for milk fever...maybe Covid is his fault too!!

Cows calving off grass?

No all inside still, back of the pit was 3 yr old silage, have changed to bales now. Not the bulls fault, it's the fact I'm still dealing cows calving for the next week! If nothing changes land wise for next year I'll be able to snip off the late calvers before winter as should hopefully, touch wood and all that, have enough in calf for before mid April next year

squinn2912 · 26-04-2021 07:40AM

This girl went horribly thin about 3 months ago and she was that weak we fluked her in the cubicles. She got meal every day with her minerals and mended up.
We were sure the calf would be enormous so we’re watching her tightly. First slime Friday. I’m up every hour to check the camera tonight and somewhere between 5.55 and 7.11 she managed to get this calf out and up. She gave me the slip last year too out in the field but I was sure we’d have trouble this time round! 4 to go after 3 in a row

Mooooo · 26-04-2021 08:26AM

Mooooo wrote: »

Someone give me a kick up the hole if I leave the bull with the cows in to July this year. Trying to treat a cow just calved for milk fever that isn't down but still all over the shop... 8 more left...

Down to 5 now,

Lime Tree Farm · 26-04-2021 09:00AM

squinn2912 wrote: »

This girl went horribly thin about 3 months ago and she was that weak we fluked her in the cubicles. She got meal every day with her minerals and mended up.
We were sure the calf would be enormous so we’re watching her tightly. First slime Friday. I’m up every hour to check the camera tonight and somewhere between 5.55 and 7.11 she managed to get this calf out and up. She gave me the slip last year too out in the field but I was sure we’d have trouble this time round! 4 to go after 3 in a row

Very nice.

We had a CH cow that calved every year on the slats, 9 in total. Pins didn't drop, no bagging up or other signs. We kept three of her offspring, they are doing the same.

I find having a record of how the cows present before calving useful as they normally do the same every year.

squinn2912 · 26-04-2021 10:04AM

Lime Tree Farm wrote: »

Very nice.

We had a CH cow that calved every year on the slats, 9 in total. Pins didn't drop, no bagging up or other signs. We kept three of her offspring, they are doing the same.

I find having a record of how the cows present before calving useful as they normally do the same every year.

That’s some going! Aw well this girl of ours didn’t calve on the slats we had her in the calving pen yesterday we knew it would be overnight or early morning but after getting up like that again and again I didn’t think she was going to calve. She had all done in half an hour it must be if the calf was up and sucked within 70 mins.

Great point about past experience being a good predictor for future. The ones that go on and on do it every year here too.

TooOldBoots · 26-04-2021 12:46PM

squinn2912 wrote: »

That’s some going! Aw well this girl of ours didn’t calve on the slats we had her in the calving pen yesterday we knew it would be overnight or early morning but after getting up like that again and again I didn’t think she was going to calve. She had all done in half an hour it must be if the calf was up and sucked within 70 mins.

Great point about past experience being a good predictor for future. The ones that go on and on do it every year here too.

A lot to be said for a cow that calves herself and have the calf up and sucked themselves too.
Worth keeping!

Welding Rod · 26-04-2021 01:03PM

Cow here today mad bulling and she calved exactly 28 days ago. Going to AI her, even though I expect she probably won’t hold.

50HX · 26-04-2021 02:11PM

Had the same last week, didn't bother doing her, she was still quite dirty after calving so couldn't see her holding

Let me known if she keeps...out of interest

Irish Beef · 26-04-2021 05:14PM

Any tips to get heifer take to her new calf, shown no interest and staying at far side of the pen.

Anto_Meath · 26-04-2021 05:22PM

sprinkle some meal or even porridge on the calf used to work here the cow / heifer would start licking it off the calf and then take with it.. letting it drink could be another story sometimes.

charolais0153 · 26-04-2021 05:31PM

Welding Rod wrote: »

Cow here today mad bulling and she calved exactly 28 days ago. Going to AI her, even though I expect she probably won’t hold.

I've seen them keep, but usually the later calving ones aren't that fertile

Irish Beef · 26-04-2021 06:29PM

Anto_Meath wrote: »

sprinkle some meal or even porridge on the calf used to work here the cow / heifer would start licking it off the calf and then take with it.. letting it drink could be another story sometimes.

Tried porridge on calf, heifer didn't bother to kick calf, went about pucking calf, cow seems a bit off at moment, hopefully she'll come to a bit later and I'll try porridge again, I gave calf some colostrum and is in fairly good health, I'll catch cow in head gate later and hopefully as calf sucks it'll help her take to it, I have calf in little pen in corner of cows pen as afraid she'll hurt it when nobody around, probably not right thing to do I know but seems only short term solution.

Lime Tree Farm · 26-04-2021 06:36PM

I'd get a bag of weanling crunch, it's sweet and strong smelling to entice her. It will help get her into the headlock morning and evening. You will have to tie back her leg to protect yourself and the calf. Pit of a pain and not easy, but she will get to know the drill.

jfh · 26-04-2021 07:09PM

Much the same here, I'm baling up a heifer here for the last 6 weeks morning and evening, no sign that's she going to take to her calf, she's a smasher so was given her every chance but I think the end is nigh for her. Sell both separately

Irish Beef · 26-04-2021 07:59PM

jfh wrote: »

Much the same here, I'm baling up a heifer here for the last 6 weeks morning and evening, no sign that's she going to take to her calf, she's a smasher so was given her every chance but I think the end is nigh for her. Sell both separately

That's a right pain in the ass six weeks of that would drive you cracked. Hope that's not what awaits me here, fine looking cow here too, always the good ones.

tellmeabit · 26-04-2021 08:27PM

Welding Rod wrote: »

Cow here today mad bulling and she calved exactly 28 days ago. Going to AI her, even though I expect she probably won’t hold.

Bulled my 1st today, after 42 days. Have 2 or 3 others that have gone over the 42. No sign on the scratch cards or them.

tellmeabit · 26-04-2021 08:31PM

Irish Beef wrote: »

Any tips to get heifer take to her new calf, shown no interest and staying at far side of the pen.

I put salt on calf to get them licking, if they don't take then I try and get the smell of the calf to them, bit of clearing or straw after wiping the calf. Big of meal then. If not at that stage. When calf can get up, into crush. The the cows legs and get calf drinking. Couple days at that I'd find the calf drinking in the shed. Sometimes another cow sniffing around the calf can help kick in the protective mode.

Lime Tree Farm · 26-04-2021 08:47PM

Read somewhere that putting the cow's own urine on the calf's bum gets her to recognise her calf as her own when she sniffs it's bum.

minerleague · 26-04-2021 08:57PM

Irish Beef wrote: »

Tried porridge on calf, heifer didn't bother to kick calf, went about pucking calf, cow seems a bit off at moment, hopefully she'll come to a bit later and I'll try porridge again, I gave calf some colostrum and is in fairly good health, I'll catch cow in head gate later and hopefully as calf sucks it'll help her take to it, I have calf in little pen in corner of cows pen as afraid she'll hurt it when nobody around, probably not right thing to do I know but seems only short term solution.

Had a heifer calved last year the same as yours, left them together ( can understand why you wouldnt ) as calf was as stubborn as cow. Took a good while for heifer to let calf suck. Can you put a ladder or something across part of the pen for calf to retreat under ( bed in straw ). No real short cuts worked for me but after a few days a bucket of meal left on ground and calf worked away

Irish Beef · 26-04-2021 09:53PM

tellmeabit wrote: »

I put salt on calf to get them licking, if they don't take then I try and get the smell of the calf to them, bit of clearing or straw after wiping the calf. Big of meal then. If not at that stage. When calf can get up, into crush. The the cows legs and get calf drinking. Couple days at that I'd find the calf drinking in the shed. Sometimes another cow sniffing around the calf can help kick in the protective mode.

The salt sounds like a good one alright, might give that a try tonight. Another cow on point of calving was very interested in new calf, taught maybe it was hers, licking it an all. I think it was wishful thinking on her behalf, thinking that she had calf this time with out the hardship.

High bike · 26-04-2021 09:55PM

Irish Beef wrote: »

The salt sounds like a good one alright, might give that a try tonight. Another cow on point of calving was very interested in new calf, taught maybe it was hers, licking it an all. I think it was wishful thinking on her behalf, thinking that she had calf this time with out the hardship.

would she rear 2 calves??

Irish Beef · 26-04-2021 10:00PM

High bike wrote: »

would she rear 2 calves??

The taught actually crossed my mind but she's not the milkiest unfortunately.

patsy_mccabe · 27-04-2021 07:57AM

Might be worth bringing in a dog and see how the heifer reacts. The sight of a dog can be enough to trigger the protective instinct in the mother.

I fostered a calf onto a cow last year that lost her calf. Cow was quiet enough but would only stand for calf when I was there and kept my hand on her back. One day she just took to the calf when I let in calves to their cows at the same time. She looked around and saw all the calves drinking and it triggered something in her.

squinn2912 · 29-04-2021 01:46AM

Down to the last 2 here now thankfully. This girl always calves on her own but I kept an eye anyhow and it’s just as well. Massive bull calf but medium pull on the jack just. Great calf

valtra2 · 29-04-2021 10:21AM

Finished last of mine few weeks ago. 51 cows 51 calfs. One died and one set of twins. 3 vet assists no sections. Started ai 17 of last month and just finished up there Sunday. Bull in 17th last month with second group. Scan first lot this Sat and will group any that are in calf and bull into the rest. Bull out on 17 June. Then summer off. Crona over and holidays.

When's calving starting 2021

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