Calving 2024

@Lime Tree Farm yes that's the rule as far as I know, only on the farm that the animal was on in October 2023. Plus any prodigy will a start rating based on the star rating the date the calf was born.

When it comes to starts I am going with the strategy of keeping more females than I need. That way I can keep the cows I want.

Yeah calf in great form this morning so hopefully over the worst of it now.

a bit of time. Nuts in headlock of calving gate. After a few sucks, chance her head free with just the nuts. They be up and running in no time. Happens to us all!

Ya, stick at it, a few times a day. When the calf gets strong, he/she will get a drink alright. I find sudocream takes the soreness from any cross heifer here in the milking parlour. Maybe rub on a layer after the calf sucks in the morning.

Mind yourself, anyway, in case you get a kick

Had a heifer calve here today. Yesterday I put her into a field near the shed with a few cows. Checked her late last night and she was gone. Found her after 30mins in a far field, but near the calved cows. Left her there and this morning let her back into field with the cows.

She calved away today no problem, but wouldn't let the calf drink. Kept kicking him away. Checked her a few times during the day. same every time, kept kicking the calf. Tried her one last time this evening. Kept rubbing her along her back for about 10 mins with a long stick and she never kicked.

Whatever it is about rubbing their back, it just calms them down. Saved me a lot of messing with my old trick, of getting them into the shed with the transport box and lassoing the calf.

Is this something to be concerned about. On left shoulder of calf. Not sure what it is. Calf is under the weather with a bit of a temp. Got ajag for pneumonia, but noticed this has appeared. Don't think it is any thing but can anyone tell from a photo? The red ring inside the balls patch is the issue. Not sure if he was been rubbing or what, looks like he or cow had been licking it judging by the lie of the hair.

The white bits look like grass seed.

Might be that he has been rubbing off something.

Don't think so. I think straw chaff and seeds.

He is a fortnight old, I'll check tomorrow if I can use the spot on.

At two weeks of age he is within the age range for ringworm but I've never seen it showing like that in six week old calves.

Jeez, you would be better off contacting your Vet that gave you the injections.

Heifers started calving here. Only one leg and head present, so had to intervene.

279 days gestation, incalf to culard charolais, bull calf. Heifer is around 80%%lim.

8 more left for the following three weeks.

Caving 24 finished. Synchronised 21 cows / heifers 26th June 2023. 20 held, I thought I had 7 repeats but as it turned out only had 5.

First cow calved 30th March & the last one the 29th April. Cows 1-16 all calved themselves outside no issues, did give 1 a little assistance but that was more cause I was there than anything else.

Cow 17 had a bad start last September / October, calf born very weak, red lamp, bottle feeding, drip and all but he didn't make, I assume it was some hangover from the cow been sick.. she was marked for culling this year anyway.

Cow 18 calved outside Thursday afternoon all good, then on Saturday morning the calf had a massive swollen front knee & wouldn't stand or drink. Joint ill, so bottle feeding for the weekend and a few shots of antibiotics but thankfully she appears to be on the mend.

Cow 19 first timer, calved Saturday evening, made it quite clear she didn't want me around and was in similar humor on Sunday so left her in the padock.

Cow 20 sick to calf yesterday morning, 4pm yesterday she had taken up with cow 19's calf. Wouldn't let cow 19 near him. Got all into the yard separated cow 20 from the calf and put mammy & calf back in the padock. Cow 19 not happy with either me or her calf. But by 8pm she had made up with the calf again thankfully, but I think I am still on the not trusted list. Handled cow 20, feet presented strange, so called the vet, calf was upside down with his head twisted back. In fairness to the vet she spent a good bit of time slowly working him around and getting all right & thankfully landed a big lump of a bull calf without the need for a section so that's a good result.

You don't win them all & it was a very busy month watching them, but happy with how it went and I have a nice even batch of calves.