Calving 2026

Bulls suit some farms. But anyone who will be squeezing suckler bull calves in their system, it's hard to over look the pros of a lamb ring in the 1st week

First season using moocall here. Needs to learn how to put it on the tail correctly, but other than that it's been working quite well. Biggest issue that can use only on one cow at the time, but if calvings are abit spread apart it's been a good help, especially at night.

Heifer calf by french bull Onedream P, born at 295days, out of limxbluex cow, born last night. Used the last straw and got a heifer, thankfully.

She is a fair lump of a calf.. Best of luck with her.

Had a cow calving backways tonight. By the time I noticed a tail on the camera I went straight for the shed. Cow had calf thrown out but barely breathing when I got to her. The calf has a lot of fluid in the lungs and still coughing 3 hours later. Poor to suck. Has got about 1l of colostrum from cow so far sucking herself (like pulling teeth). Is there anything to give her to help take pressure and fluid out of lungs. Other than throwing on a gate. See no benefit in that from experience. Thanks

Don’t throw them on a gate whatever you do, that has to be the biggest load of nonsense ever, breaking calves ribs is the only thing that does. Great to get a litre into him, your vet would give you a shot or two to help clear his lungs. i’d put him under a red lamp and try to get more milk into him if possible

I wouldn’t think the calf coming backways has anything to do with the bull, putting him under a red lamp will do wonders for him

I’ve never seen a pattern to backwards calves. I’ve had small calves that I’ve pulled out with my bare hands and others that needed a jack.

I find the key is to jack the back end out, quickly unhook the jack and pull hard on the straps(that are already attached). The calf comes out in one quick movement, cord snaps but it doesn’t get a chance to breathe in any fluid. Never a problem then other than a little help standing.

I actually have a cow who’s a third calver and her last two calves were both backwards, her time is up in 2 days and she’s starting to soften, she’s in the shed but I have been advised to let her out in a bare field as it may help with the correct calf presentation? Have people any views on this?

Movement is huge to help pre calving. Especially for cows after a long winter stuck in a pen. I have only started calving this week and hope to put the cows out into a bare paddock that will be reseeded.

If you can calve outdoors it's huge for the health of the cow and calf. Even if you can put them out during the day and back in in the evening.

I have seen cows rolling in clay here a few days before calving and it definitely helps them move the calf. Nature is a powerful thing if you work with it

Fine Calf

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Should be ok to breed if in a different sack.

Freemartin testing. Pic below from; ……..I'd say a lot of other labs can test too.

Blood-sub-form-FINAL-F146-issued.pdf

Shed or field beside shed,

Try to get them out just before calveing starts to exercise and loosen themselves up.

Then calve in field or took into pen if troublesome. Back out as soon as calf fed and standing good.

Weather permitting of course. First few will be starting next week,not ideal this week, so up to the weather, what happens.