When Calving Starting

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 03-02-2015 2:53pm

Why was he dead?

our cow had a deaf calf once and the vet cut the head calves head off (I don't know why) but she had to be tested for some disease

whelan2 · 03-02-2015 3:19pm

Timmaay wrote: »

Pulled out the Jack this morning for the 1st time this year this morning, gentle pull on a reasonably big heifer calf, then 20mins later had to jack out a monster of a AA bull calf from a heifer, who was dead. Annoying but the heifer is ok, I'll have to keep an eye on the rest of the incalfs, the 2nd cut silage they are on is obviously better stuff than I thought.

these things happen, milk lorry man woke me up at 5 this morning that there was a heifer calving against the wall, calf half out and stuck ,jack was frozen, he gave me a hand to get calf out which was dead, big aa bull calf. Thinking of getting a calving camera in, i replaced the house windows with double glazed windows and dont hear anything from calving shed anymore

howdee · 03-02-2015 3:59pm

Everything was going grand till last night. Had a cow that was lazy calving last year and the calf died so I was ready this year. Bulled her to Hyd and easy calving bull and she was coming 8 days early. What arrive was a monster of a bull calf with one leg down that had to nearly be c sectioned out of her.. The calf was nearly dead but we revived him. He only started walking an hour ago.

oooge1 · 03-02-2015 5:15pm

whelan2 wrote: »

these things happen, milk lorry man woke me up at 5 this morning that there was a heifer calving against the wall, calf half out and stuck ,jack was frozen, he gave me a hand to get calf out which was dead, big aa bull calf. Thinking of getting a calving camera in, i replaced the house windows with double glazed windows and dont hear anything from calving shed anymore

You have a good milkman , pity about the out come

Nettleman · 03-02-2015 5:28pm

my first cow is due twins next month-LZF. 5.7% CD. I haven't calved twins ever. Think im going to just get vet out as soon as she starts. any advise? Shes nearly 6 years old, 4th calf. Calved on her own last year outdoors.

tanko · 03-02-2015 6:07pm

Nettleman wrote: »

my first cow is due twins next month-LZF. 5.7% CD. I haven't calved twins ever. Think im going to just get vet out as soon as she starts. any advise? Shes nearly 6 years old, 4th calf. Calved on her own last year outdoors.

Had several cows with twins last year. Usually with twins one or both calves will come backways so will have to be pulled. Once the first one comes out it's important to get the second one out fairly quick.
The one good thing about twins is that they are smaller than a single calf, once you get them straightened up inside the cow they are usually easy enough got out.
She might fire them out herself but if you don't feel confident calving her yourself then getting the vet is a good idea.
Cows having twins usually calve a week or so earlier than having a single calf.

Miname · 03-02-2015 10:11pm

Nettleman wrote: »

my first cow is due twins next month-LZF. 5.7% CD. I haven't calved twins ever. Think im going to just get vet out as soon as she starts. any advise? Shes nearly 6 years old, 4th calf. Calved on her own last year outdoors.

ive never had any difficulty with twins, 90% of the time they'll calve herself cause the calves are that much smaller. i wouldnt be panicking about the vet unless somethings wrong. give them plenty of time even between the first and second calf

mf240 · 03-02-2015 10:14pm

Nettleman wrote: »

my first cow is due twins next month-LZF. 5.7% CD. I haven't calved twins ever. Think im going to just get vet out as soon as she starts. any advise? Shes nearly 6 years old, 4th calf. Calved on her own last year outdoors.

As said one may come backwards its often the second one. Unless they both present together ( youll feel three or four legs) which is unlikly then you should have no bother. But if your not cofident then get the vet. But try to learn from him for a next time.

Best of luck with it .

Miname · 03-02-2015 10:24pm

tanko wrote: »

Had several cows with twins last year. Usually with twins one or both calves will come backways so will have to be pulled. Once the first one comes out it's important to get the second one out fairly quick.
The one good thing about twins is that they are smaller than a single calf, once you get them straightened up inside the cow they are usually easy enough got out.
She might fire them out herself but if you don't feel confident calving her yourself then getting the vet is a good idea.
Cows having twins usually calve a week or so earlier than having a single calf.

why do you feel a calf has to come out quickly once the first is calved? ive left cows 2 hrs between first and second caf here and no issue.

tanko · 03-02-2015 10:35pm

Miname wrote: »

why do you feel a calf has to come out quickly once the first is calved? ive left cows 2 hrs between first and second caf here and no issue.

I'm just speaking from my own experience of calving cows with twins over the years. I've seen a couple of cases where the cow was left to her own devices to put the second calf out and it arrived stillborn. I don't take this chance anymore, once the first one is out I try to get the second one out promptly. Doing this has worked well for me anyway.
There is always the risk the second calf is coming backways so the sooner it's out the better in my opinion.

trixi2011 · 03-02-2015 10:37pm

Waiting on a heifer to calve here bag out a half an hour ago just looked in on her now and she has the feet out had a quick look round the pen 3 more have calved while I've been waiting could be a long night yet

Kovu · 03-02-2015 10:38pm

Miname wrote: »

why do you feel a calf has to come out quickly once the first is calved? ive left cows 2 hrs between first and second caf here and no issue.

I don't know about tanko but we try to get them out quick here as otherwise the mother will bond with one calf and ignore the other one when it eventually appears. Usually comes backwards too. Or else she wont see it and lies on it

mf240 · 03-02-2015 10:53pm

tanko wrote: »

I'm just speaking from my own experience of calving cows with twins over the years. I've seen a couple of cases where the cow was left to her own devices to put the second calf out and it arrived stillborn. I don't take this chance anymore, once the first one is out I try to get the second one out promptly. Doing this has worked well for me anyway.
There is always the risk the second calf is coming backways so the sooner it's out the better in my opinion.

The second calf is under no pressure. But id always just get him out anyway incase as you say that hes coming backwards. Have seen cows calve two by themselves but why risk it.

mahoney_j · 04-02-2015 4:35am

Smashing night to be up calving,full moon and dry and crisp.went to check calving pens and set of twins looking at me,bull and heifer though both up and munching away so left them at it.beds more appealing at 3 am

Greengrass1 · 04-02-2015 8:46am

How many get up during the night?
DG member milking 120 but calving 150 with some help from his father gets up at 3. If he didn't he'd be run off his feet in the morning.

mahoney_j · 04-02-2015 10:19am

Greengrass1 wrote: »

How many get up during the night?
DG member milking 120 but calving 150 with some help from his father gets up at 3. If he didn't he'd be run off his feet in the morning.

Check stock at 10 o click and anything showing signs of calving goes to calving pens where I have a camera which can be monitored from phone/laptop.alternate every second night with dad .get up at 3 am every night for peak calving.

whelan2 · 07-02-2015 12:14am

first yad calf there now, twins heifer and bull

kevthegaff · 07-02-2015 10:19am

Im up every night twice normally, most calve at night 5 yesterday n and 3 last night. Beauty of crossbreds just keep an eye on them and feed the calf when theyre popped out, rarely use the jack and also they dont seem to build a bond compare to the fr/ho.

kevthegaff · 07-02-2015 10:20am

kevthegaff wrote: »

Im up every night twice normally, most calve at night 5 yesterday n and 3 last night. Beauty of crossbreds just keep an eye on them and feed the calf when theyre popped out, rarely use the jack and also they dont seem to build a bond compare to the fr/ho.

have a camera on tablet too

oooge1 · 07-02-2015 4:04pm

Well it kicked of here last night had four calve , one bull and four heifers (twin heifers) whaaa hoo !!

sh1tstirrer · 07-02-2015 6:17pm

Kovu wrote: »

I don't know about tanko but we try to get them out quick here as otherwise the mother will bond with one calf and ignore the other one when it eventually appears. Usually comes backwards too. Or else she wont see it and lies on it

I had a cow with twins years ago, they were around 3 hours old and I was feeding cattle and heard a very weak screech form one of the calves. His mother was lying up on him with his head between her front legs. I wasn't long getting her off him the calf was very weak but I managed to save him.

Kovu · 07-02-2015 6:34pm

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

I had a cow with twins years ago, they were around 3 hours old and I was feeding cattle and heard a very weak screech form one of the calves. His mother was lying up on him with his head between her front legs. I wasn't long getting her off him the calf was very weak but I managed to save him.

It's horrible when it happens. I was about ten when I first seen it here. Witnessed it happening which made it worse. Always nervous as hell when twins are suspect here. Inkling of one the year.

have2flushtwice · 07-02-2015 7:34pm

Im Filling out the animal events recording book here for neibhour.

I have the calves tagged, and the hair sample taken from the mothe
The book has been filled in.

What do I post where?
The new card goes to cork.
The hair sample goes to cork
The ear sample goes to enfer in naas
Have i got it right?
Does he have to post a cheque?
Does the white sheet in the book get posted away too

Thanks.

keep going · 07-02-2015 7:54pm

god I hate twins ,cow shagged for the yearand always a struggle to get her back in calf

whelan2 · 07-02-2015 7:58pm

have2flushtwice wrote: »

Im Filling out the animal events recording book here for neibhour.

I have the calves tagged, and the hair sample taken from the mothe
The book has been filled in.

What do I post where?
The new card goes to cork.
The hair sample goes to cork
The ear sample goes to enfer in naas
Have i got it right?
Does he have to post a cheque?
Does the white sheet in the book get posted away too

Thanks.

the new card and the white sheet in the book are the same thing, you post one or the other, does he have an account in enfer, ring them before he posts the sample

whelan2 · 07-02-2015 7:59pm

keep going wrote: »

god I hate twins ,cow shagged for the yearand always a struggle to get her back in calf

wonder what they are like after triplets

frazzledhome · 07-02-2015 8:27pm

keep going wrote: »

god I hate twins ,cow shagged for the yearand always a struggle to get her back in calf

Any cow that has twins here is culled after calving, hate them.

Had one last night 2 heifer calves and the fecker lay on one

Timmaay · 07-02-2015 8:34pm

Hmmm no real problems with twins for the most of mine, aside from small calves, must be the larger HOs, had 4 sets here last 2yrs and no issues other than the usual HO slowness going back in calf.

Milked out · 07-02-2015 8:36pm

whelan2 wrote: »

wonder what they are like after triplets

Had triplets 5 years ago, 3 heifers last one came backwards and dead, the other 2 are milking. Anyway cow did ok for a bit then got a displacement so fixed her up and was slow to come back in to milk so sold her a few weeks later as a cull. Lad that bought her said she was bulling a month after. It's the minding they need that's the killer with tough calvings with twins at the busy time of year

Milked out · 07-02-2015 8:45pm

Timmaay wrote: »

Hmmm no real problems with twins for the most of mine, aside from small calves, must be the larger HOs, had 4 sets here last 2yrs and no issues other than the usual HO slowness going back in calf.

Have 3 or 4 sets every year I guess half in half would take extra time recovering after it. 3 this year and the 2 earlier ones took 6 weeks to come bulling and 1 the other day now has a LDA

whelan2 · 07-02-2015 8:47pm

Milked out wrote: »

Have 3 or 4 sets every year I guess half in half would take extra time recovering after it. 3 this year and the 2 earlier ones took 6 weeks to come bulling and 1 the other day now has a LDA

when did she get sick? had one had twins last night and she's eating like a horse, havent seen an lda here in years, touch wood

Milked out · 07-02-2015 8:53pm

whelan2 wrote: »

when did she get sick? had one had twins last night and she's eating like a horse, havent seen an lda here in years, touch wood

Let her back in with the calves the day after she calved as she hadn't cleaned, she appeared to be chewing the cud yday then but was lying down most of the day but when I got her up to the barrier she didnt bother eating and looked sorry for herself so I suspected then . Got the vet out then and he said he heard the pings in a larger area than normal for an LDA so he'll listen again 2moro and the then operate but pretty sure it is. He said it seemed a bit soon alrite but it has happened b4.

frazzledhome · 08-02-2015 9:31am

20% calved to date
Now at 50% male:female
Were at 35% till yesterday

So far so good. 2 assists leg back and the other was a set of twin heifers and the cow lay on and smothered one. Them's the breaks. This cow is for the factory this week, not keeping trouble. She's fairly shook not bad enough that she won't come right but we don't need the distraction.

One other incident last week was a cow broke her leg in the hoof crate a real freak. We splinted and plastered it, she had a heifer calf and the hoof man bought her. Can't beat honourable people

No price set for cow but we won't fall out over it. Probably each assume half the loss. He has her on straw and she's milking so hopefully she'll be 100% in a few more weeks

Greengrass1 · 08-02-2015 9:34am

Cow with milk fever this morning.
Old cow kicking myself because I knew I should have given her a bote at calving.
Aslo happens to be our highest solids cow

Bullocks · 08-02-2015 9:49am

frazzledhome wrote: »

This cow is for the factory this week, not keeping trouble. She's fairly shook not bad enough that she won't come right but we don't need the distraction.

Is she too shook to milk for a few months or are you afraid she will need antibiotics and wont be able to go anywhere then ?

whelan2 · 08-02-2015 10:24am

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Cow with milk fever this morning.
Old cow kicking myself because I knew I should have given her a bote at calving.
Aslo happens to be our highest solids cow

is this the first this year?

kevthegaff · 08-02-2015 10:42am

whelan2 wrote: »

is this the first this year?

14 calved in last 48 hours no mortalitys yet, fingers crossed! Think ill need some help at this malarky next year

frazzledhome · 08-02-2015 10:49am

Bullocks wrote: »

Is she too shook to milk for a few months or are you afraid she will need antibiotics and wont be able to go anywhere then ?

She could milk but she's already on the B team, she's just sealed it with twins. We don't keep cows that have twins as a rule.

Greengrass1 · 08-02-2015 11:11am

whelan2 wrote: »

is this the first this year?

First out of 20 calved. Calved since yesterday after noon.
Was fine at 3am
On her back at 7
Got calcium into her then. Couldn't find vein in neck.
Still down

Greengrass1 · 08-02-2015 11:29am

http://youtu.be/UF0nts2vAv4
Very good video on finding jugular vein for novices

Brown Podzol · 08-02-2015 11:38am

Greengrass1 wrote: »

http://youtu.be/UF0nts2vAv4
Very good video on finding jugular vein for novices

I always put it into the milk vein, much larger and easier to find.

Greengrass1 · 08-02-2015 11:41am

Brown Podzol wrote: »

I always put it into the milk vein, much larger and easier to find.

Is that harder on them?
Dad doesn't like doing that here

Brown Podzol · 08-02-2015 11:48am

40% calved in 16 days, two sets of twins.

First set two heifers from 6 calver, one dead, cow in trouble with LDA I think. Second set bull and heifer from seventh calver both coming backwards. Neither of the cows needed this.

Cows out full time, plenty grass, will do a cover this week. Grazing targets should not be a problem with 3.8 cows per ha to be calved by the 1st March.

frazzledhome · 08-02-2015 11:52am

Greengrass1 wrote: »

First out of 20 calved. Calved since yesterday after noon.
Was fine at 3am
On her back at 7
Got calcium into her then. Couldn't find vein in neck.
Still down

Bit of baling twine around the neck. Tighten as much as you can. Vein will appear as big as a banana. Clean needle insert get CALCIUM flowing with no air bubbles and attach to needle.

Cut bottom off bottle to make funnel and just pour in second bottle.

Brown Podzol · 08-02-2015 11:53am

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Is that harder on them?
Dad doesn't like doing that here

Never had a problem, I just use an ordinary needle with the calcium warmed in a bucket of warm water,not the large bore needle usually used with calcium.

whelan2 · 08-02-2015 11:57am

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Never had a problem, I just use an ordinary needle with the calcium warmed in a bucket of warm water,not the large bore needle usually used with calcium.

same here, when putting needle into milk vein i lean over the cow , nearly got a smack of a kick a few years ago

trixi2011 · 08-02-2015 12:11pm

Brown Podzol wrote: »

I always put it into the milk vein, much larger and easier to find.

calcium works quicker from the jugular and is safer afaik only use the milk vein as a last resort.

Timmaay · 08-02-2015 12:52pm

trixi2011 wrote: »

calcium works quicker from the jugular and is safer afaik only use the milk vein as a last resort.

Heard that also, vets will avoid the milk line if they can at all.

awaywithyou · 08-02-2015 12:55pm

Milked out wrote: »

Have 3 or 4 sets every year I guess half in half would take extra time recovering after it. 3 this year and the 2 earlier ones took 6 weeks to come bulling and 1 the other day now has a LDA

of the first 8 cows that calved here... 4 had twins.... 3 of the 4 cows are flying it.... one cow however struggled and is still struggling.... she's an RUU.. so i aint giving up hope on her.... she for some reason is knuckling severely on her front legs.... have her on straw bed at min... lift her everyday for a while to see if there is an improvement... i think she might be improving a bit.. but lord it will be slow carry on if she is to see the parlour again...

Timmaay · 08-02-2015 12:58pm

kevthegaff wrote: »

14 calved in last 48 hours no mortalitys yet, fingers crossed! Think ill need some help at this malarky next year

And I'm under pressure with just 4 in the last day. All in different pens of course and one out in the field. Ran outa calf pens also, got to turf more bales out, all alongside trying to finish off the new parlour building, temporary holding yard, some dodgy fencing that the Milkers keep knocking over. Feeling like a real farmer again ha!

When Calving Starting

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