Need a little advice

[OH Breeder]

We used Heat Wave once when he first came out. The cow had a large blocky heifer and prolapsed. I never used him again.
I have a cow that hs had calves by Northern Improvement, Pale Face and Cunia Son( his calves ranged 80 to 90#'s). All were under 80#'s. I used Heat Wave on her. She is larger than I have ever seen her. This is her fourth calf and she is not due an til the 28th of March. I was walking the cows tonight and noticed her vulva is extremely large and she is draining quarter to half inch clear mucus. Does Heat Wave calve early? I am guessing this will be her biggest calf to date. Should I be worried? She looks like a little pumpkin at this point yet should have a month to go. Maybe I am paranoid but I am also second guessing if it was the right choice. I guess i will know here soon. I know you folks have more experience with Heat Wave so I am asking for little advice.

 

[HCCHSS]

Could she be having twins? I know gestation length can be shortened in that instance. Just a thought.

 

[OH Breeder]

Could she be having twins? I know gestation length can be shortened in that instance. Just a thought.

I actually thought that tonight. I just sat and watched her. That was my first thought was twins. We had triplets last year which was a first. So, I am thinking that is very possible. The cow that had triplets was an ET one egg transfer but was only 5 days early. Her calves were 55-60#'s a peice. This gal is not near as much frame as that cow and I am thinking you might be right. I just haven't used Heat Wave enough to know if he is true to form or comes little early. Just sweatin a little on this one.

 

[DL]

sent you a PM

 

[frostback]

If the cow has not been feed grain or silage, has only grass hay and a lot of room to move you should be fine. When the cow is not in good shape is when you can have big problems, I know sometimes things happen but our HWs have been 80 to 100. Had one 130lb heifer but the recip got hurt just after implanting and she had to stay home and did not go to pasture. As far as coming early we have had 7 days early to 6 days late. Good luck, Frostie.

 

[OH Breeder]

If the cow has not been feed grain or silage, has only grass hay and a lot of room to move you should be fine. When the cow is not in good shape is when you can have big problems, I know sometimes things happen but our HWs have been 80 to 100. Had one 130lb heifer but the recip got hurt just after implanting and she had to stay home and did not go to pasture. As far as coming early we have had 7 days early to 6 days late. Good luck, Frostie.

I changed cows over last fall to protein tub and grass rounds only. They do not get any grain. The past few years we had some big bw's and we had grained them pretty hard so I said no more and put them on tubs. They are pretty lean. Thanks FB. I appreciate the information!!!

 

[frostback]

I know its hard waiting when they look like that. I have a little shorty bred to a char bull that is making me lose sleep, she is wider then she is tall,  hoping I did not kill her too. After the 114lb calf from a very well known heifer bull I hope things go well from here on and its not one of those years.

 

[Jill]

We have never had an issue calving out a Heat Wave, they do come big but not worse than any other bul,l ours have all been around the 100 mark ranging from 85-110, have also never had to do a c-section on a cow bred to Heat Wave.  If she isn't due for another month, that is very early, but we have some that drain for weeks before they calve so may not really be an issue.

 

[OH Breeder]

We have never had an issue calving out a Heat Wave, they do come big but not worse than any other bul,l ours have all been around the 100 mark ranging from 85-110, have also never had to do a c-section on a cow bred to Heat Wave.  If she isn't due for another month, that is very early, but we have some that drain for weeks before they calve so may not really be an issue.

I am sure I am just being paranoid. Just all the horror stories just make me nervous. You all are probably right. Jitters.
The heifer we had before wasn't huge weight but her shape was very blocky. I will take a few breaths and just wait. Hate the waiting.  :-\

 

[Bone2011]

Could she be having twins? I know gestation length can be shortened in that instance. Just a thought.

I actually thought that tonight. I just sat and watched her. That was my first thought was twins. We had triplets last year which was a first. So, I am thinking that is very possible. The cow that had triplets was an ET one egg transfer but was only 5 days early. Her calves were 55-60#'s a peice. This gal is not near as much frame as that cow and I am thinking you might be right. I just haven't used Heat Wave enough to know if he is true to form or comes little early. Just sweatin a little on this one.

You had triplets on a et? Did you go buy a lottery ticket right after you saw them? lol

 

[OH Breeder]

Could she be having twins? I know gestation length can be shortened in that instance. Just a thought.

I actually thought that tonight. I just sat and watched her. That was my first thought was twins. We had triplets last year which was a first. So, I am thinking that is very possible. The cow that had triplets was an ET one egg transfer but was only 5 days early. Her calves were 55-60#'s a peice. This gal is not near as much frame as that cow and I am thinking you might be right. I just haven't used Heat Wave enough to know if he is true to form or comes little early. Just sweatin a little on this one.

You had triplets on a et? Did you go buy a lottery ticket right after you saw them? lol

Yeah. We only had one egg left. So we put it in. There weren't multiple eggs. Lots folks as me if we might have put a couple in. The reciep had them naturally all by herself. First one still born but the other two were healthy. The reciep went on to feed her two calves and two other orphans. SHe was an amazing reciep. You would have never known she was carrying triplets and they were 55-60#'s a peice. I ask my ET guy to put all my eggs in the future in her. 

 

[hamburgman]

My hand to god we have cows that will slime 2 months before calving, and a few that will have a string of slime from the vulva to their udders more than 3 weeks before they calve.  We now look for springed tits, and a sudden dropped belly

 

[Throttle]

Hey, if it makes you feel better, and I am knocking on wood here, HW hasn't calved any different than any clubby bull here, and we have had 4-6 each year for 4-5 years now. Have had a handful of 100 pounders and 2 C-sectioned, but that is no different than the Heatseekers, WMW's, or any other clubby bull I've had much experience with. Had a 120 brick of a Jazz cut out once several years ago and the biggest one that was ever calved here is still an All About You. Had a Strictly Business that was right up there with the worst of em too. I bet our average HW bull is 90 and heifer is 85, just like about any other bull that I won't use on 1st or 2nd calvers. If you are feeding them the way you say you are, then you did all you could (other than swearing off the club calf business)

 

[OH Breeder]

Hey, if it makes you feel better, and I am knocking on wood here, HW hasn't calved any different than any clubby bull here, and we have had 4-6 each year for 4-5 years now. Have had a handful of 100 pounders and 2 C-sectioned, but that is no different than the Heatseekers, WMW's, or any other clubby bull I've had much experience with. Had a 120 brick of a Jazz cut out once several years ago and the biggest one that was ever calved here is still an All About You. Had a Strictly Business that was right up there with the worst of em too. I bet our average HW bull is 90 and heifer is 85, just like about any other bull that I won't use on 1st or 2nd calvers. If you are feeding them the way you say you are, then you did all you could (other than swearing off the club calf business)

I know you have had quiet a few of the clubbies. I appreciate the advice and the encouragement. This is just killer waiting. I don't think I can swear off the club calf deal so I think I am going to have to get some nicotine patches cuz this ain't helping me quit!

This gal never drains and swells an til about week before. Now if she follows her four other pregs she would be three weeks early if she calved this coming week. I will let ya all know when she pops.

 

[Throttle]

Hey, I just quit too!!! Tobacco free since Thanksgiving. I have been really anxious this calving season too and I did not corelate the two together until you said it. It's definetly made everything a little more nerve wracking. I had used Copenhagen basically every waking moment for over 15 years, sometimes even some sleeping moments :, so I'll encourage you in that department too! I never thought I'd quit, now I can't see myself ever doing it again