Ok, I am about 2 months away from my 1st calving season ever! (Whew...the wrinkles are coming) Got a few thoughts and want some "experienced" opinions. I will be calving out 10 heifers (due 2 at a time over 2 week period). Would you pull them up into a lot about a day or two before due date to observe and keep an eye on them or just let them be out in the pasture? Also, I thoguht of this to help monitor the heifers after the calves are born to make sure they "bond" with the calves. Ok...not going to lie-I am probally freaking out and trying to plan to much-so let me have it. All opinions are welcomed.
Need Opinions/thoughts
- Thread starter DLB
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LN
Well-known member
We bring first calf heifers into a small field in front of our working pens 1 1/2 months before they are due. I wouldn't rely too heavily on the due dates. We've had some come as early as 3 weeks before. When our heifers start bagging up and their vulvas swell, we put them in a pen to watch until they calve. We keep them in a the pen a couple days and then turn them out.
clubcalve
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If your hiefers are quiet and if they are not to far for you to walk or drive then I would leave them out unless it is bad weather or if you think that a cow will have a problem. I don't know what you have for a setup but when you bring them in you have to really keep there pens clean and dry. My opinion is to let them calve on Pasture and just let mother nature nature take its course JMO hope this helps.And what LN said its is some what hard to tell due dates especially on first calf hiefers good luck
Clubcalve
Clubcalve
cattleking
Well-known member
All i have too say Is WATCH THEM LIKE A HAWK!
If you see anything weird "behind them" bring them in and check them closely!
And if a calve dies dont make a big fuss because it is a heifer. it just happens, even sometimes in older cows
If you see anything weird "behind them" bring them in and check them closely!
And if a calve dies dont make a big fuss because it is a heifer. it just happens, even sometimes in older cows
farmboy
Well-known member
invest in a calf puller, not saying you'll need it but it won't hurt to have one. we will have 10 or 11 due on the same day in February bred to clubbies. can't wait 
3 heifers bred to shiver. woohoo
3 heifers bred to shiver. woohooCAB
Well-known member
Minimum of 10 days pre calving, I would bring them up. Depending upon what part of the country you are located in, I would hold them up close for a little longer period this time of the year. Calves can have a difficult time getting their bodies to regulate this heat. You may want to keep them in a shady area for a week or so. JMO. Brent
knabe
Well-known member
it's a time to learn. write stuff down. reflect later.
Doc
Well-known member
zach said:invest in a calf puller, not saying you'll need it but it won't hurt to have one. we will have 10 or 11 due on the same day in February bred to clubbies. can't wait
If this is the first time ever having calves born, I wouldn't advise buying a calf puller. Instead I would be making "nice" with my vet.
linnettejane
Well-known member
i calved out 10 heifers once...and "made nice" with a vet, like doc suggested...we ended up with 7 out of 10 live calves...one was backwards, one was early, and the other never got up and died 2 days later, probably in the birth canal to long...anyway...i learned so much from having the vet out...how to use ob chains, the backwards one he used a calf puller on, etc....it was money well spent, even though i lost 3...so much well spent that in the past 6 years i have only had to call him out one time when i had a tail and butt sticking out...we just keep a set of ob chains...if i cant get a calf out with those then im going to call a vet...
herefordfootball
Well-known member
[qoute author=CJC link=topic=11519.msg129702#msg129702 date=1246067296]
DLB must not live down here in the south, because I wouldn't be calving in July.
[/quote]
Two months would put him at the end of August, I think. But it's still hot in August. If I were you like most said be on good terms with your vet. Wouldnt necessarily go out and buy a calf puller, but it would be a good thing to have around, maybe see if one of your cattle neighbors have one you can borrow. But above all keep a good eye on them and listen closely to your vet, you cna learn a lot, just keep an open ear and GOOD LUCK!!!
DLB must not live down here in the south, because I wouldn't be calving in July.
[/quote]
Two months would put him at the end of August, I think. But it's still hot in August. If I were you like most said be on good terms with your vet. Wouldnt necessarily go out and buy a calf puller, but it would be a good thing to have around, maybe see if one of your cattle neighbors have one you can borrow. But above all keep a good eye on them and listen closely to your vet, you cna learn a lot, just keep an open ear and GOOD LUCK!!!
savaged
Well-known member
If they are bred to club calf bulls you will need to bring them in, at least in my opinion. If they are bred angus or simi, and they are at least 13 months old and good sized, I'd let them calve in the pasture, but still watch them very closely.
Do not interfere too quickly when one starts to calve. When you see hooves, she should be pushing with good strong effort. As long as she is making progress let her have it. If she seems to stall out or stop pushing call the vet.
Do not interfere too quickly when one starts to calve. When you see hooves, she should be pushing with good strong effort. As long as she is making progress let her have it. If she seems to stall out or stop pushing call the vet.
Thanks for all the information...I appreciate it. My heifers are due the last week of August and the first week of September. All of them are bred to Ali, Who Made Who, or cleaned up with a low BW brahman bull. Also, all of the heifers are pretty good sized (bout a frame score of 5) and between 22-24months old as of right now. I will def. "make nice" with the vet and keep him on speed dial. Thank God above that he only lives 5 mins away.
LN
Well-known member
Ok, now you've worried me with the Brahman bull. What is the breed composition of your heifers?
CJC
Well-known member
Two months would put him at the end of August, I think. But it's still hot in August. If I were you like most said be on good terms with your vet. Wouldnt necessarily go out and buy a calf puller, but it would be a good thing to have around, maybe see if one of your cattle neighbors have one you can borrow. But above all keep a good eye on them and listen closely to your vet, you cna learn a lot, just keep an open ear and GOOD LUCK!!!herefordfootball said:
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I read it wrong. My bad.
The make up of my females is pretty much everything is either a direct daughter or grand-daughter of Full Flush crossed with charolais and then I have 1 triple bred Cigar heifer. The Brahman bull is about 8-9years old and I've see his offspring for the last 4 or 5 years and he has never (to my knowledge) had a calf pulled from heifers. BUT the only female that could be bred to him is an older (5year old) FFxChar cow I bought. So, everything is either Ali or Who Made Who.
ROMAX
Well-known member
That is probably the best couple of hundred dollars you will spend and hopefully never use.zach said:invest in a calf puller, not saying you'll need it but it won't hurt to have one. we will have 10 or 11 due on the same day in February bred to clubbies. can't wait
LN
Well-known member
DLB said:
That makes me worry less. I personally would never breed a brahman bull to a bos taurus heifer because of the sire's effect of increasing birth weight.
farmboy
Well-known member
who on flushxchar?
i would say watch them very closely then
i would say watch them very closely then