Good new, bad news.

[piglady]

The hubby had news for me today. The good news is, we are going to have fresh milk soon. The bad news is, the heifers we thought bred for December are bagging up. They couldn't be. That's nearly 5 months away! I made sure I didn't put them in with the bull until March so the girls would be exactly 2 when they gave birth. So, I got the calendar down and realized we didn't move them out from the herd until December when they were a year old. We usually raise highlands and they don't come in heat that young so didn't think we had to worry. Well, I guess we do. If we moved them out on New Years day, then we will have calves by the end of September and they will only be a year and 9 months old (or younger if they give birth in the next few weeks). They are half holstien/Jersey but look to be in great shape, grew well and are well fleshed out. And, they were bred to a highland which always has very small calves that grow like a weed. So what do you think. Are we in for trouble or just small calves and fresh milk?

And, how far out should they be if they are starting to bag up?

[ksfarmer]

I'm not real familiar with dairy breeds, but beef breeds can bag up a month or a day before calving. I would say you probably won't have calving difficulties if the heiffers are in good shape. Just smallish calves.

[randiliana]

I don't think you will have to worry about them too much. Might have to assist, so keep an eye on them, but I think it is unlikely. They will probably just pop that little highland calf out and things will go just fine. We had a Hol x Angus heifer calve at 16 months, had to give her a bit of a hand, but it wasn't a big deal, and she was bred to a much higher BW bull than what your's are.

[JKB07]

Dairy heifers will always bag up real early their first time. Ive had them bag up 3-4 months early. So, you might be alright. What do you think they weigh?

JKB

[matt_man]

They should be fine. We have a very small jersey cow that we got as a springing heifer and she gave birth just fine. She is only about 600 to 650lbs. If they are just starting to bag up, you could have 3 to 4 more months to go like JKB said. First timers start early to develop their mammary tissue.

Rachel

[piglady]

OK, I finally got some pictures today right before the rain. They are sisters but the brown one looks more jersey and the black one looks more holstien (she's a little bigger boned). They were both born the first week of Jan. 2007. I know nothing about dairy cows but they look very healthy to me. They are shiny, clean rumps (no smears), and appear fleshy. So, what do you think each of them weigh, do they look to be in good shape, how do they rate as dairy cows, and how soon do you think we should expect calves?

[dosthouhavemilk]

The brown one doesn't look like she'll calve until the December dates.
The black one could give you a September calf...or maybe a late August calf. They both look to be in good shape.
You can never be sure though. They will calve when they calve. That first one needs a lot more udder first though.

Just for comparison. We thought for sure Circe would be one of the first animals to calve to the Stray bull. A month afetr the first animal calved, Circe delivered the 18 calf out of that bull. Her udder was almost this full the month prior...

[matt_man]

Here is a series of pics from our first calf heifer. I agree with Roseanna in that the brown one has a way to go but the black one is about a month away, IMO.

1 month prior:


1/2?? weeks prior:


Day of: