Here comes our first calf

DenMacII · #1 03/29/10, 11:12 PM

Recently we purchased our first cow. A registered Angus that will turn four in April and is pregnant with her third calf - which is due in early April.

We noticed last week that one of her udders enlarged and it stayed that way all week. Over the weekend two more swelled and I noticed a drop of milk or coloysten (sp) on one udder. Tonight her milk seems to be coming in on pace with the weekend's dramatic shift.

I am assuming that the calf will be coming soon, but I don't have any idea when soon is.

What are some of the major 'tells' that will let us know that the birth is upon us?

There is a yearling steer on pasture with her, at what point shoud we isolate the two?

I've read through several archived threads here, and I pretty much have the idea that we really need to 'do' as little as possible and let nature run it's course - just try to be on hand should an obvious problem occur.

Can we get a calcium cream at our local farm store, or do we need to get that from a Vet? How do we know if she has Milk Fever?

We are expecting rain and high winds this week, but no snow - do we need to shelter them?

OK, Too many questions...

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated -and I promise photos once the calf arrives.

Thanks, Dennis

springvalley · #2 03/29/10, 11:29 PM

Well you may get a calf soon, and you may wait a week or so. Cows are all different, and they will have the calf in her own sweet time. Your cow will be closer when you notice she is begining to dialate, maybe a little mucus drainage. She will more than likely want to be way away from anyone or anything. It can take cows hours to calf, and you hopefully won`t have to help her. But keep an eye on her and help if you need to. As far as milk fever, I don`t think you should have any trouble with that as beef cattle rarely get it. Sometimes stormy weather, or change in barametric pressure, will make them calf, but not always. Thanks Marc

francismilker · #3 03/30/10, 07:43 AM

Dennis,
Unless the steer you have with the cow is some kind of crazy ex-rodeo bull, I wouldn't worry about separting the two. The cow (if given room and pasture space) will usually go off to herself and have the calf in isolation from the others. In fact, most cows spend a lot of time scouting out and staking claim to their birthing spot weeks before the time comes. I've got one cow that will have her calf every year within ten feet of where she had it last year in a thick 40 acre patch of woods.

You've probably heard the old proverb, "A watched pot never boils". Here's another one for you, "A watched cow never calves!"

Right about the time you get tired of getting up odd hours in the night to check on her and quit doing it, she'll lay down and calve and you might miss the whole thing. If she's had calves before I wouldn't worry about her at all. Good luck to you on your cattle venture.

DenMacII · #4 03/31/10, 12:27 AM

Well...no calf yet, but her milk continues to come in quite noticably.

The yearling steer in the pasture with her seemed to be licking at her back side this evening. Not sure if he was cleaning her, or if he was trying to warm her up to the idea that he was going to try and nurse - which he did try, and she would have no part of it. She dropped her head down and pushed him out of the area where she has been bedding down the past couple of nights.

These are the only head we have, so he kinda hangs out close to her. He is not aggressive, but I'm not sure he will leave her alone either. I could send him to another pasture to visit our 15 year old goat for his Easter vacation. That would give our cow the pasture to herself, but he might not be too happy to be alone.

Any thoughts?

francismilker · #5 03/31/10, 06:49 AM

If you move the steer out of his comfortable "home" you may end up doing more harm than good if he misses the companionship of the cow and might end up going through great lengths to get back home.

TSYORK · #6 03/31/10, 08:38 AM

Just make sure he doesn't get the colostrum that is for the calf.

DenMacII · #7 04/04/10, 05:08 PM

Thought I would chime in with a quick update. Still no calf.

This week I received the Performance Registration Certificate from the AAA on our cow. There is a ton of information here that I need to learn, but I did learn that her service date was July 21 - which should mean a calving date about April 21.

Is there anything I need to look for on her certificate to indicate good or bad traits?

Here's a photo of her on pasture today.

Here comes our first calf - Cattle

You can notice some of the red tint in her coloring.

More insight is always welcome - and I will update as her due date aproaches.

francismilker · #8 04/09/10, 03:20 AM

The red tinting to color on black angus is normal and I wouldn't worry about calving difficulties if she's on her third calf. She appears to be healthy and broad enough in the hips to have a calf on her own. You'll probably go out one morning to a new calf standing beside her when you least expect it.