when???

[bulldog]

I've got this 2 yr old heifer that was due two weeks ago. Any ideas on how close she is? Thing is I've got to leave Tuesday night and all day Wednesday, should I cancel the trip? She can barley walk, takes about a two inch step with her back legs. No real discharge yet, but should I be worried about that swelling that's trying to make her look like bull? It just appeared two days ago. Think she'll have twins?




Anybody interested in a reg. jersey heifer who will have an udder like her mommas?

[Ebenezer]

If she was due two weeks ago and she was with a bull, she would have cycled and bred about 18 to 21 days later. So you are looking at, theoritically 4 to 7 days. But the cow does not know about the gestation length (in days) that she is supposed to follow! Heifers calves generally come early and bull calves will come a few days later. All general advice, of course.

[Ronney]

I'm inclined to agree with Ebenezer and also heifers can be very unpredictable. From the photo her vulva doesn't look to be that swollen but then again, it could happen overnight too. I would be inclined to stick around for the event and postpone your trip if possible to do so.

The swelling on her stomach is nothing to worry about but is there because she has oedema - common in heifers and some older calvers as well. It also indicates that she will probably come in with caked udder and you may have to help her with this.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[randiliana]

Are you sure that she couldn't have been bred later. Heifers can be tricky to guess on, but I would be inclined to think that she was bred on the next cycle and that she will be at least another week.

[bulldog]

Not possible=) She was only with the bull for one day. She is very vocal about her heats so we were able to time it right on like AI.

[gone-a-milkin]

I would wait til the morning to decide.

She wont go too much longer, I dont think.
Probably drop her calf effortlessly 5 minutes after you cancel your plans.
(but maybe that is just me they do that to?)

[gone-a-milkin]

Oh, and Im gonna guess it is a big ole single bully calf in there.
(just for guessing sake)

[randiliana]

OK, well, she can't go much longer, 2 weeks is pushing it pretty good. The earliest we have ever had one was 17 days, so I'd expect that to be about as long as one might be late. I sure wouldn't want to leave home when I had a heifer 2 weeks late, that's asking for trouble.

[bulldog]

Still Nothing!!!!!!! Had the vet out today, I was worried she had a mummy calf in there. She palpated her and the calf is alive, in the right position, and not too big! She said maybe three or four MORE days. Crazy cow

[matt_man]

Is this your future milk cow? Those teats are awful short and will be very hard to milk.

[Trisha in WA]

bulldog, what did the vet say about that "growth" (for lack of a better word) on her belly?

[ozark_jewels]

Our heifers and some older cows get that when they udder up well ahead of calving. Usually goes along with edema in the udder. It will go away after calving. Very common.

[randiliana]

Or, is he talking about her Navel?

[ozark_jewels]

Th swelling I'm speaking of can stretch all the way up the belly to the navel at times. So if its just lately gotten bigger, I'd suspect that is what your seeing.

[randiliana]

Yeah, Ozark, knew what you were talking about, I was referring to Trisha's post.

[Trisha in WA]

Yes, the navel seems to be swollen...the OP asked about it, but then didn't say anything about what the vet might have thought.
Yes, Ozark, I suspect you may be right about it being edema.
I was just wondering if the vet said anything about it.

[onthespot]

Crum. I was hoping for calf pics!

[matt_man]

As for the registered heifer...Did you AI, and what bull did you use? Using the right bull can significantly improve an udder in just one generation. You heifer might turn out all right.