I Guess This Means we're Calving

[randiliana]

Well, the cows really aren't due to start til March 5. But, we have about 20 we're watching already. Have had 5 or 6 in the barn the last few nights and up checking on them at 3 am. -25 + windchills = watching cows already. Our normals are usually close to 15 degrees (Celsius) warmer than that!

Last night we had 5 in the barn, 2 in their own stalls cause they looked suspicious and the others just in the loafing area. DH went out at 5:30 and found this.... Well, they didn't come out with the toques on, he supplied those. Too bad though, they are a heifer and a bull....






I wasn't really thinking she'd have twins, although I knew she'd be early. She was early last year too, but just had a single. So, right now we have 3 cows calved and 4 calves.

[gone-a-milkin]

Looks like calving has started to me.

Bummer on the twins, but they look pretty dang cute with their little hats on.

The dairy I work on is getting rolling with calving too. 9 calves so far.
5 heifers and 4 bulls so far. No twins yet, but #84 likely will twin, like always.

Good luck and I hope your weather will straighten up for it.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by gone-a-milkin

Looks like calving has started to me.

Bummer on the twins, but they look pretty dang cute with their little hats on.

No reason to be bummed out about a freemartin beef calf, it's still beef!

[MO_cows]

They look so cute in those toques! Seems like if it is cold enough for their ears to freeze, the cow would have "teatcicles" that would freeze and fall off, too, with them getting wet while nursing. But it must not be a problem since so many of you "northerners" calve in the cold. Hope the rest goes well.

[randiliana]

It is a bit of a bummer, when it is one of your best cows. Especially when you have 150 more babies coming along soon, don't need that one for beef . But she'll sell this fall, or maybe this spring if we don't need an extra calf.

MO, teats can certainly freeze, it isn't a huge problem as long as the cows have bedding. Most have enough hair, and the udder dries off fast enough to prevent frostbite I think. We had one cow lose 1 1/2 teats years ago. She was a first calf heifer and her calf got sick and wasn't sucking. You see some cows with scabs from minor frostbite too. We keep them bedded.

[Cheribelle]

Why does he put hats on them? Versus coats? Curious, I have never seen those before.

[randiliana]

We put the toques on them to keep their ears from freezing. At -20 wet ears freeze pretty fast. I've used blankets too, but these two were up and at it and didn't need them.

[trbizwiz]

If both twins are female are they still free martin? Or is it just in the case of one male adn one female?

[randiliana]

If both twins are female, they are fine. But if there is a male and a female, there is a 90% chance that the female will be a freemartin. From what I have read, there is a good possibility that the male might have reduced fertility too.

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by randiliana

It is a bit of a bummer, when it is one of your best cows. Especially when you have 150 more babies coming along soon, don't need that one for beef . But she'll sell this fall, or maybe this spring if we don't need an extra calf.

The two will still sell for more than the price of one steer calf, even if they are a tad light. Beats a sharp stick in the eye.

[randiliana]

Oh, exactly. One of them will more than likely get pulled off and either be fostered on the nurse cow or a cow that loses a calf, or be sold to someone else who needs a baby.