Start of Calving for Us

[randiliana]

Well, it has been an interesting start to calving around here. Lots of cows and heifers calving at the start, they waited for the due date, but then dropped with a bang. Course the weather was kinda miserable too, so that might have had something to do with it. Started off a few days early on Fegb 26 with a set of twins, one breech, but turned out well enough, both alive, although they are a heifer/bull set. Oh well..... Then Feb 29, due date, we had 2 one born fine and unassisted, the other one was dead when we found it, I think either it was backwards or had the sac over its head. The next day we had 2 born without problems, then another breech, at 5am. Gotta say, I love my video camera! Saved 2 calves that night because of it, the breech and another born outside in some nasty weather. Then we had 3 heifers in a row we had trouble with, one was just a head coming, no front feet, didn't figure there was a problem til it was too late, dead calf and a vet bill. Sucks, but what can you do, at least it wasn't a c-section. One of the others was a normal presentation, but taking too long, the other was upside down. Getting a little gunshy now, what with 3 malpresentations in 2 days. But since then everything has gone well, so crossing my fingers here, but hopefully we've got the trouble out of the way. Had 2 heifers calve today by themselves, one with a set of twins, so hopefully that means the trouble is done with. Weather has straightened out now too. 20 down, only 220 left to go.....

So here's some photos for you all.....

First set of twins


This one got a new mama....Appears the adoption went quite well.


2nd set of twins...


A heifer we bought from Coyote... Shorthorn x Angus.


The Breech calf


And the other one that was saved by the camera


The other adoptee, this one went well too, kicked them out with the rest after 24 hours...


And some of the other calves

[randiliana]

Big Stretch






And the freshest one, this heifers a pretty good mama....

[bama-newsteader]

Gorgeous photos!! Hope the rest of calving season goes well for you. You have some beautiful calves!!

[MO_cows]

Those white faces are sure cute! Like your calf shelters too.

[Karen in Alabam]

Gorgeous babies and Mommas too.

I think my favorite is the first black and white one curled up on the snow.

Thanks for sharing. Glad we have sunshine and fruit trees blooming and not all your snow.

[gone-a-milkin]

I like the big stretch.

Whenever I get to feeling blue about rough calvings, I will think of you guys up there doing it in the snow!and with beef cattle.
You make these big holstein bull calves that I am helping pull seem like a breeze.
Plus, we are only calving out about 100.
Piece of cake, right?

So far we have lost 1 heifer to a hard pull (she never got up at all after).
There is another who does have a torn uterus and likely wont breed back but she is coming into her milk now and her calf is fine.
She had a little bitty heifer calf, go figure.


So yeah, it is THAT season.
You do the best you can and get what you get and life continues on.

Thanks for the adorable pictures and the reality check, both.

[Tad]

Yeah, I think I will stick with dairy, dealing with 6-8 calves a month on average is stressful enough I can't imagine doing 200+ at once! Very fine looking cattle you have there hope the rest of the season goes smoothly!

[randiliana]

Thanks everyone. Enjoy the photos. Tad, it really isn't too bad. The cows take care of their own babies for the most part. It's a lot of work, but this is my favorite time of the year....

[bknthesdle]

I love the pictures! Hoping the rest of your calving season goes easier!