Calving and the Cold...

randiliana · #1 03/22/13, 05:53 PM

This year has been the worst calving season I can remember, at least as far as the weather goes. It has been cold and stormy for the whole month of March so far and the forecast is for the same for the rest of the month and into April. On the other hand we haven't had any major problems other than the temps. We've pulled a few calves out of the heifers and had 1 C-section.

The C-section heifer was out of a group of 4 heifers we bought as calves. They all calved within 24 hours of each other, we pulled 1, had 1 C-section, 1 calved on her own with a big calf and the fourth was bred to the other bull and had a nice little calf. C-sections calf wasn't that huge as far as weight goes, but his heat was HUGE!! She's heading down the road this spring, she's never shown any interest in him since we got him out of her.

We've had a few calves freeze parts of their ears off, but not too many I think. It's been a ton of work, but we've been able to get the biggest part of them up into the barn either before they calved or right away after they did. We have 10 10x10 stalls, and there have been nights where we've had 15 pairs in the barn.

Right now we are bottling 5 calves. 2 extra twin calves, the C-section and 2 off of cows that want to kill us, after we went to all the work of bringing their calves into the house to thaw them out this morning. We were going to put them back with their mamas this morning, but we couldn't get the cows into the barn (I was put over the fence twice) and you couldn't even walk up to the pen that they were in without having them charge the fence. One of them finally jumped a gate, and we just kicked the other back out. They were bad last year as heifers and worse this year...

So we've had a few calves that got a ride in the truck, to warm them up, and to get them to the barn. And this morning we had the 2 that we brought into the house. Then found one of the older calves that got caught between the watering bowl and fence, he was pretty cold and wet, but I think he is going to be ok.

And today is another nasty day. It isn't all that cold, but we have a cold NW wind, it was SE this morning. And it is snowing like crazy too. The mail truck hasn't been in for 3 days now because the roads are blocked so bad in places.

Anyhow, here's a few photos for you all....
This calf is now about 2 weeks old. I don't believe he lost much of his ears. It was around 0 F when he was born.
Calving and the Cold... - Cattle

This guy was born yesterday I think. He's fine, just got a quicker and less strenuous ride to the barn.
Calving and the Cold... - Cattle

And these 2 were born this morning. I'm not really sure why they were so cold, as it was fairly nice this morning when they were born, and it was still OK when we found them. We were lucky to get them away from their nutcase mama's too...
Calving and the Cold... - Cattle

bruce2288 · #2 03/22/13, 06:34 PM

Yep "and so god made a farmer"

opportunity · #3 03/22/13, 06:43 PM

I've never had to use a barn for warming them up but this year we had the first two freeze to death and have had to warm up 75% of them. We also had our first one that was turned wrong almost lost the cow and calf. We keep getting horrible wind and snow and then the cows think it's time to have babies

pygmybabies · #4 03/23/13, 08:25 AM

I love the calf in the front seat!!!

MO_cows · #5 03/23/13, 09:32 AM

That RWF calf is a tank! Sorry it has been so tough on you guys this year. 5 bottle babies must take a big chunk out of your day.

We had one "surprise" calf in late December, didn't spot the cow was so close. Went out in the morning, it had been 10 the night before, and there was this tiny new calf inside the extra (empty) hay ring. By the time we could get to the gate and walk around to it, it got itself out and was latched on and nursing. The cow must have done a good job tending to it and getting it dry.

randiliana · #6 03/23/13, 07:34 PM

Calves are pretty tough. If there is no wind they can get going in some awfully cold temperatures. The first 1, the grey, was born outside when it was 0F out. She had him out in the big pasture (we missed her when we sorted) and the biggest reason we had him in the truck was just to get him up to the corral. He was a bit chilled, but he had sucked.

We sold 4 calves today, with this lovely weather, it is pretty hard on calves, and you have to be pretty diligent if you aren't going to lose some. I put an ad up last night and had all the ones we wanted to move gone by noon.

bknthesdle · #7 03/24/13, 09:28 AM

It's been pretty cold here in ND at the start of our calving season. We've had some -20/-30 wind chill temps. So we've been doing the ever 2 hour check around the clock. Even by doing that, and getting the cows moved into the barn before they calve, we have still ended up with some parts of frozen ears. It was just so cold and the wind just right that the barn wasn't a whole lot warmer than outside.

It's warmed up a tish since and we've been using beanie winter caps that were on sale for .25. We cut off a hole in the top of the cap and use them to go around the calf's ears and keep them penned to the body until they are dry.

We've had a couple of hard pulls (95+ lb calves) and one upside down and only one first time calver with no milk so we have a bottle baby that we've left on mom just in case we need a spiker calf later on.

We have found that alot of the cows aren't giving the signals they normal give when calving so it's been very hard to catch them. Don't know if its the cold or what. Yesterday, I think it warmed up to around 20* and we have a huge run on calving. We had 6 cows calve. 5 of them all started calving at the same time and all delivered within 2 hrs of each other. It was definately an interesting and busy day.

So far the total is 12 heifers and 9 bull calves. We have around 50 more cows to go.

Yvonne's hubby · #8 03/24/13, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bknthesdle

It's been pretty cold here in ND at the start of our calving season. We've had some -20/-30 wind chill temps. So we've been doing the ever 2 hour check around the clock. Even by doing that, and getting the cows moved into the barn before they calve, we have still ended up with some parts of frozen ears. It was just so cold and the wind just right that the barn wasn't a whole lot warmer than outside.

It's warmed up a tish since and we've been using beanie winter caps that were on sale for .25. We cut off a hole in the top of the cap and use them to go around the calf's ears and keep them penned to the body until they are dry.

We've had a couple of hard pulls (95+ lb calves) and one upside down and only one first time calver with no milk so we have a bottle baby that we've left on mom just in case we need a spiker calf later on.

We have found that alot of the cows aren't giving the signals they normal give when calving so it's been very hard to catch them. Don't know if its the cold or what. Yesterday, I think it warmed up to around 20* and we have a huge run on calving. We had 6 cows calve. 5 of them all started calving at the same time and all delivered within 2 hrs of each other. It was definately an interesting and busy day.

So far the total is 12 heifers and 9 bull calves. We have around 50 more cows to go.

Ok, I have seen a lot of calves but you have my curiosity aroused.... What breed of calves are those in the photo at the very bottom of your post?!?!

Allen W · #9 03/24/13, 07:50 PM

Yvonne's hubby

I'm pretty sure them calves are lambs.

randiliana · #10 03/24/13, 08:32 PM

Candice, it has certainly been an interesting day. The busiest we've had it was 15 calves in 24 hours. And it was cold then. We are about 2/3 done our own cows, but the cow's we're custom managing are only about 1/4 started, so I expect we will have a few more busy days. We had 8 yesterday, and so far today. Have 1 in the barn calving and 3 more in the 'gonna (maybe) calve soon' pen across from the barn right now too.

I've noticed that a lot of cows aren't really showing a lot before they calve, and we've lost a couple because of it. We are getting smarter though, we are getting a lot more picky when we sort!

Living Skies · #11 03/24/13, 10:00 PM

This weather has been terrible, worst winter I can remember. My uncle lost a set of twins in last thursdays storm, born right in the worst of it and even with 2 hour checks these two didn't make it. He's had calves in the house on and off the last few days too.

randiliana · #12 03/25/13, 12:58 AM

Well, it's another lovely night for calving, unbelievable, it is -20 C or slightly below 0 F, but at least there's no wind. Pulled an upside down one earlier and have 5 more in that are either calving or just did. At least they were co-operative about coming up the hill into the barn tonight! Hopefully none need a trip into the house tonight.

bknthesdle · #13 03/25/13, 08:47 AM

Wow! You are busy! Thankfully yesterday was relatively mild compared to Saturday. Only one. We feed in the evening in an attempt to keep them from calving in the middle of the night. But it seems this year that feeding throws at least one of them into labor. Last night was pretty cold with the wind chill..(the kind that after a few minutes makes your jaw feel numb if you don't have a scarf...which I didn't.) I had gone to let the dogs out and I glanced over at the pen and saw a couple of cows dancing around but didn't hear anything. Ran inside to tell hubby that I think someone calved. Ran back outside to get the dogs and yup, I hear bellowing. Run back inside, hubby is dressed and headed over to the pen. I am throwing my bibs and coat and boots on like a mad woman. Run outside and sure enough..not an hour and a half from feeding and last check (where there wasn't any signs of a cow about to calve) there was a cow with a calf. Hubby got the sled and got both of them tucked away in the barn. I think we were lucky to catch him in time. Seems like he will keep both ears.

Btw..we use banamine and penecillin on any calf that we suspect to have frozen ear parts.

ETA: The calves in my signature are Katahdin lambs.

Yvonne's hubby · #14 03/25/13, 09:07 AM

ETA: The calves in my signature are Katahdin lambs.

Thanks for clearing that up, fer a while there I thought my jug had gotten the better of me!

francismilker · #15 03/25/13, 12:28 PM

QUESTION: Have you ever thought about moving down south where there's not -20 winters?

That countries' made for moose and beaver, not cattle!

bknthesdle · #16 03/25/13, 01:17 PM

Not every winter is this cold. Last year, we didn't get barely any snow and even kept the hoses in the drinker and used them for watering. I am a southern transplant. I'm from Alabama. The good things about living up here- no tornadoes (none near me in the 12 yrs I have been here.) No hurricaines, and no cockroaches. But I do miss my azaleas and planting my garden in march.

Went out this morning to find a calf with a broken leg and a filly of mine had jumped a low fence and cut her leg up.

JoePa · #17 03/25/13, 07:57 PM

I read where so many people have to pull calves - why is that? - I watch the incredible Doctor Pol on TV and it seems that's all he does - it doesn't seem that it is natural to need to do this - what's up anyway - thanks - Joe

randiliana · #18 03/26/13, 01:01 AM

JoePa, sometimes we need to assist. This year has been exceptionally easy, we haven't had to assist that many, 11/145 so far 3 of those were malpresentations and all but 2 of the rest were heifers, with calves that were just a bit too big. We like to assist as soon as possible(if needed), that way you have a good, strong, healthy calf that gets up to suck right away, and a cow that is energetic in mothering her calf and also that breeds back sooner.

ycanchu2 · #19 03/26/13, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randiliana

JoePa, sometimes we need to assist. This year has been exceptionally easy, we haven't had to assist that many, 11/145 so far 3 of those were malpresentations and all but 2 of the rest were heifers, with calves that were just a bit too big. We like to assist as soon as possible(if needed), that way you have a good, strong, healthy calf that gets up to suck right away, and a cow that is energetic in mothering her calf and also that breeds back sooner.

Ever thought about moving your calving up to about the last of April or May?

MO_cows · #20 03/26/13, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePa

I read where so many people have to pull calves - why is that? - I watch the incredible Doctor Pol on TV and it seems that's all he does - it doesn't seem that it is natural to need to do this - what's up anyway - thanks - Joe

If you just let nature take its course, cows and calves will die. If they are bred right and fed right, you won't have to assist very many, like what Randi described.