How to Get out of mowing the yard!

[countryfied2011]

My two bottle babies have now grown up.....how can you have hamburger from this face? The first picture is my steer...his name is Goober and DH tells him all the time we are going to eat you one day. He goes to freezer camp this fall.

The 2nd picture is is my heifer, now if I could only find a Jersey bull to breed her to. They both will be two in July.

It wasn't easy raising these two from bottles, my first time owning cattle...thanks to this forum for all the info I gleamed from all of you~

[myheaven]

Can you ai your heifer? The local vet or feed store should know the ai tecs in your area.

[oneokie]

Mow and fertilize at the same time...........

[countryfied2011]

Originally Posted by myheaven

Can you ai your heifer? The local vet or feed store should know the ai tecs in your area.

I would prefer to AI her just have to find a JB around here and someone to do it for me. I never thought about the feed store..thank you

I am a little paranoid in breeding because of all the stories I read about calving gone wrong(besides I watch Dr. Pol..lol) I thought horses were a headache with birthing but it seems that cows have a hard time, then afterwards the problems with mastitis, calcium levels . Makes me think twice.

I got to the point I got so nervous with mares I started sending them out to breeding farms to foal.. Do they have birthing farms for cows..j/k

[Donna from Mo]

I have had at least 50 cows give birth over the years and only had one cow abort. Normally cows don't have big problems calving unless you breed a small breed of cow to a very large breed of bull. Even then there isn't usually a problem. People don't come to this board telling about what an easy birth their cow had because that's so normal it isn't worth talking about.

[gone-a-milkin]

I must be cold hearted because I could eat that Goober steer while looking right at these pictures of him.
That is going to be some delicious beef!

Good luck finding someone to AI that heifer.
Usually the straws of semen can be shipped so there isnt need for a close bull.
You may have a chance to get some really nice genetics that way.

I also agree w/Donna from MO that calving troubles are discussed way more than calving EASE is.

Just think of all that delicious milk she will make for you.
It is worth the worry and trouble.

[countryfied2011]

must be cold hearted because I could eat that Goober steer while looking right at these pictures of him. That is going to be some delicious beef

hahaha, DH says the same thing....gonna make some mighty fine eating!

Thanks yall for helping me build my confidence up..I am sure she will be fine. I see all the pics of where posters show their new calves and it eases my mind. I am going to spend the next few months looking for someone to AI and for semen...I would rather not ship if I don't have to, I know the in's and out's of shipping semen through breeding horses and it sometimes can be a nightmare. We do have a few Jersey dairy farms in Middle TN, maybe I can work something out with one of them. I wish someone on the board was here locally...

I took a 3 day class on collecting and AI several years ago with mares...but never actually inseminated...

[cathleenc]

Are you getting another calf to keep your heifer company once Goober makes his final trip off farm? Might be a good idea to get another soon so the heifer and the new friend are all acquainted well ahead of time.

[countryfied2011]

Originally Posted by cathleenc

Are you getting another calf to keep your heifer company once Goober makes his final trip off farm? Might be a good idea to get another soon so the heifer and the new friend are all acquainted well ahead of time.

I contemplated it but not for long...lol

My goal is to get her bred before Goober makes his final trip, and then spend more time with her in getting her ready for milking etc. She is halter broke and will lead, and will stand for brushing, and rubbing even on belly and teats(no I dont try and milk her..lol case someone asks) Get the stanchion built and get her use to it etc. I dont want to be trying to do this once she has the calf and having another bovine in with her will make it a little more complicated. She is right out my back door literally and the horses are in the pasture next to it, and she loves my GP dog so she wont be alone. It might be an adjustment for her at first...but that just means she will have to buddy up to me more..and that works to my benefit when it comes time for calving and milking. I think she will be ok.

[Jersey/guernsey]

You might want to rethink keeping her alone. Cows are herd animals, and can act out when deprived of all herd mates. Just my two cents

[countryfied2011]

Originally Posted by Jersey/guernsey

You might want to rethink keeping her alone. Cows are herd animals, and can act out when deprived of all herd mates. Just my two cents

Cows can act out even with herd mates..lol, horses are herd animals too, but I took care of my stallion from the time he was born until I gelded him two yrs ago, he is 11 now and he pretty much was alone except for me and the occasional chicken that would nest in his paddock unless I brought all the mares and gelding up to the barn. I do understand what your saying and I respect your input.

I think my steer would be more apt to act out if I took the heifer away then me taking him away, but we will see, if she becomes a problem I will look at other options.

I just wonder how those who only have one family cow deal with the situation, maybe someone will chime in. Good thing about it though she wont be alone for long..

[JPiantedosi]

Our local Vet will AI for roughly $55 a head, which includes all of the prep work (uterine insert to bring them all around together) and you can find straws of semen for reasonable $ on the interweb.

As far as them acting out. I have 6, 3 heifers a steer and 2 freemartins on pasture.... there is always a ring leader/escape artist in every group....

Jim