Calving 2019 - Advice and Help thread

sonnybill

Big lad

grassroot1

greysides wrote:

You could try some Alamycin spray on the tests and look for a blue tongue in the calf... to prove the concept. If it works you'd need to come up with some non-antibiotic colouring.

I often wondered about spraying kitchen food colouring on the cows teats if the teats were licked clean at least you would know.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Lady Haywire wrote: »

And if they're stressed or under pressure coming out of the cow they'll pass it then too! It's never foolproof. The auld finger up the asshole to encourage them to press is a great job.....yuck though :pac:

Sure we're only farming for the glamour:D

valtra2 wrote: »

I have done the egg today.
I don't think me with a few pints of Guinness will help the calf....

You're wide awake anyway, valtra:D
The eggs are very handy for a calf recovering from a bad scour, my vet says they are getting access to a large quantity of protein from the eggs to help repair the damage done by the scouring.

oneten

Who2 wrote: »

I was talking to a lad yesterday who told me about using liquid paragon Mod: liquid paraffin as a calving lube. He said to fill a flexible stomach tube, insert the tube in around a few places around the unborn calf and squeeze in the liquid paraffin, that way you would soak the calf in it and he reckons the calf slips out like a wet fish. Has anyone ever tried it?

Doin' it for years, some job, its in a different league to that lube the vets use as its gets all over everything which is what you want, I use one of those auto fill drench guns with a hose down into a gallon of paraffin, and the the hose off a stomach tube fitted over the front steel tube of the gun ,hold the tube in your hand so you don't damage the cow and go along the calf's shoulder and pump with the other hand , get it around his shoulders both sides and don't spare it, hard to get over his head if he's big enough and if there's no space over his head you'll be glad you used it .
Cut the wee filter out of the snout of the gun ,it clogs with tiny bits of straw and you'd want arms like Arnie to pump it.
How much to use ? depends how nervous you are , more nervous--- more paraffin, more gooder !!
Generally a liter and a half does the trick but if you're really nervous keep pumping till its squirting back at ya.
No issues with cows licking calf or going back in calf
You know yourself you don't need to do it every time, but tis some job when you need that bit of help.
The stomach tube is a good idea if you have help , or lucky enough to have three arms.

downcow

greysides wrote: »

THIS was exactly what I was going to post. I see from a later reply you're feeding three times a day. I think four or five would be better, initially anyway.

Raw eggs is an old 'cure' but I think I remember being told they can't digest it...

A little bit of LIVE yogurt after the milk, a teaspoon or so, might help too.

I know a woman who reared a seven month premature calf successfully. The keyword there was 'woman' (and screw the sexists). You can't beat TLC and an experienced farm woman will know what to do from rearing kids and calves.

I would agree to be careful with the eggs. 30 years ago my dad had a real cracker of a pedigree friesan bull and was rearing it for pedigree sales. He put two eggs in its milk every day and it died at about 4 weeks Vet said he thought it was salmonella and that he was being TOO good to the calf

sonnybill

My fella calved 19.00 Friday only started sucking right there today , he flying now though and has the cow tormented which is great, wouldn’t want one of them again

tanko

Good stuff, you can start him in the creep feeder next week.
Levi has a skeletal figiure of 121 i think, very high for a CH, going to bring big calves. Will you have any more of them?

charolais0153

tanko wrote: »

Good stuff, y9ou can start him in the creep feeder next week.
Levi has a skeletal figiure of 121 i think, very high for a CH, going to bring big calves. Will you have any more of them?

Doon nust the job. Top 2% for muscle and skeletal,you'd see it in his calves too!

sonnybill

tanko wrote: »

Good stuff, you can start him in the creep feeder next week.
Levi has a skeletal figiure of 121 i think, very high for a CH, going to bring big calves. Will you have any more of them?

I gave him to other BA x LM cow and she not due til May 05th but will keep good eye on her

whelan2

Had a heifer calving this morning, just head coming, put her in crush and she kept coming back on top of me, wouldn't put her head out the gate. Got oh out of bed... I got the 2 legs up and calf was very tight. Massive Hereford bull. Have 7 Hereford calves now and no Hereford bull..

Lady Haywire

charolais0153 wrote: »

Doon nust the job. Top 2% for muscle and skeletal,you'd see it in his calves too!

If you can get them out......:pac:

Base price

whelan2 wrote: »

Had a heifer calving this morning, just head coming, put her in crush and she kept coming back on top of me, wouldn't put her head out the gate. Got oh out of bed... I got the 2 legs up and calf was very tight. Massive Hereford bull. Have 7 Hereford calves now and no Hereford bull..

Confusion with AI codes?

whelan2

Base price wrote: »

Confusion with AI codes?

No a one ball bullock

KatyMac

Just in from heifer calving unexpectedly in field! Supposed to be due to AI angus mid-April but was missing when the rest came for nuts so out oh and I went for a little walk! I could see her head thrown back over her shoulder so feared the worse. Massive white calf half out, not really stuck because when I put a small bit of a pull out it came. Heifer sat up and looked at me so we beat a hasty retreat. She must have been trying for a good while as it took a couple of attempts to get up but all seems good now.
Calf is lively and most definitely not an Angus, never missed her or had a visit from neighbour's bull 9 months ago that we knew of, but no harm, all is well and it has even stopped raining. They are in a nice sheltered/rushy spot in the field. Will go out in an hour or so and see how things are.

Mr..

Hi all, feeding oats and soya to cows near calving, what's everyone's experience wit it?

alps

whelan2 wrote: »

Had a heifer calving this morning, just head coming, put her in crush and she kept coming back on top of me, wouldn't put her head out the gate. Got oh out of bed... I got the 2 legs up and calf was very tight. Massive Hereford bull. Have 7 Hereford calves now and no Hereford bull..

You score that as a 4 on the calving survey....

When we have to get up to a cow calving we score it a 3...

When i have to get up as well to give the wife a hand, we score it a 4...

Base price

Mr.. wrote: »

Hi all, feeding oats and soya to cows near calving, what's everyone's experience wit it?

When you say near calving - how close to calving, what is their body score, what age/breeds and what are they in calve too, have you used the bull/ai before.

In the past I would have fed oats to in calf cows/heifers if their body score was low. I never added soya meal.

Mr..

roughly a month away, all ai, 2 first calvers and rest mature cows

Base price

Mr.. wrote: »

roughly a month away, all ai, 2 first calvers and rest mature cows

Did someone recommend adding soya meal. TBH I wouldn't as it will transfer to the calf.

Who2

Soya is a serious feed pre calving. Good quality colostrum and it keeps the cow right without loading onto the calf. I feed it here a good bit.

Lady Haywire

Calving 2019 off to a surprising start :pac:

Dozer1

Snap,
4th cow calved yesterday, watched her pop out these 2 while I was at work from the camera both up and drank themselves, typical the red is a bull and the grey is a heifer

Lady Haywire

Double snap! Red is a bull & white is a heifer with ours too.
Typical.....5 star replacement off Bivouac. :mad::rolleyes:

whelan2

Has anyone used the saler bull pzb? Had a monster of a bull calf last week off an aax heifer we bought in. Heifer was put down and calf was dead.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Double snap! Red is a bull & white is a heifer with ours too.
Typical.....5 star replacement off Bivouac. :mad::rolleyes:

Twins as well here today, both bulls.


Both doing well and back up to 100% now:)

Lady Haywire

Had to get the vet here this morning as cow was sick yesterday evening yet no water bag. I could feel the bag inside but didn't want to burst it to see what the story was as it was 3am :pac:
First calf was totally breech, arse coming & four legs points to the cows nose. Straightened up & popped out in seconds then! Followed by the two water bags

greysides

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Had to get the vet here this morning as cow was sick yesterday evening yet no water bag. I could feel the bag inside but didn't want to burst it to see what the story was as it was 3am :pac:
First calf was totally breech, arse coming & four legs points to the cows nose. Straightened up & popped out in seconds then! Followed by the two water bags

Was it alive?

john mayo 10

Had a hereford/saler cow calf here last night. Bought her last backend in calf to a hereford bull. She spent an hour walking around the pen with 2 feet sticking out. Pulled the calf and jesus a child woud have pulled it. And i dont mean it was a small calf. Just dog lazy. She never even lifted her head out of the bucket of nuts when we pulled. Id say she would calf an elephants calf. Must be the saler in her. A ch bull will be given to her this year all been well

Lady Haywire

greysides wrote: »

Was it alive?

Yep, both alive, vet was able to tell me the first one was at least as he was straightening out the legs. Prob close enough thing though but as there was no water bag I was doubting myself. Didn't want to call the vet out to a cow that wasn't even calving :pac:

Say my name

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Had a hereford/saler cow calf here last night. Bought her last backend in calf to a hereford bull. She spent an hour walking around the pen with 2 feet sticking out. Pulled the calf and jesus a child woud have pulled it. And i dont mean it was a small calf. Just dog lazy. She never even lifted her head out of the bucket of nuts when we pulled. Id say she would calf an elephants calf. Must be the saler in her. A ch bull will be given to her this year all been well

Keep an eye on her for milk fever.

anthony500_1

Lady Haywire wrote:

Yep, both alive, vet was able to tell me the first one was at least as he was straightening out the legs. Prob close enough thing though but as there was no water bag I was doubting myself. Didn't want to call the vet out to a cow that wasn't even calving

I've been that clown. Had a cow here last year she was going around for hours with her tail up. No bag out, vet came, took him 2 min to tell me she was not calving yet, said keep a close eye on her won't be long he says and off out the gate with him. 2 full days she was going around the pen with the tail up before she calved. I'd prefer to look like the clown then have the loss of a dead calf or possibly the cow as well.

Lady Haywire

anthony500_1 wrote: »

I've been that clown. Had a cow here last year she was going around for hours with her tail up. No bag out, vet came, took him 2 min to tell me she was not calving yet, said keep a close eye on her won't be long he says and off out the gate with him. 2 full days she was going around the pen with the tail up before she calved. I'd prefer to look like the clown then have the loss of a dead calf or possibly the cow as well.

Aye i know! But I knew well this one was sick to calve, just couldn't figure out why she wasn't getting on with it :pac:
Both twins mooching about the pen there now & went to suck her so that's one non-issue at least, thought i'd have to teach them as I just dragged the wee bull over to suck before he stood while the cow was lying down passing the water bag(s).

L1985

anthony500_1 wrote: »

I've been that clown. Had a cow here last year she was going around for hours with her tail up. No bag out, vet came, took him 2 min to tell me she was not calving yet, said keep a close eye on her won't be long he says and off out the gate with him. 2 full days she was going around the pen with the tail up before she calved. I'd prefer to look like the clown then have the loss of a dead calf or possibly the cow as well.

Thank god I'm not ye only one to make that mistake! Vet was not impressed but I got taught how to handle a cow after that so it was worth it!

patsy_mccabe

Saw it with a neighbours cow. Trying to calve for hours but no water bag coming. Turned out it was a twisted uterus.

john mayo 10

Say my name wrote: »

Keep an eye on her for milk fever.

Why?

Mooooo

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Why?

Milk fever can be a cause of a cow not progressing with calving,

Never wrestle with pigs

john mayo 10 wrote: »

Why?

Ya a bottle of calcium might not be any harm. As said allreddy if a cow is arsing around and not actually trying to calve and you handle and everything is presented ok I will give a bottle of calcium as it's probably early milk fever.

whelan2

4th set of twins born during the night. All have been angus

greysides

Patsy found this and posted it elsewhere. I thought it was well worth reposting here.

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Came across this today. Good explanation on stomach tubing.

squinn2912

Reminder of the importance of using the jack right yesterday. I angled it too high on cow and had the calf to the hips. It was working against her after slipping up and closing her. I couldn’t release it it was too tight so I had an almighty pull that was harder on the calf than it needed to be. Monster lim heifer. Bit sluggish to get going but sucked herself today.
10 mins later feet peeping out of another one. Wouldn’t play ball at all and needed to take her to another yard and crush to calve her. Bit more careful with jack this time and got the calf out a bit handier on him. Up sucking yesterday evening. Moral of the story; don’t be stupid and watch what you’re at!

squinn2912

Just meself calving now! Took a walk down to check a cow and she was licking at the cleaning she’s calved maybe 30 mins. Good tight lim heifer up and all. I’m very fond of that cow she’s a Charolais out of a lim out of a Monty that we bought to rear a couple of calves about 10 years ago. Orange with a white face she’s turning into a fantastic suckler. Back to the pit now!

squinn2912

And another new calf tonight. I swore by feeding them at night to keep them back but they’re picking their times these nights. Vet required but no operation thankfully. Weather not making things much easier

golodge

Another calf here too. Using a couple different breeds, but the average birth weight this season isn't going lower than 50kgs. Heifers are due in a couple weeks, so hopefully they'll knock it down a bit.

squinn2912

golodge wrote: »

Another calf here too. Using a couple different breeds, but the average birth weight this season isn't going lower than 50kgs. Heifers are due in a couple weeks, so hopefully they'll knock it down a bit.

Do you weigh them all at birth?

golodge

squinn2912 wrote: »

Do you weigh them all at birth?

Those which are born in winter-spring before going out on grass- yes. And count an average from those. I take notes of other calves too, but just guessing their weights and counting another average from those.

tellmeabit

in from 1st calving of the year. 3rd time calver, calved away on her own except i had to pull the bag from his head when out. did navel and left them at it. watched on camera and spotted another leg coming about half hour later, let her work away small calf. 15 mins later went back to her to give a hand. think calf wasdead at that stage. had to push back in calf seemed like one of front legs out with a back leg with other front leg down. calf out and dead.
i suppose i should have stuck the hand in to check when the 1st calf was small, but thought i was doing right thing giving her time to calf away herself when spotted 2nd one. didnt show in the scan as twins, but have another cow that has scanned with twins and looking for advice on what i should do for her..

Mooooo

If the first one was presented and she worked away that's fine, I'd go in fast enough for the second as at that stage she would be open and bring the calf without too much bother to her, second calves can often be backwards or whatever. So for the next one I would say once she has started handle to make sure calf is presented properly and leave her at it as normal but go in for the second then. Perhaps others differ.

whelan2

Did anyone ever see the thing the vet had for turning the calf last night? It was about 4 foot long, one end she put the ropes that were attached to the calf's back legs - calf was backwards and upside down - in the other end I put a steel bar and kept turning until the calf turned and wasn't upside down any more. Wonder would it work to turn a calf in a twisted womb?

patsy_mccabe

whelan2 wrote: »

Did anyone ever see the thing the vet had for turning the calf last night? It was about 4 foot long, one end she put the ropes that were attached to the calf's back legs - calf was backwards and upside down - in the other end I put a steel bar and kept turning until the calf turned and wasn't upside down any more. Wonder would it work to turn a calf in a twisted womb?

Was it this device?

whelan2

Probably along the same lines, plastic about 4 inches wide with a hole in each end. Every day is a learning day