When's calving starting 2021

tellmeabit

Nice, good drop of milk too

squinn2912

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Tight squeeze.

Aw class outfit!!

squinn2912

Phew!! Big lame girl calved herself. I was keeping an eye during lessons then showed the kids who were mesmerised

That’s 21 now and down to the last 7

grassroot1

squinn2912 wrote: »

Phew!! Big lame girl calved herself. I was keeping an eye during lessons then showed the kids who were mesmerised

That’s 21 now and down to the last 7

Brilliant great post

squinn2912

grassroot1 wrote: »

Brilliant great post

Thanks lad yea I was a bit concerned because she’s the one with the prolapse as well as having very bad feet. My father had more confidence in her and he was right. She’s a strong girl. It’s great when they can do all themselves. Calf up and all in no time.

squinn2912

I know this is a bit of overkill but didn’t she do well to pop that calf out

patsy_mccabe

That's a big calf alright. Talking to a vet this week and he said calves were coming very big this year. He was doing a lot of caesarean sections.

Sugarbowl

SA Highfield Odhran bull calf out of an AA xSA heifer. She needed a good pull - very tight around the rear end - but once the head came we were fine. a little too much condition on her I’d say but making a great bag of milk. He came a lovely red colour when he dried out so happy out!

RD10

Cow with the bit of a prolapse calved this eve.
CH bull calf, coming backwards.
She had room so pulled him without it being too traumatic on man and beast thank god.

squinn2912

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

That's a big calf alright. Talking to a vet this week and he said calves were coming very big this year. He was doing a lot of caesarean sections.

Yea we had the vet out about a fortnight Ago with a calf that sprained or broke his leg. She was saying thy were inundated with caesareans then and on Friday he said the same so I think we’ve been lucky so far

squinn2912

RD10 wrote: »

Cow with the bit of a prolapse calved this eve.
CH bull calf, coming backwards.
She had room so pulled him without it being too traumatic on man and beast thank god.

Great stuff you’ll be a bit more relaxed now. I don’t think it does them much harm but it’s hard to look at.

High bike

Got a surprise on the slats today,a nice little Knell bull from a first time calver did it all herself 25 Mt's old and only 280 days

tanko

It's great when things work out well like that, is the heifer an Aubrac X Friesian?

tellmeabit

My big girl is up, water bag out nearly 2 hours. No toes yet. Put hand in a good bit,skinny legs and head coming alright. Give her another while to show the legs yet.
Fingers crossed

High bike

tanko wrote: »

It's great when things work out well like that, is the heifer an Aubrac X Friesian?

was worried as she looked very big had her on hay and a pre calver for the last month.You got it half right Aubracx Ch and seems to have a nice drop of milk.Have 2 more due to Knell in the next couple of weeks

curiousinvestor

tellmeabit wrote: »

My big girl is up, water bag out nearly 2 hours. No toes yet. Put hand in a good bit,skinny legs and head coming alright. Give her another while to show the legs yet.
Fingers crossed

Whats d chain on the neck for????

minerleague

All calved for 2021, brought last one in today as slow to progress, calved alright but turned a bit nasty after. when calf went to suck gave her big bucket of ration and dairy nuts , knelt behind her where she couldn't see me and helped calf to suck. didnt want to chance him not getting milk on his own. All red calves this year ( never before ) even though have some black lim X lim xfr and lim x aa x fr cows. No vet No scour 1 use of jack , shur might go again for 2022

High bike

minerleague wrote: »

All calved for 2021, brought last one in today as slow to progress, calved alright but turned a bit nasty after. when calf went to suck gave her big bucket of ration and dairy nuts , knelt behind her where she couldn't see me and helped calf to suck. didnt want to chance him not getting milk on his own. All red calves this year ( never before ) even though have some black lim X lim xfr and lim x aa x fr cows. No vet No scour 1 use of jack , shur might go again for 2022

if only every year was like that

tellmeabit

curiousinvestor wrote: »

Whats d chain on the neck for????

If I need to the her up to the h iron to handle or jack. Can get awkward when they throw themselves down sometimes.

tellmeabit

Like this..

patsy_mccabe

That chain is a good idea. Handy to get a quick grip on them, if they start acting up.

tellmeabit

They normally quite enough but have 2 that can loose it for the 1st few hours. Handy to get a calf sucking too, besides strugling with cow and calf at same time. When you don't have an awesome set up, make the best of what u gots

tellmeabit

Lil heifer calf. Bb5223. Was defo expecting bigger.
Pushed her out as quick as flash once toes showed.
Up and sucking.
Still watching out for a 2nd but doesn't look like it now.

Sami23

Sugarbowl wrote: »

SA Highfield Odhran bull calf out of an AA xSA heifer. She needed a good pull - very tight around the rear end - but once the head came we were fine. a little too much condition on her I’d say but making a great bag of milk. He came a lovely red colour when he dried out so happy out!

Question for ye lads that calf outdoors like this one that needed a pull.
How do ye get ropes/jack on the cow in the middle of a field or even get her to stand quiet while your at it ?

I know it sounds a stupid question but just wondering as sometimes I struggle to get the odd one of mine onto the calving gate

tellmeabit

Bucket of meal and then into the shed if that doesn't work. Trying to calve them all inside this year. Normally when they have started they would let you help but always 1 or 2

patsy_mccabe

Sami23 wrote: »

Question for ye lads that calf outdoors like this one that needed a pull.
How do ye get ropes/jack on the cow in the middle of a field or even get her to stand quiet while your at it ?

I know it sounds a stupid question but just wondering as sometimes I struggle to get the odd one of mine onto the calving gate

I calve them in a small paddock right beside the shed. Ideal in fine weather and when they calf away on their own.

whelan2

Sami23 wrote: »

Question for ye lads that calf outdoors like this one that needed a pull.
How do ye get ropes/jack on the cow in the middle of a field or even get her to stand quiet while your at it ?

I know it sounds a stupid question but just wondering as sometimes I struggle to get the odd one of mine onto the calving gate

Calving paddock is beside the yard. If they won't stand I just run thrm into the crush. Had 3 calved this morning. One who was too nosey to push, one calved herself and another I had to pull as it was a big calf.

minerleague

Sami23 wrote: »

Question for ye lads that calf outdoors like this one that needed a pull.
How do ye get ropes/jack on the cow in the middle of a field or even get her to stand quiet while your at it ?

I know it sounds a stupid question but just wondering as sometimes I struggle to get the odd one of mine onto the calving gate

Try to calve as many outside as possible, If they're calving a while and not making progress they seem to not move around too much ( esp if water bag has burst on ground ). If you get the calving jack ropes on and pull by hand they try to push with you. Now having said that from knowing the cows there is 2 i put in a day or two before calving as they be wicked from the moment the calf drops.

squinn2912

tellmeabit wrote: »

Lil heifer calf. Bb5223. Was defo expecting bigger.
Pushed her out as quick as flash once toes showed.
Up and sucking.
Still watching out for a 2nd but doesn't look like it now.

Would a calf go through them bars onto slats?

tellmeabit

Ya they could the first few days, but normally try keep cows out back for day or 2 of wet or cold. Straight out if I can at all. They have a creep gate to allow them in one bay.
I may leave rest of those calved out today. Have couple to dehorm before letting out.

charolais0153

tellmeabit wrote: »

Lil heifer calf. Bb5223. Was defo expecting bigger.
Pushed her out as quick as flash once toes showed.
Up and sucking.
Still watching out for a 2nd but doesn't look like it now.

Is he gray

tellmeabit

charolais0153 wrote: »

Is he gray

You tell me. Think so. Seems a tingle of red around the head at the mo.
Can I say she is roan?
I will admit I'm a little puzzled by the size and lack of muscle really. Having seen another calf from same bull in neighbours farm and knowing this cows history. I will say I'm delighted she calved on own and didn't have any drama. Another cow was bulled same bull and same time is still holding on. Will see what they are like.

tellmeabit

Going to put them out in the morning and see what she like in daylight

Dozer1

2nd calver popped this lad out in an hour this morning

TooOldBoots

Dozer1 wrote: »

2nd calver popped this lad out in an hour this morning

fine calf, worth holding onto that cow

Sugarbowl

Calving season 2021 concluded here today - a little angus heifer off a first calver to keep the father happy who would have them all calving to Angus if he could. Our only black calf of the year. I would estimate 70% calved between 6am and midnight. The last 4 calvings have been daylight hours. Done in a little over 7 weeks with 100% AI. Could have been tighter only for the last 2 repeating. My calf pens are well packed tonight. Loved this thread all Spring - enjoy reading all your calving expeditions! Now all I need is a bit of sleep, rainfall, and we’ll be rolling!

patsy_mccabe

Dozer1 wrote: »

2nd calver popped this lad out in an hour this morning

Is that cow quiet? She has the head of a very quiet cow.

squinn2912

This heifer just calved this sim bull calf. Bit of a pull would’ve been handy except she went down I thought the game was up but no got him out when she lay out again

squinn2912

Two in one kinda night & another side door job heifer wee bit small and very muscly but 2 living bull calves isn’t a bad nights work.

whelan2

How much does a section cost?

squinn2912

whelan2 wrote: »

How much does a section cost?

Haha aw don’t. I think £170?
Will find out when we get the bill for a few months.

Mate debating Angus he’s getting 700 for weanlings. If that weanling gets 900 he’s still not leaving as much. What price do you put on not getting to bed?

Gudstock

squinn2912 wrote: »

Two in one kinda night & another side door job heifer wee bit small and very muscly but 2 living bull calves isn’t a bad nights work.

Good result anyway, what is the breeding of the section pair? 3/4 lim and sim calf??

Dozer1

@patsy she's as quiet as a lamb have 3 generations of her here and they'd hardly get out of your way, to be fair most here would be pretty docile

mr.stonewall

Only started calving in the past week. 10 calved so far including 4 in the past 12hrs. One loss of a set of twins coming arseways. Will a big dent made in the calving by this day week. Cows are out by day in an acre and cow back in at night.

mr.stonewall

squinn2912 wrote: »

Haha aw don’t. I think £170?
Will find out when we get the bill for a few months.

Mate debating Angus he’s getting 700 for weanlings. If that weanling gets 900 he’s still not leaving as much. What price do you put on not getting to bed?

Easy calving has to be key for heifers get the first 2 calvings out easily and you can make a plan from there. The time spent on hard calvings and sleepy calves can be unreal and factoring in the odd loss. Your mate may not be far off the mark. Add in the AA bonus on them when they are hanging up and the less meal to get fat cover on them, it makes a good plan

Hard Knocks

whelan2 wrote: »

How much does a section cost?

€250

Suckler farmer

Only 3 heifers left to calve here. What’s an acceptable % of heifers that should calve down on their own to an unproven bull with easy calving figures? We’ve had to put jack on about half. Seems thats calves are coming slightly bigger this year. Heifers are just gone 2 years and mainly lim x fr. Looking back on it silage quality was a bit too good for them. Were getting minerals at least 6 weeks prior to calving

Sami23

Suckler farmer wrote: »

Only 3 heifers left to calve here. What’s an acceptable % of heifers that should calve down on their own to an unproven bull with easy calving figures? We’ve had to put jack on about half. Seems thats calves are coming slightly bigger this year. Heifers are just gone 2 years and mainly lim x fr. Looking back on it silage quality was a bit too good for them. Were getting minerals at least 6 weeks prior to calving

I suppose along with the slightly bigger calves this year maby due to good quality silage your heifers are quite young also.
I prefer to have my heifers nearer to 3 than 2 when calving just to give them a chance to grow.

squinn2912

Gudstock wrote: »

Good result anyway, what is the breeding of the section pair? 3/4 lim and sim calf??

Yea that’s it. At the time of bulling I wanted to let her run on to autumn as she was a very muscly heifer and was being bulled along with girls 3-4 months older. When you see the difference with the Charolais girl it makes you think. Lucky enough to have live calf. He now needs to be worth 200 more than an AA etc to pay for himself (not to say an AA couldn’t go the same way)
Thinking we’re gonna have to pick out some of the better cows and get maternal ai into them. Three sections and three hard calvings all in a few days is heavy going. Same time around here the heifers nearly always need help at the least.

charolais0153

Suckler farmer wrote: »

Only 3 heifers left to calve here. What’s an acceptable % of heifers that should calve down on their own to an unproven bull with easy calving figures? We’ve had to put jack on about half. Seems thats calves are coming slightly bigger this year. Heifers are just gone 2 years and mainly lim x fr. Looking back on it silage quality was a bit too good for them. Were getting minerals at least 6 weeks prior to calving

Unproven?
To answer your question, I'd say 1 in 10, should be assisted.