Calving 2024

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122017616#Comment_122017616

You can use him for SCEP this year, he qualifies on his July and September evaluation last year. If a bull qualifies on any single evaluation as far back as July last year he’s ok to use for SCEP this year. Check with the Herdplus section in ICBF tomorrow.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122012178#Comment_122012178

Update - so the calf sucked yesterday morning and I gave her electrolytes and a synulox bolus and the dung was thickening up nicely into a normal yellow colour so thought she was over the worst of it.

Went out this morning to find her making a very runny dark brown scour with blood through it. She seems in good form and is still sucking the cow. I gave her a 3rd synulox bolus and will give her more electrolytes also today.

Wonder why has the scour changed from yellow to brown ?

anthony500_1

Ive finished up my last calving for the year, between one thing and another I only had 5 to calf this year instead of my normal 10. Ruthless culling and trying to AI replacements from my own stock bull left me short on numbers but anyways it's done for this year.

3 bulls, 2 heifers.

The 3 bulls came massive all had to be jacked and very hard calvings for all 3, lost 1 calf all over it. The 2 heifers came small handy sizes, and calved unassisted.

Using the same stock bull since 2020,and most years I didn't have to jack anything. 1 at most any of the years. All cows were outwintered, they only got silage and grazing no meal etc they only went into the shed 2 weeks pre starting to calf so they were fit definitely not fat.

It's really annoying me as to why the bulls came so big and the fact I lost one, when the heifers are only on the small side.

Could anyone give an eye opener as to why the bulls came massive??? Or something I could do differently going forward

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122018893#Comment_122018893

wax the gestation any shorter on the heifers to the bulls? Did all the Dams feed calves last year?

anthony500_1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122019473#Comment_122019473

I don't know about gestation length as didn't see them bulling/been bulled and the scanner man I used was next to useless. They all reared a calf till last October and all were 4th to 6th calvers.

That's what's annoying me, they all got the same treatment, would have been bunched together from the day they went with the bull till they calved down, calf's weaned same time etc.

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122018292#Comment_122018292

Did you get it tested to see what type of scour it is or did the vet say???

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122019856#Comment_122019856

You couldn’t do any more. We all go through the same. You’ll get cows who put condition on themselves and deliver a small calf, others to starve themselves to deliver a monster.

minerleague

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122018292#Comment_122018292

Sounds like coccidiosis?

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122020070#Comment_122020070

+1.

I would get Bovicox (3ml/10kg orally) or similar from the Vet and dose asap. I would also ask your Vet about Gabbrovet to treat for four or five days.

I've heard farmers and Vets saying that calves cannot get coccidiosis during the first three weeks of age which is nonsense. Four years ago we had a six day old calf that had confirmed case of coccidiosis - dung sample tested by our Vet and a second by Oldcastle Laboratories. Our Vet at the time said that there are always exceptions to every rule and never rule out those exceptions. Unfortunately that Vet retired from large animal practice but she was by far the best Vet that I and OH have ever had the pleasure to work with and was an integral member of our business.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122019926#Comment_122019926

When I had the calf at the Vet on Friday he said he just looked like a really bad scour from the milk being rich and didn't test it.

It's only today the scour has turned a brown colour.

In fairness the calf is in great form today so I'll keep a close eye on her and contact Vet again tomorrow if scour continues.

Lime Tree Farm

AS far as I'm aware the October 2023 stars will carry through the duration of scep.

Anto_Meath

@Lime Tree Farm yes that's the rule as far as I know, only on the farm that the animal was on in October 2023. Plus any prodigy will a start rating based on the star rating the date the calf was born.

When it comes to starts I am going with the strategy of keeping more females than I need. That way I can keep the cows I want.

whelan2

Calves dont get coccidiosis until they're over 2 weeks, they're not born with it, they meet it.

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122021725#Comment_122021725

Yeah calf in great form this morning so hopefully over the worst of it now.

Katie 2018

Any tips for first time calver not letting calf suck.born last night taken well to it except for feeding. Got it fed this morning when put cow in calving gate

Sugarbowl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122022079#Comment_122022079

a bit of time. Nuts in headlock of calving gate. After a few sucks, chance her head free with just the nuts. They be up and running in no time. Happens to us all!

patsy_mccabe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122022079#Comment_122022079

If she's a heifer, her udder might be sore. It will just take time.

older by the day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122022079#Comment_122022079

Ya, stick at it, a few times a day. When the calf gets strong, he/she will get a drink alright. I find sudocream takes the soreness from any cross heifer here in the milking parlour. Maybe rub on a layer after the calf sucks in the morning.

Mind yourself, anyway, in case you get a kick

893bet

give her a good draw with someone holding the tail. Will be less sore to get calf on then when pressure is off. Keep close eye for mastitis as that could be the issue.

patsy_mccabe

Had a heifer calve here today. Yesterday I put her into a field near the shed with a few cows. Checked her late last night and she was gone. Found her after 30mins in a far field, but near the calved cows. Left her there and this morning let her back into field with the cows.

She calved away today no problem, but wouldn't let the calf drink. Kept kicking him away. Checked her a few times during the day. same every time, kept kicking the calf. Tried her one last time this evening. Kept rubbing her along her back for about 10 mins with a long stick and she never kicked.

Whatever it is about rubbing their back, it just calms them down. Saved me a lot of messing with my old trick, of getting them into the shed with the transport box and lassoing the calf.

patsy_mccabe

Pulled 2 bull twin calves for a neighbour earlier. Went from thinking we had a dead calf to 2 live ones. First calf was coming backwards with both legs down. Had first one out a good 10 mins, before checking the cow for a second.

funkey_monkey

Is this something to be concerned about. On left shoulder of calf. Not sure what it is. Calf is under the weather with a bit of a temp. Got ajag for pneumonia, but noticed this has appeared. Don't think it is any thing but can anyone tell from a photo? The red ring inside the balls patch is the issue. Not sure if he was been rubbing or what, looks like he or cow had been licking it judging by the lie of the hair.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122065710#Comment_122065710

What are the little white bits on the hair - maggots?

tellmeabit

The white bits look like grass seed.

Might be that he has been rubbing off something.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122068014#Comment_122068014

Maybe. I was thinking ringworm when I saw it first but the white bits threw me. You would normally see ringworm around their eyes, muzzle or ears first before it spreads along their neck/shoulders.

whelan2

Would it be lice?

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122068073#Comment_122068073

Nits?

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122067262#Comment_122067262

Don't think so. I think straw chaff and seeds.

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122068014#Comment_122068014

That's what I thought, although I thought the redness on inside would be something sinister - maybe it's just brushing or marks from rubbing. Just looks a bit odd. I'll keep an eye on him anyway.

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122068073#Comment_122068073

He is a fortnight old, I'll check tomorrow if I can use the spot on.

whelan2

We had a very young calf a few years ago and when we looked at his hair closely it was full of lice, you could see them moving. Vet was treating it for something else and showed us them.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122068410#Comment_122068410

At two weeks of age he is within the age range for ringworm but I've never seen it showing like that in six week old calves.

mickdw

I have a 6 week old bought in calf here that is not right. Off his milk and alittle wobbly at the back legs.

He gets up no problem but head abit droopy and generally lazy.

He had a cough but that seems to be gone now after getting injections.

Any ideas?

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122068541#Comment_122068541

Jeez, you would be better off contacting your Vet that gave you the injections.

Jb1989

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122068541#Comment_122068541

Maybe pneumonia. Take to vet and let him listen to lungs and heartbeat

golodge

Heifers started calving here. Only one leg and head present, so had to intervene.

279 days gestation, incalf to culard charolais, bull calf. Heifer is around 80%%lim.

8 more left for the following three weeks.

Base price

@golodge lovely hay and many of us Irish farmers would like to have it as feed. We have had wet weather since July last year and hay/straw became very expensive and difficult to locate. What is the weather like with you now. I presume the cold temperature and snow is gone.

whelan2

Only a handful left to calve here. Have them out in a paddock beside my parents house. One of them was messing around a good bit today, went to bring her in this evening-luckily while my dad was at mass- she went for us. Brought jeep out and got her into crush. Calved her. Glad I didn't ask my dad to go out and look at her. You can never be too careful

golodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122072134#Comment_122072134

Feed price here is really high as well. It was very dry last season, grass yield was smaller by 70% than usually.

We had snow for three days a week ago, +20°C today. That's probably the third time this spring with such drastic change from +20 to snow in a day.

Anto_Meath

Caving 24 finished. Synchronised 21 cows / heifers 26th June 2023. 20 held, I thought I had 7 repeats but as it turned out only had 5.

First cow calved 30th March & the last one the 29th April. Cows 1-16 all calved themselves outside no issues, did give 1 a little assistance but that was more cause I was there than anything else.

Cow 17 had a bad start last September / October, calf born very weak, red lamp, bottle feeding, drip and all but he didn't make, I assume it was some hangover from the cow been sick.. she was marked for culling this year anyway.

Cow 18 calved outside Thursday afternoon all good, then on Saturday morning the calf had a massive swollen front knee & wouldn't stand or drink. Joint ill, so bottle feeding for the weekend and a few shots of antibiotics but thankfully she appears to be on the mend.

Cow 19 first timer, calved Saturday evening, made it quite clear she didn't want me around and was in similar humor on Sunday so left her in the padock.

Cow 20 sick to calf yesterday morning, 4pm yesterday she had taken up with cow 19's calf. Wouldn't let cow 19 near him. Got all into the yard separated cow 20 from the calf and put mammy & calf back in the padock. Cow 19 not happy with either me or her calf. But by 8pm she had made up with the calf again thankfully, but I think I am still on the not trusted list. Handled cow 20, feet presented strange, so called the vet, calf was upside down with his head twisted back. In fairness to the vet she spent a good bit of time slowly working him around and getting all right & thankfully landed a big lump of a bull calf without the need for a section so that's a good result.

You don't win them all & it was a very busy month watching them, but happy with how it went and I have a nice even batch of calves.

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122079694#Comment_122079694

That's a super success story. Lovely and compact and 20 cows standing with 20 calves of their own. @Anto_Meath being done in a month is a great feeling. Last year I managed it in 36 days

Bit tougher here this year. 2 left to calve of 25. Synced 5 heifers and 4 cows. 6 held to first serve. Calving started on the 25th march with the heifers in calf to an Angus and then a week break until the cows kicked off. Few issues with calving, 3 with legs down, 2 coming tail first into the the world, one of these lost. 1 case of pneumonia outside with a 2 week old calf, jacket and a shot of zeleris sorted that.

Of the 2 left of calve one is spring up well and will be calved in the next 5 days, the last one will drag towards the end of may.

Compact calving with sucklers is vital. It's as easy to be watch 3 or 4 to calve as to the single one. The big thing is being strict on the day the bull is pulled out or finished when when the last straw goes in. 9weeks is plenty.

A small tip that I have found handy over the years is to only bred heifers that have calved in the 1st 3weeks of calving. These are the ones that their mother's have gone in calf to the 1st serve. Sets a good foundation for the future.

The big question for @Anto_Meath will you sync this breeding season

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122079694#Comment_122079694

good results. What protocol did you use, were all in standing heat afterwards or did you use FTAI. Trying a bit here to shorten the season with mixed results

Anto_Meath

@mr.stonewall I will be synchronising again for the coming season. Its more for ease of catching the cows coming into heat with working full time.

CIDR's went in on the Wednesday evening the 15. Think they were taken out Saturday morning 24th with a shot of Estimate and then AI'ed all on the Monday evening.

My vet put in CIDRs and told me what to do. I know they should have been AI'ed on the Sunday but he said it was no harm to go a day longer with the CIDERs in so as not to be AIing on the Sunday.

Put heat detection patches on the cows Saturday the 8th July & put a little bullock out with the cows. Had the repeats over the weekend 14 -19. Anything I seen that was red was AI as soon as the technician could arrive. Some of them were standing for heat others weren't so I don't know if it makes much of a difference.

Katie 2018

How would synchronising work when using a stock bull??finished up calving two weeks ago first calving heifer. Would like to her calving time back abit

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081946#Comment_122081946

It works easily. Just keep the bull away from here. Follow the protocol for FTAI on here and ai her. A few days after ai, let her back in with the bull to pick her up for repeats.

The problem arises if you have big numbers for repeats, puts the bull under pressure. In a herd of 20-25 an experienced bull will have no issue with the repeats after FTAI,

RD10

Hi all,

Have had two deformed calves born over the past few days, according to my vet there has been a few born like this over the last while. Anyone else experiencing this?

Wondering if it's schmallenberg or something else. Vet blood testing tomorrow.

West of the country

golodge

Two new calves from heifers in two days. Due date was on the 3rd.

French lim JT sired heifer out of 75%lim heifer, assisted with ropes.

The first and only so far bazadaise cross heifer with 75% bazadaise bull calf, unassisted.

Had 5 heifers synched for the 3rd and there are still two not calved yet, one charolais incalf with charolais and one blonde incalf to blonde.

Anto_Meath

Had some of last years calves in yesterday. A few of them are bred off the AI bull Knell.. good cattle happy with how they are doing and shaping up, but feck are they nervous compared to other my other LMs like Zag & Propper. Anyone else find this with Knells off spring.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122135545#Comment_122135545

and Knell is one of the top rated for replacements! Docility should be more of a factor for replacements.
Have a load of knell here myself. Not noticing any particular wildness from them yet.

Lime Tree Farm

Very pleased with knell maiden heifers, easy calved, good milk and mothers. Anyone else notice, some bringing twins.