Good thing she's gentle

I've got some stragglers that haven't calved yet. Got back to planting a little bit of corn today close to home,knew I only had to fill up two or three times,so I left the fertilizer wagon here in the yard. I was coming back to the house to fill up and an old Hereford had a pair of feet hanging out of her. I could tell by the way the ankles were bent it was coming right so I filled the planter before I went to tag and vaccinate it. Got out there and she was licking it off,but there was another full water bag hanging out of her. Oh-oh. I walked around behind her while she was distracted and saw a foot,but it didn't look right. Took ahold of it and sure enough,upside down. OH-OH! I waited til the water bag broke and she got distracted eating what hit the ground. I slipped the chain over the feet,hooked the handle and gave one good pull. She hunched up,gave one grunt and push and a live calf hit the ground. Given what happened a month and a half ago when I tagged a second twin too soon and the cow abandoned it,I figured I'd better leave until she had bonded with both of them.

When I got done planting,they were both on their feet,both trying to suck and she seemed to be taking them both. First bit of good luck I've had with calving all year!

Nice to have a little sunshine once in a while!!

Well I am glad you finally got some good luck. Those old Hereford cattle usually are great mothers. I really kind of miss them. They where much better browsers than the Angus we have now. Those Hereford cows would really glean a field and look fat doing it. These Angus cows will be standing in grass bellowing for feed.

I am glad that worked out for you, rrlund; I've had to pull 2 twins before and it did not work out or she rejected one.
I have been wanting to change my herd-I have black gelviegh/angus mix and for the last few years the calves seem more wild. I am more interested in very calm mannered cows and calves than anything else. They have been good mothers for the most part, but I've had issues too. One cow actually let me squirt milk into her newborn calf's mouth (born in the late snow); but I've had all the usual problems before too. I work 45 miles away and worry myself sick during calving time. I would welcome sugestions for a gentle breed that is calving ease! I want a breed / mix that the calves tend not to get goofy/wild after weaning and being fed all winter in the barn and the run of the barn lot. You would think that seeing me everyday would make them tame, but that's not been the case lately. Only the mommas seem tame and don't run when I walk thru them.
Thanks for any comments or ideas. Mark

I've only got a few Herefords left,mostly Angus now. I breed everything to Angus. The one thing I'd warn AGAINST is a Hereford Angus cross. Those calves are as wild as a mink. They'll spook and run through any kind of fence quicker than you can even think.

Hey! A little sunshine shining on you for a change!
Glad to hear it. How many calves so far this year?
Are you expecting more? (or should I say are they?)
There's a tractor pull up in Ashley this Saturday at 12:30
if you're not too busy. Older farm tractor style.
One of the guys I met through the forums is pulling so
we're planning on going to watch.

Twins are special. Glad it worked out well. We had Hereford Angus crossbreds for many years and they were very manageable. Black White faced we called them. Heard people call them Black Baldies. They wouldn't eat from your hand or anything but we had 250-275 head. When you have that many you don't handle them as much .At least we didn't. Not near as many cattle operations around these days with the high grain prices.

After that disaster in the mud in April,I've got 50 live ones on the ground so far out of 56 that have calved. I think there's about 18 or so to go.

If I can plant corn Saturday I'm going to do it. I have to go to my youngest grand daughter's graduation open house Sunday. She graduated this past Sunday,open house is this week.

That's the darndest thing. I've got some black baldie cows that are OK,but with the baldie calves,when I try to sort them or anything,they just don't seem to be "herd animals". They'll split off and make a run for it by themselves instead of staying with the group. Guess they grow out of it with age.

Glad it worked out for you. We all need a little good fortune now and then. Are you guys going to get together againat Owosso this year? Maybe I can make it this time.

I would imagine we probably will.

I have registered limousin. Heifer calf born in March started taking cubes out of my hand in the field after seeing momma do it. Not saying they're the perfect breed but the limousin association is putting docility rating out on cattle so you have some idea about gentleness. That said, there are two cows I wouldn't trust behind my back when their calves are less than a couple of weeks old. After that they settle down and are fine.

good news. Glad it all went well.

Jay