Cows calving at night

Brown Swiss · Jan 1, 2018

is really cutting into my beauty sleep, just got in from helping a cow have a bull calf, first one this year and only an hour into the new year. Got to get some Zs and do
it all again in a few hours.

farmerwithmutt · Jan 1, 2018

I cant remember exactly how it went but the time you feed cows will affect calving time . But i remember many cold runs to the barn i wonder how a security camera would work. Be careful i slipped on the ice once not sure but think i got knocked out for a spell good thing it wasn't real cold that night.

Bruce from Can. · Jan 1, 2018

Get Jerseys, rarely every pull a calf, and few twists. Cows just lift them tails , and a calf falls out, lol

showcrop · Jan 1, 2018

When we had sheep we found that they tended to lamb early in the morning, just before the usual feeding time. So wait until after 9:00 to start chores! I could always see if my neighbors had gone out to do chores in the winter by the tracks that they would leave pulling the mixer wagon. Some times they would not do morning chores until after 11:00.

Lazy WP · Jan 1, 2018

They say feeding beef cows at night will get the to calve in the day. I say a cow is gonna calve when she durn well gets around to it, and usually its not on my time.

rrlund · Jan 1, 2018

Same with Angus. If I pull one every two years it's unusual.

Andy Martin · Jan 1, 2018

I've heard feeding in the evening causes day calving but I feed in the morning anyway. My cows take care of themselves. I've only pulled one in the last twenty years. I'm a novice anyway.

rdandersom · Jan 1, 2018

When I had sheep they were on hay 24/7 but I fed their grain at 930 pm before I left for work. The wife would check about 2 or 3 am but nothing ever seemed to be happening. Most lambs came between the time i got home in the morning and noon. Often before 9 am.

Determined · Jan 1, 2018

(quoted from post at 09:57:18 01/01/18) I've heard feeding in the evening causes day calving but I feed in the morning anyway. My cows take care of themselves. I've only pulled one in the last twenty years. I'm a novice anyway.

We feed mid to late afternoon.

95+% of our calves hit the ground during the day.

When the full moon comes around it messes things up for a few days and we will get a handful of night births.

Its all based on how full the cows gut is, a certain amount of room is required for the calf to get into position before labour can start.

centash · Jan 1, 2018

Not like Holsteins! Got pretty good at handling nearly any kind of calving....at any hour....even doing my own episiotomies.....They were not pretty, but sure prevented a lot of air suckers.
Ben

tractorguy1951 · Jan 1, 2018

I told dad I wanted to start feeding in the evening. He said I would have to get new equipment because it took all day to get everything running.

1370pwr in ne · Jan 1, 2018

We have found what you said to be very accurate for our herd too.

Brown Swiss · Jan 1, 2018

I didn't really have to pull it out, I just helped out. I like to make sure every thing is going alright, don't like coming back to the barn in the morning to find a dead cow and calf, or a down cow or anything like that. Never know when one will be backwards so a little lost sleep is less costly in the end.

Cows calving at night

Brown Swiss

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farmerwithmutt

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Bruce from Can.

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showcrop

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Lazy WP

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rrlund

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Andy Martin

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rdandersom

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Determined

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centash

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tractorguy1951

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1370pwr in ne

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Brown Swiss

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