big momma

rustred · Mar 7, 2023

had the first calf this year as she does most times. a little bully. she always has lots of milk but the teats are so close to the ground i
have the most trouble getting the young guy to suck. this time i just left her alone and let nature do its thing and the little guy found
the gold. that saved a lot of hassle.

Kow Farmer · Mar 7, 2023

Momma cow looks good. Her udder should give the calf plenty of milk, no doubt. Thank you for the picture. Kow Farmer.

Bruce from Can. · Mar 7, 2023

I got another new calf this morning too. Cow and calf are together in a big pen inside the barn. I havent seen it suck yet, but she sure has it licked off nice.

rustred · Mar 7, 2023

i was keeping an eye on them taps and once they looked clean and shiny i knew i was safe. i mixed up a bottle of colostrom and took it out with me but didnt need it. question... how many hrs. is too long for the first feed ? it was in the minuse 20's at night so was concerned about his ears , but ya she sure looks after it and bunted me away so i could not get too close . she is about 10 years old and think this might be the last calf for her, as she walks pretty slow. her mother gave 15 or 16 calves.

rustred · Mar 7, 2023

ooh yes, the milk was dripping out while she was drinking.

jhwis · Mar 7, 2023

I'd say more than 24 hours in that weather and the calf would be in pretty tough shape. They can make it a few days in summer.

rustred · Mar 7, 2023

i kinda thought the same , thanks.

GermantownGreen · Mar 7, 2023

Good job there, we're still not started yet..
It'll get cold yet.
GG Wes

miangus · Mar 7, 2023

I see that this is my calf look in the first picture. Aways the worry do I try to get a better look and upset the balance or just stay back and hope for the best. There is always that key period where the cow needs to stand still so the calf can find its way.

MARK ROBKE · Mar 7, 2023

Ideally you want the calf to get colostrum in less than 6 hours after birth-the sooner the better in cold weather. Our county extension agent told me once that they intubate every first calf heifer's calf, because their colostrum is not as strong as a 2nd- 3rd calf cow. I lost a calf last year in a (surprise) snowstorm that I has 'assumed' had nursed. I got it in the barn ok with the mother, but lost the calf. I waited maybe a day to give it colostrum, but it was too late. And I really knew better. Mark.

560Dennis · Mar 7, 2023

Yum ,Hereford milk , makes a great butter

ADB-Ia · Mar 7, 2023

I always wanted them to have nursed within 6 hours. Intervention before 12 hours. This is for the calf's sake. You want to get them started nursing before the calf gets stupid (most cowboys know what I mean). That is for your sake. I've cursed a calf and walked away for a few minutes to cool down several times in my calving days.

rustred · Mar 7, 2023

Exactly. I like them to be the boss. And sometimes u get a real stupid calf. Dont know the front of momma from the back.

rustred · Mar 7, 2023

Yes , we used to take turns shaking the 2 guard jar when we were kids while watching bonanza.

SweetFeet · Mar 7, 2023

Aw, cute. He matches his mama in the looks department.

caterpillar guy · Mar 7, 2023

We always either watched them suck or milked some out to feed right away no fooling around since that first feeding is the most critical to the calf. Several years ago we had a bunch of retarded calves didn't seem to know enough to suck the first feeding so had to milk the cow then practically show them how to work the nipple pail. A couple we used a drench type feeding with a bag that has a tube on it have to be careful not to drown them with that. I like to have calves standing to feed them to prevent that.

Geo-TH,In · Mar 8, 2023

I was told when bottle feeding a calf to keep the bottle close to the ground. That keeps the milk from getting into the calf's lungs. Maybe that's why cow's dinner plates are close to the ground.

miangus · Mar 8, 2023

That is a good sign, the licking of the butt seems to stimulate the calf to seek the utter. I have Angus and any attempted interaction, sometime even getting a good look causes the cow to get the calf moving away from my prying eyes. I had a cow that would not stand still during that critical period. Had being the key word. Either you're a good momma or you are gone. I have a couple who are shall we say cautious regarding human contact, and it is very difficult to handle the calf. They both provide a very nice calf every year, so I keep them.

730virgil · Mar 8, 2023

calves got to love em. biggest regret about selling my cows not able to watch calves.
I would laugh watching little bull calves fight with each other. they would push and shove then one of them would take running tail up in air and chase each other.

big momma

rustred

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Kow Farmer

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Bruce from Can.

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rustred

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rustred

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jhwis

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rustred

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GermantownGreen

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miangus

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