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Post by fernlanefarm on Jun 21, 2010 14:02:54 GMT -5
My cow is going to have her calf in a couple months. Right now, she lives in the field with her weaned yearling calf who is a steer. When she's ready to calf, what should I do with her? Should she be in a seperate pen from her older calf? Should she be in the barn or is outside in the field fine for her? She has lots of shelter options in the field. The field has options to seperate the cow and steer easily enough, but I wonder if she'd be stressed trying to get to him.
My poor cow...I feel bad for her being owned by such a rookie!
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Post by ctownson on Jun 21, 2010 15:28:09 GMT -5
Much also depends on your facilities. If you can easily separate her from the steer into a pen where the steer can still see and smell her I would. If this can be easily done you are significantly reducing your risk of anything bad happening during or immediately after the birth. By watching her closely, you should be able to tell within a few days of when she is ready to have the calf. charles www.beavertreefarm.com |
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Post by midhilldexters on Jun 21, 2010 20:04:32 GMT -5
I've had happen exactly what Genebo wrote about. I did have the cow in the barn, but I had the rest of the herd there to. The cow gave birth and a young inexperienced bull tried to jump her. The cow had the calf between her front legs but was trying to get the bull off her. I grabbed the calf and ran for cover, then swore at the bull calf and turfed his butt out of the barn. He was confused and young, it was a scary moment where a calf could have been injured, not to mention me!
So my vote would be to seperate them, and the cow and you can relax and enjoy the birth.
Carol
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Post by allmuxedup on Jun 22, 2010 18:28:17 GMT -5
I never seperate them. I just go count tails & what's under them, every morning if I've got a cow that's close. We've got one now who's teasing us something awful. She just gets bigger every day. Her vulva is total jello & she still won't let go!
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Post by fernlanefarm on Sept 3, 2010 11:08:48 GMT -5
She managed just fine even without me planning anything for her. She sent her yearling calf away and hid out in the thick bush to give birth to the cutest little heifer calf I've ever seen.  Big brother is a tad offended and likes to stand closer to mama than his little sister, but other than a bit of sibling bickering, they're happy with each other. |
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Post by Star Creek Dexters on Sept 3, 2010 21:55:45 GMT -5
Yay! Congrats!
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