First heat after calving

[Olga]

Did you know that most cows are not fertile for 60 to 90 days after they have a calf? And the period may be longer in 1st time heifers.

Link: The Cow-Calf Manager

And a University of Idaho study on 50 dairy cows found only 5 cows who had an actual standing heat approximately 30 days postpartum. The majority of the cows have a "silent heat" where cows don't exhibit "standing heat".

Link: How soon after calving do cows show heat and evidence of first ovulation?

In the mean time, we have heard of many Dexters who calve twice in less than one year. Cinderella in Oregon had a set of twins, then a set of triplets 11 months later!

Well, now we can add Maxine to the list of Dexter-fertility proof: she is in standing heat today, 33 days postpartum.

Of course, this doesn't mean that she'll take on this 1st try, so I'll be keeping a close eye on her 18 days from now.

[Olga]

Well, it looks like Maxine may have bred on that very first heat. She looks real close! The gestation calculator gives a due date of June 25, but that's + or - 5 days, right? So who knows, we might have an early calf!

[carragheendexters]

Ah yes, when they quote those times for rebreeding they are talking about highly stressed dairy cows and poorly conditioned beef cows, not highly fertile Dexters. The condition of the cow also has a lot to play in returning quickly. Well conditioned cows come back cycling very quickly. Poorer condtioned cows take the traditional 90 days to be rebred.

I was told in my AI course that the 2nd heat after calving is the most fertile, (whenever that may be) and if AI'ing to wait for that heat to implant the semen instead of the first heat.

This year we had one of the old cows calve 9months and 2 weeks after her last calf. I was happy with that as it brought calving into Autumn. Then again after having this calf sure enough she was back in heat within 2 weeks after calving and bred by the ###### bull (who went through the fence including the hot wires) she was the other side calling him and encouraging him. We needled her as we didn't want summer calving.

I'm not surprised that she took so soon after calving, Dexters in good condition are just so fertile.That is the hardest is controlling when they calve, if they run with the bull all the time their calving time keeps creeping forward through the seasons. You must have her good in condition and she has good fertility.

Good luck with her calving and hope you get a heifer (if that is what you want).

[Olga]

Leaving the bull with the cows for the first 3 months after calving is my only solution to avoid getting pregnant heifer calves. This way the cow might be bred early, but the bull is separated before the heifer calves start cycling. Heifer or not, we'll be happy to get a good healthy calf. Thank you!

[zephyrhillsusan]

Olga, how soon do your heifers start coming in season?

[Olga]

I had one get pregnant at 5 months old. The same year another breeder had one that got pregnant at 4 months old. I didn't like worrying about this happening.

[zephyrhillsusan]

But I should be okay at three months, right?

[Olga]

I would hope so!

[Deleted]

I hope so too. As I have a 3 month old heifer calf with her Dam and the bull right now.

[Olga]

I forgot to mention that Jasmine was looking real close too... and what a wonder, both cows calved today! Both had bull calves, Jasmine's is a dun/horned, Maxine's is black. Jasmine had Jupiter on August 29 last year, so she must have come in heat about 20 days after. Wow!

[Mare]

Wow that is some information. I still have beef cows. And I have had good luck with A.I them every other year after weaning. I wean my calf's at 8 to 10 month. So I have 10 month before I get my first Dexter's. I'm still learning, about them. Holly has giving me a lot of information. And my new adverture will be on milking and dealing with a smaller cow.

[lonecowhand]

Olga, You referenced a Cinderella in Oregon who'd had twins. Is this a living cow or historical reference? Who's was that?
Is twinning in cattle hereditary, like with Humans? Thanks, (I want one!)

[emsshamrock]

Oct 29, 2014 16:05:37 GMT -5 lonecowhand said:

Olga, You referenced a Cinderella in Oregon who'd had twins. Is this a living cow or historical reference? Who's was that?
Is twinning in cattle hereditary, like with Humans? Thanks, (I want one!)

If I recall, Sandi Thomas up in Oregon has had multiple multiple births. The cow Cinderella had both twins and triplets. She can be seen here. www.thomasdexters.com/index.asp?ID=20

[Olga]

Just a side note... the purpose of my Cinderella reference was for the close calving interval, especially when under high demands of multiple calves. But I never intended to glorify twinning in cattle. There is a reason why it isn't common - cows aren't designed that way, it isn't the best for either the mother or the babies. Same as in horses, twinning puts an extra strain on the cow's body that can lead to birth complications and even death of the cow and babies. The treatment for horses is different: a responsible breeder is supposed to have the mare ultrasounded early on to determine if she's carrying twins, in which case the pregnancy is aborted. This isn't the case in cows, where breeders can only hope for the best - that there will be just one strong and healthy baby. Also, let's not forget that bulls who are twin to heifers have a high probability of low fertility, while those heifers are likely to be a freemartin (infertile).

[RedRidge]

We run bulls with our cows year round. Some cows calves every 11 months, some every 12 months. We pull heifer calves out of the main herd between 4 and 5 months. This not only prevents early pregnancies, it allows for easier, earlier halter training. We leave steers on until it's convenient... Sometimes 8 months or so.

I prefer to calve in the spring and fall only so for those who tend to move back a month each year I will sometimes hold them out of the herd an extra cycle if I don't want them moved back another month.
It doesn't always work as planned however - for instance this coming year our spring calves will all come in April but our fall calves are spread out July, Aug and Sept (ugh). I prefer to calve in Oct in the fall because this always assures us of not having to wean heifers (or seperate bulls or cows with older heifers from the herd) in the winter. This means the entire herd can stay together during the cold icky winter months of Jan and Feb. Much easier on me as that's when I feed round bales - fewer winter management groups means less work.
This also means I tend to sell most of my spring born heifers since I'd be weaning them in the fall and have to over winter them separately.