Mom cow Question

[hamonsdexter]

You might remember from a n earlier post of mine I had a young first time mom about 19 months old give birth to calve that was dead next morning. that was a couple weeks ago. L see my cows at least daily usually more. Last night and this morning I have noticed long clean mucusy looking stuff hanging from her back side
What do you think it is. It is not bloody or dark at all

[carragheendexters]

Hi Chad,

she's probably in heat. They have lots of clear mucous when in heat, especially noticeable if they jump on another cow. Many cows come straight back in heat after calving. I don't think that you should stress.

regards Louise

[hamonsdexter]

I have never seen a heat cycle with mucus hang down 18 inches

[Gorignak]

THANKS Louise...Ditto on the gooey, clear mucous stranding from her vulva.....Late bloomer Guernsey/Jersey cross, she is 900 lbs and 17+ months old, and we have really toned her up since August......650 lbs up to near 900 lbs.
 Our shorty Dexter bull is gonna need all his wits about him to pull this off. He is sniffing pee spots a lot more now and spending lots of time in the Flehmen response mode. We have been anxious, watching her go from looking like she had a "coin slot" back there to the fluffy, puffy, shape it has taken.No blood "after the fact" yet, so we were a bit worried. Probably just slow on the start up......she has been eating us out of house and home on the $28. / bag minerals.....her coat has darkened dramatically (lots of oil....no more dandruff),and has a real shine now. SO....probably, just all around catchin' up.

Oh, and,  Louise....that is going to be a cow that can nurse 4 calves safely.

[Gorignak]

Ours....Guernsey, had 18" strands.....SURPRISED us also....gooey and clingy.....near clear.... We have not seen that in our Dexters.

Hmmmm...now you have me thinking....we could both have the same problem....so invite to the rest to describe amounts of discharge pre and post heat. Ours was a LOT...maybe 2 - 3 - 4 tablespoons over a couple days.

[carragheendexters]

Hi Chad,
it could be that she has more mucous after calving than what she previously used to produce. Everything is still settling down inside, her uterus has to involute completely and get back to normal business.
As long as it is clear, no colour, and doesn't smell, all is good.

Mike, quite often when you AI and the pressure of your arm up the cows butt and fiddling inside with the gun, mucous comes pouring out everywhere, lots of mucous, ICK! if you get it all over you. Maybe half a cup. I think different cows are different amounts of mucous, all individuals. Also I think probably bigger cows more mucous. When learning to AI we were doing Holsteins, LOTS of mucous in those ones in heat, boy I needed a box for some of those cows, my arm was aching by the end of the day, and so were my legs from standing on my tippy toes trying to reach.

regards Louise

[hamonsdexter]

Thank you for the expertise

[Gorignak]

Yeah Louise.....A good teacher is hard to find...these days. Please keep up the pace. Your info is great
That is some encouraging insight. We will save the vet $$$ visit for one more cycle and see if OZ is more interested....which brings me to ask.....Chad...are you holding the bull off her for a birthing window to suit your weather or preferences. Is he around and acting antsy. I only have a year in, but with a south wind and a pair of paddocks 300 yards apart, our bull KNEW exactly when the cows were cycling....EARLY. It took us about 3 cycles to catch on. He could smell them. I swear he can smell my neighbors 200 head almost 1/2 mile away when the wind is right.
Which brings me back to gooey Guernsey......Oz wasn't all that interested, even with all that discharge. We are two weeks out from the mucus event....he is definitely interested in the pee spots, more than before. And the old lecher has horns, and he likes to slip around behind the gals and flip their tails up. THAT is picking up now also. So, this week begins the countdown to 21 days out from the last event.

Oh, and one piece of advice I can ask for, and offer....pet grade Dexter cows will "stand " and roll their tail to the side for a good tailhead scratch. We may have screwed the pooch with how familiar the gals are. They are as bad as the Pyrenees, mobbing us for between-the-horns and back scratches. When we do it to the Guernsey, her tail goes straight up like a flagpole . Gonna be hard to pinpoint "standing" heat.
Please Louise.....keep the boots on and fill in the "cowgirl" questions.....much appreciated.

[carragheendexters]

Hi Chad,
I'm no expert, just been there, done that, and seen a few things. I'm still learning and love to pick the brains of more experienced people too.
regards Louise

[carragheendexters]

Hi Mike,
some heifers when they first start cycling don't always have fertile heats, they go through the motions without the ovulation. They can have a few heats before they start to actually ovulate. (Like young girls) I wonder if your bull is picking up on that?
regards Louise

[Gorignak]

I wish she would hurry up....with just a little exaggeration, her vulva is about at eye level for me....and I'm 6'3" !!! I know I will need a larger/taller bull the next go around with her. Guernsey straws are readily available on a routine basis from the local salesman....He visits the vets once a week. BOY, do I wish there were single Dexter straws available without all the fuss (for us with a few cows).

This morning's check showed a slight pinking up and the first hints of the mucus again. It is about day 16 from the last event. Her udder swells a little each time, and there are a pair of folds of skin forming on the udder's back...nascent bag development.....HOPEFULLY.....OZ is interested, but not overly protective yet.

ANY possible info to be gleaned from monitoring her temperature.....??