Oh Boy. I Hope This Isn't a Trend!

in-too-deep · Mar 25, 2018

Had another set of twins out of another heifer this morning at about 3. Same colors and bull/heifer. They're all doing fine but man we're stating to get nervous. Going to be a long spring at this rate.

rrlund · Mar 25, 2018

Better call Guinness. LOL

I've never had a pair of twins from a heifer. I shouldn't have even started calving yet,but like always,a bull got out and bred one before he should have. I had a nice heifer calf born Wednesday afternoon. It was sunny and calm,so the calf got off to a good start. I wouldn't want a new wet one out there in that cold wind today though.

M Nut · Mar 25, 2018

I haven?t had any twins yet this year, and really don?t hope for them as it is a 50/50 chance at best that things go well in my experience. But two sets in a two days, that?s kinda crazy! Glad it is going good for both sets and mamas.
We had 7 calves born last Sunday, and have a total of 14 as of this morning. So far so good for us, just been a busy week! (Another 35 to go.)

Philip d · Mar 25, 2018

Do beef cows usually clean ok with twins? It's a big problem with Holsteins.

old · Mar 25, 2018

Wife told me this morning one of her goats had 3 kids last night. This is this goats first kids so that is an odd one

in-too-deep · Mar 25, 2018

These ones didn't have any trouble cleaning.

in-too-deep · Mar 25, 2018

Yeah it's a raw wind. Wife found them very shortly after birth so they didn't get too chilly. They're in the old barn now. Drafty, but way better than outside.

in-too-deep · Mar 25, 2018

Good luck with the rest! Looks chilly the rest of the week.

paul · Mar 25, 2018

I assume you missed out on the miserable snow up there the past 2 days. Man this is a nasty winter. I don't recall 8-12 inches of water soaked slush falling from the sky on 12 inches of mud on top of three feet for frost in the ground. What a mess.

Twins are sure a challenge with the cattle. We had a spell in the late 1970s where dad got a lot of them, seems 2x the calves means 8x the issues in cattle.

I had a set a few years ago, she had them out in the cornstalks in snow of course. Got her to the barn with the calf (all I realized at the time) went through the field and here is a calf all by itself. Looked and looked for the other mom, finally dawned on me - twins?

Got the calf in tot he barn, and mom had stepped on the first one, broke his leg, and she didn't care for this second one, sure was a mess and nothing gained for me that day.

Paul

in-too-deep · Mar 25, 2018

We got lucky. Only a couple inches Friday night. Flurrying now as I type, though. Couple more inches coming.

Russ from MN · Mar 25, 2018

Sounds like you have an ambitious bull! Your not getting the best weather there for calving, hope you have someplace inside for them. When I was young we would have enough open space in the hay shed this time of year and we would bring cows with new calve in there. We are up on the CA border and it's still nice here, but windy. Supposed to get 3-5 in Bemidji, going home tomorrow.

in-too-deep · Mar 25, 2018

They go in the barn as they come. Only have 4 pens though. Could make 5 in a pinch. Maybe you shoulda stayed in AZ?

notjustair · Mar 25, 2018

I?ve had terrible luck this year. I kept back 20 replacement heifers. They are all calving in a nice timely manner, but about 2/3 of them aren?t accepting their calves. They always do after going through the chute for a couple of days but it is getting old. The last one I had to tie both legs for two days before she gave in. They are all excellent and protective mothers now, but they aren?t starting out easy. I?ve never had anything like it in the (probably) thousands of cows that have gone through this farm.

I?ve got 20 more heifers from fall calving I kept to add to the group. I?m starting to wonder how that batch will do. I?m getting tired of convincing heifers to be a mother!

formenwhogrow · Mar 25, 2018

There's a simple solution that would alleviate a major headache in a lot of this discussion......my cows don't get to meet the bull till around the tenth of July. NO CALVES TILL APRIL-MAY. Green grass, warmer weather, and working with Mother Nature instead of against her is much more satisfying. There's a reason calves aren't born with a winter coat. As far as twins or singles, not fighting mud, wet, wind, and cold gives everyone a better chance at survival. Live calves are worth a heck of lot more than dead ones.

Mark in Upstate · Mar 26, 2018

I Haven't had too many issues with cleaning.
I give the Dam pails of warm water after she has cleaned the calf, this usually helps induce her to clean, working with Mother Nature and the amniotic fluids.

Oh Boy. I Hope This Isn't a Trend!

in-too-deep

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M Nut

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old

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in-too-deep

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