First Calf Heifer Questions

brandonh · Feb 8, 2011

Jus wondering, should their be any concerns with 2 year old Black Angus Heifers with first calves? I mainly deal with calves, this will be my first, first calf heifers. Do they normally do alright first time around?

Nebraska Cowman · Feb 8, 2011

What's "normal"? They might need more attention that old cows. At least if they were mine I'd watch them pretty close. Although if they are bred to low birth weight bulls I don't much get up in the night with them any more. I check them the last thing before I go to bed and if all is quiet I figure they'll keep til morning.

Pair-a-dice farm · Feb 8, 2011

I'm calving out 45 1st calf heifers now. I bred them to a low BW bull and made sure they didn't get too fat. So far so good. Sometimes you need to show them what to do after they are born. Hint: bring plenty of beer to kill the taste after you show her how to lick the calf off :lol:

Anonymous-0 · Feb 8, 2011

Ours are calving now. We are checking them every 2 1/2 to 3 hrs. Mainly because it is COLD. Was -18 degrees last night, and only supposed to be -15 tonight! Will get one every so often that will need to be pulled. We pelvic measure them before breeding, which will get rid of some calving problems. Usually have one that doesn't really want her calf, but have always been able to convince her that she needs to take care of it. We usually wean them a little earlier than the cows, just to get them in better shape for the following winter.

IBorange in TX · Feb 8, 2011

Brandon,
To answer your question, some do and some have problems. First thing with hefs is to make sure they are bred to a light birthweight bull. If that calf comes out weighing 125-30pounds, you have problems. You want the first calf to be small, never large.
Check on your hefs several times a day. If one starts to just walk and walk, that one pay close attention to. She may have problems. If you have to pull a calf, call a vet, if you don"t want to do it yourself. Yes,there is an art to pulling a calf. Some people pull the calf while the cow is standing. It is easier to start the calf,then may the cow lay down and pull the calf while she"s down. I know some of these cowmen on here will disagree, but I have BTDT, in downpour rain, snow, and mud boot top deep. It ain"t fun, but it has to be done or loose a 2year old hef.
Good Luck and keep an eye open.
mb

brandonh · Feb 8, 2011

one should be bred to a black angus bull, the other Im not sure what bull got her but they should calf late spring early-summer so weather wont be an issue. I have them on another farm a mile or so away but I guess I'll probably bring them home a month or so before their due. I have a pasture that is right infront of the house close to a barn so I can watch them close. Just wondered if theY usually have any complicaions on first calves. Thanks yall

Erik Ks farmer · Feb 8, 2011

Brandon, if you haven't bought the heifers I would strongly advise getting some bred cows. I am looking at buying 25 head of bred stock and while cows are a little more expensive than bred heifers at the moment, I am going to buy cows to avoid some of the risk. Also, if you do by the heifers, look at the bull and see if they have data on him...low birth weight is critical with heifers.

tjdub · Feb 8, 2011

They're much more prone to calving difficulty on their first calf. I had bad luck last year and had one breach and one stuck calf out of 11 heifers. The stuck calf wasn't bred to a low birth-weight bull, so that wasn't too surprising, but the breach was just bad luck. Make sure you have a tube feeder and a fresh pack of dehydrated colesteum on hand. I usually call the vet to pull calves. It costs, but for me it's worth it because I would rather pay the service-call fee since it means there's a much better chance the heifer and calf will survive AND that the cow will give me more calves down the road when a pro does it than when I do it myself.

John A. · Feb 8, 2011

brandonh, I ditto what the others have said with this addition.....
About the time First calf Heifers give birth they will be loosing their Baby teeth!!!, So adequate feed and hay and Supplement is crucial at this time not to have pasture grazed off too close so the daily dry matter intake is easily eaten. Remember thy have just had a baby, are lactating, and trying to eat but it is hard for they are cutting teeth too!
Happened to me with a set of Tiger Stripped Heifers. Back in 1991. Hope this helps!
Later,
John A.

kyhayman · Feb 8, 2011

Did they just turn 2 or are they in the 2's? There are a lot of potential problems. I live with heifer calving issues since I've not sold a heifer calf since 1998. I breed all mine out and sell as either springers, cows and calves, or sell cull cows.

With heifers close to 2, and slightly under there may be some pulls. I usually lose 1 out of 30 or so every year no matter how close I check them. Calf wise, I usually end up saving about 8 out of 10.

As to challenges, heifers dont really know what to do. Nature tells them but sometimes they listen better than others. I saved one calf last week. She had him in a good spot except it rained 2 inches that night and we had snow melt. Little guy was right where the water was running. I got him in the tractor cab, got some rehydrated colostrum in him, and toweled him off good. She kept wanting to leave when he was out of sight but I managed to get him warm enough to get back to her before she got too far away. They made up and he seems fine now. 19 more to go here.....

JDseller · Feb 9, 2011

Yes these first calf heifers need more care. You may have to help get the calf out. I have had to put some salt on the calf"s back to get a heifer to lick him off. Also the heifer might not let the calf suck. Many of the traits of a good cow are learned. I have found that if I don"t let them have calves before they are 2 1/2 rather than just 2 I have much better luck and they last longer in my herd. That extra six months of maturity seems to really help.

Nebraska Cowman · Feb 9, 2011

No, if's later on when it's warm they will probably get along fine.

KYfarm · Feb 9, 2011

I hear the term "springers" a great deal around here in KY, what does that mean?

thanks

randallnMo · Feb 9, 2011

Pair-a-dice-farm.............you're flat "Ate Up"!! LMAO

M Nut · Feb 9, 2011

I sure agree on the maturity issue. We don't breed our heifers until they are a full 24 months, most are about 26 months, and it is rare that we ever have a heifer that doesn't accept the calf and go right to work with it just like any other mother cow. Breed them at 16 months, and they are as dumb as you'll find.

Bobl1958 · Feb 9, 2011

Around here it means they are pregnant. Sometime they say Heavy Springers meaning close to calving. Bob

brandonh · Feb 9, 2011

well one I raised from a calf. She just turned 2 and shes been with a young black angus bull, She hasnt went into heat this time so Im pretty positive she's bred, the other heifer is right at 2 and she's heavy bred, should calve in May so hopefully agewise thet'll be alright. I'll definetly keep a close eye on both. Weather will be in favor so Im thinking we'll be fine. Thanks everyone for the info

The Dukester · Feb 9, 2011

You never know for sure...I worked with dairy cows for many years..had to turn a couple, pull a couple and help first calf heifers more times than a few, especially after we had mixed grade cows and started using a high-grade holstein bull. Little Mamas...Big Babies....Look Out!

kyhayman · Feb 9, 2011

When the auctioneer uses it at Bluegrass-Lexington its referring to a cow or heifer 7-9 mo bred where the cows body outline has changed enough to tell there is a calf in there. Speculating that it comes from winter sales meaning that she will calve in the spring since most herds in Kentucky have a year round calving season.

First Calf Heifer Questions

brandonh

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Pair-a-dice farm

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IBorange in TX

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