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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2015 16:06:40 GMT
My wife got home before me last night. So when I get home I asked her if she had checked on the cows she says yes no new calves. While she is making supper I go check to see how close they are and there is a new baby laying right next to momma. So I tell her dont know how she could not have seen it. After supper We go over to tag, weigh and pull tail hairs from the one the night before and the new one. Take care of the oldest one who is with her momma in the next padock over and then go back to take care of the new one who did not get moved before she calved and is still with the herd. It was hay knight so get ready to move everyone to the next padock so I can put out hay. Start moving them and my wife says Hana(the first calf from the year) is already over here. I say no she isn't she is right here. well get a calf count and find we do have an extra. find the mamma he belongs to and get him back with her. I dont know where it was hiding the whole time but mamma was sure happy to get him back.
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Post by genebo on Mar 27, 2015 16:10:29 GMT
I am sooo jealous. All those new calves to play with!
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Post by lakeportfarms on Mar 27, 2015 18:21:53 GMT
"Extra" calves are always welcome!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2015 19:59:02 GMT
not really extra we were still expecting him just didn't know he had already arrived. Hana our Colorado girl is 2 weeks old and we can still pet her. that is when she is not doing hot laps. I never had one not go though the scary stage where they would run from you. |
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Post by wvdexters on Mar 29, 2015 13:05:58 GMT
It is so nice to hear about all the new ones. We have a bit of a wait yet. I am as jealous as can be.
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Post by lonecowhand on Mar 30, 2015 15:40:33 GMT
Ditto with Genebo and Karrie!  Hans, How many are you getting a day now? |
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Post by lakeportfarms on Mar 30, 2015 16:01:14 GMT
Our last one was Saturday, and we're getting about 3-4 per week now between the Dexters and Highlands. Several more ready to go in the next week, and then a lull for a couple of months. We're trying really hard to move many of ours to September/October calving. So we might give them a break from the bull for a while.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 17:38:37 GMT
whats the reason you are wanting fall calves? I know some do it. I wonder if there would be any fertility issues. It seams like naturally they calve in the spring. For instance the colorado animals that I have were allowed uncontrolled access to the bull for many years and yet it looks like all of them I have are going to calve this spring. My concern would be if one didnt take right away then I might be looking at a winter calf.
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Post by genebo on Mar 30, 2015 19:00:55 GMT
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Post by lakeportfarms on Mar 31, 2015 0:26:21 GMT
I like the fall calves for a couple of reasons. In our area spring is often miserable, the cold lakes mean it's overcast a lot, things don't dry out, and the ground is muddy for a month or more as the frost comes out of the ground. The older calves do quite well, and in June they get weaned onto nice pasture. The other is because of timing to butcher for the steers. If I have grass finished, they 24 months or so of growing behind them, and they I only feed them hay for one winter on their own, the first winter they're on their mother. They get two full grazing seasons of nice grass to eat so they reach their full potential. If I have long legged steers that I'd like to carry a bit longer and grain the last few months, I can do that more easily by penning them near the building and feeding hay and grain. I can take them to the full 30 months this way and their condition really won't suffer much at all. Winter is nice and clean, everything is frozen so no mud, and fresh snow to cover things up on a frequent basis.
More people seem to want them in the late fall/early winter. They probably stay in and do more cooking during the cold and snowy winter months, and know that there will be hamburgers and steaks for the summer grilling season when the time comes. And last of all, when people are interested in starting a herd to eat their grass, they're usually ready for them in May and June, when the grass grows and they are outdoors more to enjoy them.
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Post by wvdexters on Mar 31, 2015 1:24:48 GMT
Hans Yes, I've noticed that fall birthing is becoming more common in this area too. There are a lot of good reasons for it, especially the grass availability. The pasture comes in thick when they are really ready to take advantage of it. Macklynn was our first-ever fall baby, and he is definitely ready to make good use of it. (as soon as it gets here) There are a couple disadvantages I think though. The new mothers lose the advantage of the fresh pasture, at least here in the cold weather states. Another, I think it is more difficult to work with the little ones in the winter cold.
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