Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Rural Living Anybody calving?

Sitting here by the fire, sipping some good Scotch and being very, very grateful that I'm not out in the blizzard pulling a calf.

Mid March start here in northeast MT.

Start early to mid February.

I'm heading to Nebraska tomorrow afternoon. How are things there now? I am headed to the Thedford area to work.

Tarkio,

Call ahead!!!

I can't speak to the weather in North Central part of the state but the Northeast got pounded. Snow of 10-15" and 40mph winds. It's supposed to warm up tommorow and Wednesday...I'd give it a day or so before I would try the roads in that part of the world.

Good luck and safe travels!

Not calving but have a few nannies that should be dropping kids soon. They were missed in the first cycle so were a little behind the main group.

It's really not hard to know when they are going to drop kids. Simply check the 10 day weather for the coldest, wettest day...and it will be that night.

will start calving the 1st. of march, about done lambing. should have about a months of rest before the calving

Shudder!

Got the wife checking all the routes for the best.

Leaving here tomorrow midday and then probably driving a good chunk of the night to get to my job on Wednesday. Client there said snw was expected to stop this am. I am assuming/hoping roads will be decent by tomorrow night.

Thedford!

If you're headed to Thedford from the south, I would recommend that you buy food, drink, books, fuel, and anything else that you might need in North Platte, since Thedford is, well, rural. If you're staying at the Roadside Inn bring ear plugs, as the Burlington Northern main line is across the street and passing coal trains are almost an hourly event. I don't know where you can buy breakfast in Thedford and the lunch and dinner options aren't all that good either.

I'd expect RT-83 to be clear by the time you get to North Platte.

We should start about March 1st.

How was your trip?

No. Thank God.


First of May.

I never was a 'big time' cattleman, but I did grow up on a farm and when I sold out, I had about 45 head all total. Reading these type threads and seeing the pics reminds me of what I did different. I'm not saying my way was any better, just different, and I realize being in the south made a lot of difference.

For instance, I preferred fall calves. Milder winters, bigger calves to sell in the fall, and plenty of hay, made it work better for me. I would put the bull in with the cows around Dec 1st and remove him about March 1st. Any cows/heifers that didn't calve by Dec. 1, meant a little extra Christmas money (only happened a few times). FWIW, I fed plenty of hay and always kept a 3 to 1 cotton seed meal and salt out for free choice feeding.

There was a thread about banding calves the other day. I banded them (my wife did too, when I was working away from home) when they were a day or 2 old, for years. But I got to noticing that those calves had more of a feminine look and didn't bring as good a price. Since I was going to work the cows in the late spring anyway, I started cutting them, at that time, and I liked it better. Call me old fashion, but I always cut calves by-the-moon (plant things by-the-moon, too).

Most of the cattlemen, where I lived, preferred spring calves, and I understand why.

Not implying my way was any better, it's just what worked for me.

Calves are starting to hit the ground now. 14 lives ones in past 2 weeks. Only 30 or more so to go...Hoping the warmer weather holds on for a bit.

At the higher elevations of WY and the higher latitudes of Montana we don't often have calves drop before mid March. Sometimes---but relatively rarely.

That would SUCK to be calving right now...

Calves should start dropping here in March during a big snow storm or ice storm.

Weather is hard to guess nine months out. We calve in late April, even that is too early some years.

That's the one advantage to having not many cows,and being in PA, is that we can bring them into the barn during the nastiest weather if needed..I prefer to leave them outside. A lot less work than carrying calves into barn and having momma on your tail wondering where you're taking her little one

Got one early one the other day...

Mine are just starting to come. This is from this morning.

Nice looking young cow, and calf.

All mine were bought as bred heifers. This will be their third calf. Put an ear tag on the little sucker this morning, and we had quite a tussle. Never had a day old calf that strong, unless it's me getting old and weak.......which, come to think of it, could be it. I wanted to band him too, but could only find one nut. Since I have to do most of the work myself, I like to band them when they are small.

I say we have an 11 month calving season. That is because most years there will be a 30 day period when no calves are born. A new calf is welcome here anytime. Excepting keeper heifers we sell what is big enough in June and again about October.

Have had a few pop out already. One came yesterday smack dab in the middle of rain, ice, and wind. Momma took it off somewhere. All that was left was the afterbirth the dog puked up.

Jim

my family's farm started calving two days ago. Two down and about 105 more to go.

20 down and 25 or so to go. This rainy,wet, muddy weather isn't doing the little ones much good. A few crapping a little loose. Put in the barn on some dry hay and a little Rx and doing better though..

We've got 55 heifers to calve this year.

Anyone wanna start night shift here in a couple weeks?

Sam, I feel your pain. I wish you , and your father all the best. But, as Bugs Bunny might say, "This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened to me" (you) You are no stranger to keepin' the eye on the prize.

If I knew a single damned thing about it, I'd be there.

Ed

Yep.

First was a 2nd calf heifer. Calved one night when it was around -20. She did a great job. Took good care of him. We didn't bring him in or mess with him at all.

Had another calve way early on a very cold night. Was in a small building with some protection. Looks like she bumped her out onto the ice and she froze down. Working on grafting a calf on her right now. Got dang lucky to find a calf this time of year especially with this weather. Grafting is going just so-so. Cow isn't being mean or kicking, just not bonding yet.

If I was free, no problem. That would be a piece of cake. Fun to boot.

Decided we are going back to mid March calving after this year. I am home more then and we can do a good job with calving.

We just don't have the time to really tend well to our cows. Our cows do it on their own and when weather comes into play, our cows suffer or more correctly the calves suffer.

Richard, most of the time it takes longer to get dressed and drive out to the farm at 2AM than it does to actually check things over. Most of the time anyway....grin



ADPP, nothing to it until there's an 'issue' or two to deal with....!







Tarkio, what is a 2nd calf heifer?

How long ago was that calf born?


I hate finding newborn calves when it's down under -10F or lower. Takes a week or two to see the damage.

You are right though, if you're calving 10 you might as well be calving 100 because you still gotta get up and check.

And I don't like working at night and all the next day......

Hard to fall back asleep after waking up and going out into the fresh air!

A second calf heifer is a young cow/heifer, that has had her second calf.

I was assuming that but had never heard it phrased that way.

You're only a heifer once in this country....grin

I have not heard that in years Sam. My parents talked about plowing corn. That meant using a row crow cultivator. I still "pick" corn, that drives son Jake nuts, Every one else combines corn.

I use it that way because, in my mind, a heifer that had a calf is physically a "cow" then. But they're still not too savvy and pretty susceptible to doing dumb shlt so mentally they're still more like a heifer than a cow.

Sorry. I missed this reply last month.

I know all about Thedford. Spent many nights at the Roadside Inn. The RR doesn't bother me in the least. The truck stop has decent morning food. For supper, I can get by with the truck stop food also. Any more though, I try to pack homemade soup with me for evening meals so I don;t have to rely on others

I used to say in Hyannis regularly also. At least there were decent meal options there.

Again, i missed this one.

Been long ago enough, I had to pull ut my calendar to figure out which trip this was.

Trip was decent. Roads weren't too bad. It was wintery at the ranch. Lots of snow. Cold enough. But we got through it pretty well.

Guess I'm showing my age, but I've "plowed" corn, and soybeans too, as well as "plowing" tobacco every year that I grew it, 30 in all. Of course, plowing is cultivating, something that row crop farmers don't do anymore, although many farmers still cultivate their tobacco. People here usually refer to combining as either shelling corn, or cutting beans and wheat.

No calves yet but this afternoon we got the heifers moved out of the feed lot pen and into their new digs.

Well, that ruins the cow *whisperer* rumor!

haha


More of a cattle bellower!

We preg checked our cows yesterday. We wanted to semen test the bulls. The vet was an hour late, then said he did not have time to do the bulls. A couple of steamed off Ioway cow folks!! Another charge for a trip, and chute.$$$$$$

Does your vet bring a chute with him if needed??

I always thought second calf heifer was a dairy term.

Around here there's more than a few retired dairy guys who have beef herds that freshen...grin

I'll also admit to using the term "second calf heifer".. but that's the former dairy farm boy coming out in me... 2 more calves over the weekend, but at least they waited until after the snowstorm that hit

First calf of the year an hour or two ago, right on time a week early!

1 down about 320 to go...

Good Sam! By the look of that straw, I'll think that calf was moved to it? Here, it's better than nice when the first calf is a healthy live calf.

I notice that barn, with big lean to's on the sides, inside stalls for when you need them?

Yeah Richard I moved the pair from north to south. I'd guess a 60lb bull calf, she was lickin' and he was trying to get up when we left them. I'm home in town but my dad can about see what's going on through the kitchen window so I'm sure the calf nursed or got a bottle. Hell it was a warm 34F and sunshine for the first born and I KNOW that is a good sign!

Single digits tonight and I'm going out to take a look at 2 o'clock.

Boss baptized the calf with some straw.

Sam, when you do bottle feed a new calf, do you use colostrum? If you do, were do you get it

Richard, yep when in doubt go with the $13 milkshake.


Actually it was $13.49 a bag when I picked up a box of 12 at the elevator last week.

I think?

Way better deal for the same stuff compared to the fancy new co-op fuel station, they wanted $18.


Always check the exp. date just to make sure it's fresh....

What brand is that Sam? Jake bought some frozen colostrum from a local dairy farm late last summer. They say, don't thaw it in a microwave. We, Jake, have the dubious 'pleasure" of tube feeding a calf at times.

Richard white bag, green and yellow label.

"just like mom"


Jesus, now I just went and got Wages all horned up....



Link to the stuff.

https://animalhealthsupply.com/products/just-like-mom-dry-colostrum-350-gm-packet

Sam,

Pardon my ignorance (I said I didn't know a damned thing about this stuff! ) But how many times do you have to dose a calf with that colostrum? Is it a "one and done" thing? Do you only have to do it with calves that aren't bonded to a cow and not getting it's mom's milk?

How long do you give the calf to start feeding from the mother before stepping in?

Ed

Ed, the colostrum is a one time deal and the calf needs it as their first meal or they won't get the proper antibodies. I forget the exact time frame but if they don't get it say within 12 hours of being born they will suffer greatly health-wise. You wanna get it in their system ASAP, within a few hours of birth if possible. After they have the colostrum they can go on regular old milk replacer or better yet the cow.


Most of the time we give it to calves that are born to a 'goofy' heifer that for whatever reason won't let the calf nurse. Or if it's really cold outside and I find a new born calf we'll stick them in the hot box and give them a bottle of colostrum or if need be tube them if they won't suck.


Sometimes we'll find an orphan calf(which is most likely a rejected twin) wandering around down with the old cows in the main herd. They get a bottle of colostrum as well and then you have a bum calf.


You generally know within an hour if the heifer is gonna settle down enough to let the calf nurse. If they are mean and aggressive towards the calf we separate them right off the bat. Then the mother gets the 'treatment'.....

Four more on the ground tonight!


Knock on wood the weather has been great.

Liking the sound of that!

Neighbor across the road runs ~150 cow/calf pairs. I saw three new ones on the ground early this morning. Donkeys are sticking pretty close to them, so the coyotes must be somewhere close, too.

Ed

Mine are hitting the ground pretty regular now too.

I know I have a new one from last night. Mama is still hiding...

Ed, it's thawing out!



Barry, good luck and keep an eye on them ol' cows!



We started running out of room so dad and I made a few new clean/dry spots in different pens. We calve the heifers right in the 'yard' so it was time to do a little spring cleaning and sprucing up.




Looks like somebody needs to fix that windbreak......

No such thing as getting caught up, is there?

Ed

Then the mother gets the treatment.........ha!

Ed, always something!



Jim, no treatments necessary yet with this bunch of heifers. 1/3 of the way done and they've all been excellent mothers so far. Knock on wood!

Haven't had to pull one yet either, calving great. Knock on wood!

3 more tonight, all on the ground before I showed up. Two of them were small enough that I thought maybe they were a set of twins and perhaps a heifer that hadn't calved yet was trying to claim one but they all were from separate heifers.

And it's 25F outside, livin's easy!

Sam, I don’t miss those days & nights of pulling calves at all. I do miss the Checks we used to get from the auction, though

As of early this morning we are halfway done calving the heifers!

28/28 and haven't had to pull one yet. All good mothers.

I hate to jinx things but when it's going this good you start to wonder what is gonna happen to make it tough.....

Hopefully these calves stay healthy...............


Old cows are just starting, maybe 15-20 of them done.

Glad you are having good luck Sam.


We started calving this morning apparently........

Went out to find a dead calf.

I suspect it suffocated inside the placenta. I did not cut the lungs out to see if it did take a breath or not...but I suspect it did not.


Neighbor was tired of bucket feeding a twin so we brought it home.

We trade schit back and forth so we did not pay for it yet.

Day old calves are being listed for 500 bucks!



Still a lot of deep snow on the ground. Neighbor said they are having trouble with cows wandering out into the snow to calve or the baby calves are born on bare ground but then wander into the deep wet snow and die.

Jim, you know no matter what you do there is always stuff that just happens.

Good luck with the bum!


We've had a call or two from people looking for a bum calf but none here.

$500 is way too much or?

The market is down not up....

I am just an old guy I guess.

I used to buy bums once in a while for 100 bucks....for a nice one.

80 for a flop eared one!

Well I think $500 is too high.

Isn't that what they were going for back when the market was sky high?

I was thinking they should be in the $300 range this spring.

I wish I had a good demand for $500 bum calves...

I'd go buy a pen fulls longhorns and start a waiting list...

Longhorns are CHEAP down here. Hell, you can't get $500 for longhorn steers that weigh 600 pounds...

Baby calves here, beef, usually bring between $100-250 at the stockyard. The dairy farmers here will sell their bull baby calves, and usually have a waiting list. There are some Amish here who will buy every one they can, and bottle raise them.

Barry, we have a couple of local guys who raise Longhorns. One farmer really has a nice herd, if you're into them, and the other guy says he likes them because of their ease of calving, and the fact that their good mama cows.

I'll stick to Angus.

Yeah, if I'm gonna go to the trouble of a cow-calf operation, have them eat grass all year, worm, doctor, feed, hay...

I'm not raising a "miniature" anything. Or a longhorn.

I wanna raise something that will gain weight fast, and bring top dollar in the sale ring.

You can tell the people that just want the Ag Tax Exemption by whether they have longhorns on their place, or not...

My wife has a cousin who has more money that he has sense, and he got into the miniature horse business a number of years ago. Thought he was going to get rich, instead he still has them, and every time I see him, he's griping about what it costs to feed them.

If a person is going to get into a niche business such as exotic cattle, or horses, they damn well better have a market for them that they can depend on.

Miniature horses, donkeys, cattle.... All are worthless in my books.

I have a client I shred for that has 3 donkey's on his place. He asked me if I wanted to shoot them...

I declined as well. Pretty bad when you can't even find someone to waste a bullet on them...

I would if it was MY place though.

There are farmers here who have donkeys running with their cattle supposedly to keep the coyotes away. One of these fellows let me coyote hunt.......but didn't tell me the donkeys were there, and that they would chase people. I suspect he did it as sort of a joke, but it was a good place to hunt, so I came up with a plan.

The next time I went, I loaded my 22 revolver with rat shot, and when the donkeys got too close for comfort, I shot them in the azz. Only took a few times, and they left me alone. The farmer couldn't understand why those "bad" donkeys didn't chase me.

If he only knew.

Monday nights auction here in PA had a hereford calf bring $3.50/lb and a black baldie that brought over $4/lb... So I agree that the $500 for a calf is high, especially when you can buy a 500 lb feeder for the same $500 and not have the cost of feed into it.

500lb feeder calf brings about $1.70 a pound here right now. Some bring more.

Today I heard that bottle calves are going from $300-500.


Knock on wood we don't have any yet!

Maybe somebody knows something, and the cattle market is about to get back up to where it was 3 or 4 years ago.

I don't know, little worried about Trump's tariffs and possible trade wars myself....

Went to check cows late yesterday afternoon, and found a dead calf that was born a couple of days ago. It was fine when I checked them yesterday morning . The calf was with another cow and calf, and I noticed that it tried to nurse the other cow a few times, and she would push it away. I am wondering if that cow could have kicked or butted the calf hard enough to kill it. The calf's mama has been bawling constantly, and following me around all over the pasture. I'd like to have another calf to put on her, but sure hate going through the trouble. Dammit, I hate losing one.

Yeah, I hate losing one too.

Sorry you did.

Most I've seen like that were stepped on. Who knows if it was on purpose or not.

Sorry to hear you lost a calf.

Are you sure her udder is OK? Maybe her teats aren't open and the calf was hungry?

Doc, the calf had been nursing her for a couple of days, and appeared to be doing well. Of course, I can't say for certain that that wasn't the case. Things like this happen sometimes with no explanation.