heifer temperament

L

lazy farmer

Member

Location

som/dor border

• Aug 25, 2016

• #1

due to the unique way in which we farm(incompetently) we ended up with late calving heifers this season.

I have noticed how much easier they have been to milk than the spring calvers.

does anybody have any ideas as to why this might be? and any suggested solutions? this spring was not pleasant especially when milking on my own.

only real differences in terms of diet have been less mag during the summer than they would have had in the spring.
I recognise that being xbreds they are more feisty and I'm all for that.
thank you
lazy

 

Mr Mackay

Member

Location

HMP Slade , Shropshire

• Aug 25, 2016

• #2

We have had around 10 calve in the last 2 months , which is a lot for us . The ones that were friendly as heifers , have by and large been the rascals ,whereas the more shy ones have been like donkeys 6 of them !!
We had 2 quiet twins that have a knack at kicking their legs out forwards (usually just the one right leg) when they are nearly done , striking any cow in front in the top of the bag When the kick bars on ,you need to make sure you don't get it on top of your head when it jumps off !!
The boogers.
But as to why they are easier to milk than Springtime , not sure . Less stress?

 

K

Kiss

Member

Location

North west

• Aug 25, 2016

• #3

Because when we calve the rest they we are under a lot of pressure ourselves! and the heifers make the majority when we start to kick in

 

jade35

Member

Location

S E Cornwall

• Aug 25, 2016

• #4

lazy farmer said:

due to the unique way in which we farm(incompetently) we ended up with late calving heifers this season.

I have noticed how much easier they have been to milk than the spring calvers.

does anybody have any ideas as to why this might be? and any suggested solutions? this spring was not pleasant especially when milking on my own.

only real differences in terms of diet have been less mag during the summer than they would have had in the spring.
I recognise that being xbreds they are more feisty and I'm all for that.
thank you
lazy

Click to expand...

Age? (of the heifer)

Assumed magnesium would make them less jittery. Grass quality? Less protein.

Have to agree with Kiss though - it could just be the numbers coming into the herd at any one time and the amount of pressure you are under.

 

cows sh#t me to tears

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

southern riverina Australia

• Aug 26, 2016

• #5

Coincidence or just pot luck..Have had about 40 calve in last few weeks. Some are going to be champions (never kick, come in early , giving heaps of milk), some are absolute c@#ts that do nothing but kick, some are absolutely useless. Their all different , that's just life.

 

C

Clay52

Member

Location

Outer Space

• Aug 26, 2016

• #6

The bulk of heifer temperament is determined by the people handling them.

 

FonterraFarmer

Member

Location

Waikato, New Zealand

• Aug 26, 2016

• #7

I've only had 45 heifers calve from mid July to mid August, the only paturn that I've seen with regard to kicking in the farm dairy was directly related to mastitis, from the two that were clinical and a couple of others that were subclinical.

 

FonterraFarmer

Member

Location

Waikato, New Zealand

• Aug 26, 2016

• #8

Clay52 said:

The bulk of heifer temperament is determined by the people handling them.

Click to expand...

Same goes for most bulls.

 

multi power

Member

Location

pembrokeshire

• Aug 26, 2016

• #9

When the tb rules allowed we used to have a few late born heifers back to here from the spring calving herd on the other farm, and vice versa. I always found the they kicked more, I just put it down to either the breeding or the handling down there. But the cow man there told me the only ones there that kick are the few from here

 

The Agrarian

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Northern Ireland

• Aug 26, 2016

• #10

I calve all year round and don't notice any difference. Yes, it's mainly down to handling, but that only applies to an aggregate of temperament on the farm. There is natural variation through the group, with some taking a more delicate touch than others.

Do you run them with herd before they calve? Are you doing anything different in the previous calving handling?

 

L

lazy farmer

Member

Location

som/dor border

• Aug 26, 2016

• #11

the heifers run with the cows from December onwards and are run through the parlour 3-4 times a week in the run up to calving so they can be footbathed. handling is as normal. the worst offender comes up for a head scratch when the cows are crossing the road!

 

borderterribles

Member

Location

South Shropshire

• Aug 26, 2016

• #12

As long as we have had cattle, we have trained to lead, and shown the best ones. Almost without exception, these are the worst ones to settle when they calve down!

 

Dr. Alkathene

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

North West England

• Aug 26, 2016

• #13

We calve all year round at work. New calved heifers have been difficult the last couple of weeks, I put it down to flies bothering them in the parlour, the flies have been noticeably worse the last fortnight . They kick and poke because of the flies biting them and kicking and poking in the parlour becomes a habit.

 

jade35

Member

Location

S E Cornwall

• Aug 26, 2016

• #14

Dr. Alkathene said:

We calve all year round at work. New calved heifers have been difficult the last couple of weeks, I put it down to flies bothering them in the parlour, the flies have been noticeably worse the last fortnight . They kick and poke because of the flies biting them and kicking and poking in the parlour becomes a habit.

Click to expand...

Esp. if they get a little extra cake to quieten them when they misbehave mentioning no names of course but OH is a menace for doing that

 

multi power

Member

Location

pembrokeshire

• Aug 26, 2016

• #15

We had a heifer at home, not nasty but always kicked, mum always tied her leg but I being a smart ass I decided I wouldn't bother, she kicked it straight off, but just stood still while I tied her leg

 

The Agrarian

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Northern Ireland

• Aug 26, 2016

• #16

Rough teats in the cold weather can make them fair misbehave. It isn't always obvious at first glance either.

 

jade35

Member

Location

S E Cornwall

• Aug 26, 2016

• #17

The Agrarian said:

Rough teats in the cold weather can make them fair misbehave. It isn't always obvious at first glance either.

Click to expand...

and probably more rubbing of the sides of the udder in the wetter weather too.

 

multi power

Member

Location

pembrokeshire

• Aug 26, 2016

• #18

The Agrarian said:

Rough teats in the cold weather can make them fair misbehave. It isn't always obvious at first glance either.

Click to expand...

First thing I do with any that kick is a good coat of quality udder cream

 

jerseycowsman

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

cornwall

• Aug 26, 2016

• #19

Clay52 said:

The bulk of heifer temperament is determined by the people handling them.

Click to expand...

Hmm, maybe for some.
I think genetics plays a part, our lady female line were all a bunch of shunts! We used a bull called DJ may, lovely lookers and milkers, but, out of the parlour they are wild as hell. Another load by bridon excitation all liked to kick and be smart arses in the parlour

 

borderterribles

Member

Location

South Shropshire

• Aug 26, 2016

• #20

jerseycowsman said:

Hmm, maybe for some.
I think genetics plays a part, our lady female line were all a bunch of shunts! We used a bull called DJ may, lovely lookers and milkers, but, out of the parlour they are wild as hell. Another load by bridon excitation all liked to kick and be smart arses in the parlour

Click to expand...

Hmmm, interesting! My worst behaved heifers in the parlour have been by another Bridon bull, Remake Comerica!
At least your Excitation straws resulted in some heifers to milk, even if they did kick!