Blue X heifer's

[GTB]

Just weaned the motely coloured calf at ten months and the heifer still had plenty of milk about her

Why bother weaning them? The cow/heifer will dry up before calving in any case.

 

[Henarar]

Having trouble weaning that one?

see above
the other one is still sucking as she didn't get back in calf as quick, we tried her to AI but she didn't hold

 

[Henarar]

Why bother weaning them? The cow/heifer will dry up before calving in any case.

She is due in three weeks so I don't think she would,
Right or wrong ? I like them to have a short dry period I think perhaps they have better colostrum

 

[Henarar]

Yeah, I bet if you shook a bucket they'd all come running!

They came down the field to meet me this morning but got nothing, they have plenty of grass but this crap weather and wet under foot they are not happy with it they want some sun on their backs

 

[Henarar]

Have they had cake?? they are a good size for their age

Thanks @gone up the hill
go on then you are the market man what would they be worth as outfits ?

 

[choochter]

I dont think it does the calf any good to leave it on it's mother beyond 9 months.
Something to do with the rumen not being able to fully mature with the presense of milk still coming into it.

 

[Henarar]

I dont think it does the calf any good to leave it on it's mother beyond 9 months.
Something to do with the rumen not being able to fully mature with the presense of milk still coming into it.

that's a new one to me

 

[GTB]

I dont think it does the calf any good to leave it on it's mother beyond 9 months.
Something to do with the rumen not being able to fully mature with the presense of milk still coming into it.

Really? Never heard that before, not that I'm doubting you of course.

 

[Henarar]

Really? Never heard that before, not that I'm doubting you of course.

@choochter is one smart cookie
she can do cute as well

 

[choochter]

@choochter is one smart cookie
she can do cute as well

blush

 

[choochter]

leave me alone, I'm away to put the mower on and give it some tlc

 

[Paul E]

leave me alone, I'm away to put the mower on and give it some tlc

Does that mean it's going to rain?
It does here - even think about putting the mower on and it persists down.
As for leaving calves on 9 months+, probably doesn't make a lot of difference, but does help to keep cows leaner if they've got a bit blubbery.

 

[GTB]

Does that mean it's going to rain?

Put our mower on yesterday and guess what, it's pissing down today.

 

[Philip Watkins]

see above
the other one is still sucking as she didn't get back in calf as quick, we tried her to AI but she didn't hold

Yeah, I saw that after I posted

 

[Henarar]

leave me alone, I'm away to put the mower on and give it some tlc

don't do that you will make it rain

 

[Henarar]

Put our mower on yesterday and guess what, it's pissing down today.

can't like that Dai

 

[Henarar]

if they've got a bit blubbery.

that's why we use the nose clips to stop them crying

 

[GTB]

can't like that Dai

Luckily we didn't actually mow anything.

 

[M-J-G]

Put the mower on when you need rain!

As for leaving calves on, it probably doesn't matter much as long as the cows gets a reasonable dry period, and as long as the system allows mixed ages to be managed appropriately with regards to feeding, breeding, parasites etc.

A strong milking cow will often not dry herself off. I read a report while I was studying that suggested a minimum of about a month dry was essential for maximum antibody production in colostrum, less than that level were shown to be a lot less.

 

[Henarar]

A strong milking cow will often not dry herself off

mum use to say when we were milking and milk recording that very often the cows that didn't give as much per day to start with but kept going and you had to dry off would give more milk in the lactation

I read a report while I was studying that suggested a minimum of about a month dry was essential for maximum antibody production in colostrum, less than that level were shown to be a lot less.

so you are saying that anything much less than a month and colostrum quality drops right back ?
I have always thought this way but didn't know if it was right, I like more than a month really