Calving beef heifers

[Woolless]

Exciting times here, as this is the first time that we've had any calves born on the place!

So far our three bucket reared AA/Her x heifers have calved unassisted and all three are very keen on their calves. However, all of them have been fidgety/twitchy about letting the calves suckle and I've had to milk off and stomach tube all three calves. The first two are now doing really well. Third calf was born yesterday and got a bellyful early on as its mother frantically cleaned it. But she's got progressively worse with letting it on and just had to milk her and tube the calf which was getting a bit flat. I'm very glad that I bought a calving gate, it's been a godsend!

So what's going on? Too much milk making their bag tight/uncomfortable? Likely to be repeated next year, or just a heifer thing? I would certainly take a dim view if the sheep were carrying on like this! Likely to calving later and outside next year and still got six heifers to calve next month, so lessons need to be learnt.

 

[M-J-G]

Sounds odd, plenty of heifers will be a bit over keen but I find the best thing to do is go away and check them a few hours later and the calf has almost always fed.

 

[czechmate]

Exciting times here, as this is the first time that we've had any calves born on the place!

So far our three bucket reared AA/Her x heifers have calved unassisted and all three are very keen on their calves. However, all of them have been fidgety/twitchy about letting the calves suckle and I've had to milk off and stomach tube all three calves. The first two are now doing really well. Third calf was born yesterday and got a bellyful early on as its mother frantically cleaned it. But she's got progressively worse with letting it on and just had to milk her and tube the calf which was getting a bit flat. I'm very glad that I bought a calving gate, it's been a godsend!

So what's going on? Too much milk making their bag tight/uncomfortable? Likely to be repeated next year, or just a heifer thing? I would certainly take a dim view if the sheep were carrying on like this! Likely to calving later and outside next year and still got six heifers to calve next month, so lessons need to be learnt.

Why are you tubing them? Can you not bottle feed them?
Lots of our heifers encourage the calves then gently kick them off
Mostly, the calves don’t get discouraged and the new mum “comes around”
We’ve certainly had a couple of very bad ones but they all came good in the end.
Best to leave them to it, as long as the mum isn’t kicking the sh!t out of the new calf

 

[Woolless]

Sounds odd, plenty of heifers will be a bit over keen but I find the best thing to do is go away and check them a few hours later and the calf has almost always fed.

They're certainly keen on the calves. It's just settling to let the calves feed which is the issue. I think the teats may be tender but funny all three the same.

 

[czechmate]

They're certainly keen on the calves. It's just settling to let the calves feed which is the issue. I think the tests may be tender but funny all three the same.

I’ve always thought they just don’t like being fiddled about with

 

[Woolless]

Why are you tubing them? Can you not bottle feed them?
Lots of our heifers encourage the calves then gently kick them off
Mostly, the calves don’t get discouraged and the new mum “comes around”
We’ve certainly had a couple of very bad ones but they all came good in the end.
Best to leave them to it, as long as the mum isn’t kicking the sh!t out of the new calf

The first two have come very good. I would rather tube, give them a bellyfull and the energy to get on the cow themselves rather than confuse the issue with a teat.

 

[czechmate]

The first two have come very good. I would rather tube, give them a bellyfull and the energy to get on the cow themselves rather than confuse the issue with a test.

We always think there is a risk in itself to the tubing process

 

[Optimus]

Exciting times here, as this is the first time that we've had any calves born on the place!

So far our three bucket reared AA/Her x heifers have calved unassisted and all three are very keen on their calves. However, all of them have been fidgety/twitchy about letting the calves suckle and I've had to milk off and stomach tube all three calves. The first two are now doing really well. Third calf was born yesterday and got a bellyful early on as its mother frantically cleaned it. But she's got progressively worse with letting it on and just had to milk her and tube the calf which was getting a bit flat. I'm very glad that I bought a calving gate, it's been a godsend!

So what's going on? Too much milk making their bag tight/uncomfortable? Likely to be repeated next year, or just a heifer thing? I would certainly take a dim view if the sheep were carrying on like this! Likely to calving later and outside next year and still got six heifers to calve next month, so lessons need to be learnt.

Had one do exactly the same as your experiencing the other day.probably just tenderness in the udder.more they suck less they usually kick/prod.

 

[Crex]

Is it not just the udders being a bit tender in heifers? That's what I've always assumed. We see it occasionally, and it doesn't repeat when older.

 

[Woolless]

Had one do exactly the same as your experiencing the other day.probably just tenderness in the udder.more they suck less they usually kick/prod.

Had one do exactly the same as your experiencing the other day.probably just tenderness in the udder.more they suck less they usually kick/prod.

That sounds encouraging. Just funny all three have done it.

 

[czechmate]

That sounds encouraging. Just funny all three have done it.

Well how much are you talking of?
I can hardly think of a single heifer that hasn’t lifted a leg a time or two

 

[Werzle]

Exciting times here, as this is the first time that we've had any calves born on the place!

So far our three bucket reared AA/Her x heifers have calved unassisted and all three are very keen on their calves. However, all of them have been fidgety/twitchy about letting the calves suckle and I've had to milk off and stomach tube all three calves. The first two are now doing really well. Third calf was born yesterday and got a bellyful early on as its mother frantically cleaned it. But she's got progressively worse with letting it on and just had to milk her and tube the calf which was getting a bit flat. I'm very glad that I bought a calving gate, it's been a godsend!

So what's going on? Too much milk making their bag tight/uncomfortable? Likely to be repeated next year, or just a heifer thing? I would certainly take a dim view if the sheep were carrying on like this! Likely to calving later and outside next year and still got six heifers to calve next month, so lessons need to be learnt.

Hfrs havent had there teats sucked before so its a new experience, calfs usually wear the hfrs down in the end. Udders should slacken in a day or two if your not pumping grub into them.

 

[Optimus]

That sounds encouraging. Just funny all three have done it.

Be more worried if they weren't interested in their calves.the joys of sucklers [emoji23]

 

[Crex]

That sounds encouraging. Just funny all three have done it.

If they're bred and fed the same, maybe not that unusual?

 

[Woolless]

Well how much are you talking of?
I can hardly think of a single heifer that hasn’t lifted a leg a time or two

In all three cases, if we hadn't intervened then the calf would have really struggled.

 

[Werzle]

We always think there is a risk in itself to the tubing process

I prefer to tube, bottle feeding teaches the calf to look for you rather than mum

 

[Woolless]

If they're bred and fed the same, maybe not that unusual?

All three bred differently. Been on ordinary silage until housed two weeks ago, then hay.

 

[czechmate]

In all three cases, if we hadn't intervened then the calf would have really struggled.

Flying across the yard?
Knocked off its feet?
Or just nudged an inch or so?

 

[czechmate]

I prefer to tube, bottle feeding teaches the calf to look for you rather than mum

Yes, I agree there but they soon learn where the milk really comes from

 

[Woolless]

Flying across the yard?
Knocked off its feet?
Or just nudged an inch or so?

Somewhere between the last two options.