Child Brides

[choochter]

Was blood testing weaned calves today for BVD etc. Asked vet to PD one young heifer as I'd seen her pally with the bull at the end on November. It took the vet about one nanosecond to declare her well in calf.
She's only just 10 mths old now and 3/4 months in calf.

So, PD'd all the other heifers in her group - another 2 in calf. One is 12 months, one is 13 mths, both 3/4 months in calf.

They've been jagged of course. In the past I've had a couple that were seen bulling at about 10 mths but not had anything before that was well in calf at that age!
My flabber has never been so ghasted
Might have to rethink group management.

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Was blood testing weaned calves today for BVD etc. Asked vet to PD one young heifer as I'd seen her pally with the bull at the end on November. It took the vet about one nanosecond to declare her well in calf.
She's only just 10 mths old now and 3/4 months in calf.
View attachment 631034 So, PD'd all the other heifers in her group - another 2 in calf. One is 12 months, one is 13 mths, both 3/4 months in calf.
View attachment 631038
They've been jagged of course. In the past I've had a couple that were seen bulling at about 10 mths but not had anything before that was well in calf at that age!
My flabber has never been so ghasted
Might have to rethink group management.

Youth of today

 

[AGN76]

Nice heifers too!

 

[hendrebc]

I used to help on a farm that regularly calved one or two heifers (by accident) at around 18 months or sometimes much less. Some were ok. Some well... not so much

 

[M-J-G]

If they have access to a bull beyond them or the bulls being 5 to 5 and and half months it's likely to be risky.

I wouldn't be happy leaving them any longer, and as soon as cows are bulled I'd split cows with male calves from those with females.

Tight calving has lots of advantages.

 

[Henarar]

we had one get in calf at 4 months

 

[multi power]

I've seen plenty of 15-18 month hefiers calving ASSUMING THAT THEY DO CALVE OK they all go on to do really well

 

[johnspeehs]

They are a bloody heartbreak, if only their ma's would get in calf as easily .The main culprits I have had are bb x fr calves that have been fostered on to cows, they seem to get pregnant just looking at the bull.

 

[Alicecow]

My heifer was playing with the boys at 5.5 months

 

[M-J-G]

You will get young (<6 month) heifers mated, but they are not very common.
Most of these mate with young bulls or smaller stock bulls, most fully grown stock bulls won't be able to mate with such small calves.

Bulls away ASAP is the best policy. If that's not an option then estrumate isn't expensive. Either way a management policy is required.

 

[ajcc]

BCMS take a bit of convincing when you come to passport the calf!

 

[liammogs]

Guy i work for estremates all heifers as there weaned!! Vet usually out to do tb test and do the heifers same time

 

[choochter]

I'm still quite put out about this.
Will have to watch them closely from tomorrow on for signs.

 

[Danllan]

Nice heifers too!

And very clean! Outwintering has many advantages for me and the beasts, but seeing those pretties makes me cringe to think of the coats on mine. Still, they do seem to look even more lovely in the Spring after moulting .

 

[Nearly]

The only one we've had was 13 months old when she calved.
Bear in mind that estrumate / genestran doesn't work (to terminate an embryo for the welfare of the heifer) past a certain point in pregnancy. I think it's first trimester?
@bovine

 

[M-J-G]

The only one we've had was 13 months old when she calved.
Bear in mind that estrumate / genestran doesn't work (to terminate an embryo for the welfare of the heifer) past a certain point in pregnancy. I think it's first trimester?
@bovine

7 to 100 days, possibly up to 150 but a lot less reliable.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

The only one we've had was 13 months old when she calved.
Bear in mind that estrumate / genestran doesn't work (to terminate an embryo for the welfare of the heifer) past a certain point in pregnancy. I think it's first trimester?
@bovine

I think after 3 months you need to use dexadresson with estrumate

 

[czechmate]

The only one we've had was 13 months old when she calved.
Bear in mind that estrumate / genestran doesn't work (to terminate an embryo for the welfare of the heifer) past a certain point in pregnancy. I think it's first trimester?
@bovine

Did they live?

 

[Nearly]

The calf was full term but just too small. Heifer was fine.

 

[Forever Fendt]

I have had on calve about 3 weeks ago at 18 months she was one of 3 that was estimated at the beginning of June that spent about 4 days in with a 5 month old Hereford bull ,the vet said about 1/20 did not work,however she calved on her own and has grown really well and the calf doing well so not a disaster apart from the other 2 maybe should have been left