Hi , How have people got on breeding in the future from a cow or heifer following a C section ? Have a heifer here , approx 32 mth old , she had a big bull calf , and needed a c sec to get him out ok . She went about 300 days gestation , which I think was part of what made him bigger . From how she felt inside to me a normal size calf I think she would calve ok . I'm wondering if it is wise to breed her again , or have folks found the same or other problems doing this ? Thanks
Heifer with a C section , Breed again ?
- Thread starter castlekid
- Start date
M-J-G
Member
I've found that if they don't let you down this year they probably will next.
I gave up trying them years ago.
I gave up trying them years ago.
- Location
- East Sussex
I wouldn't breed again the way things are at the minute...... less costs and risks the better imo.
having said that, if you're confident the cause was something such as diet that caused the big calf I'd be tempted to try again.
having said that, if you're confident the cause was something such as diet that caused the big calf I'd be tempted to try again.
Martyn
Member
- Location
- South west
We have c sectioned dairy heifers that have gone on and had 6-8 calves after, I wouldnt think twice about breeder her again if she meets all your other desires trates.
- Location
- Hereford
Put her back to the bull . She will be ok .
exmoorromney
Member
If I have to pull a calf here the cow is on thin ice let alone a C section (not that we've ever had one) Cull her!
choochter
Member
- Location
- aberdeenshire
I like an easy life. I wouldn't keep her.
I would replace her with a heifer whose dam calved repeatedly with no issues and with a short gestation length.
If she's in good nick she could be worth £1400 cull once dried off
I would replace her with a heifer whose dam calved repeatedly with no issues and with a short gestation length.
If she's in good nick she could be worth £1400 cull once dried off
no
Interesting thread.
For heifers - I think long and hard. Cause of the section. How good a cow is she making. If she ain't going to be a topper - gone. If her pelvis is too small - gone. If she has had a breech calf or the calf is overly big due to my mis-management then maybe. I would like to have hoped i have the mis management sorted by now.
It might be genetic that she had the big calf - was that from her or the bull. You chose the bull believing she would have a natural calf - so by that logic you have either over fed her or she is predisposed to longer than wanted gestation and bigger calves. Conclusion - gone.
The definition of a fool is to repeat the same thing and expect a different result. Your not a fool to keep her it just depends on your apatite for risk of repeated calving difficulty.
I have kept heifers that i sectioned, some never looked back and left the farm 15 years later having had a natural calf every year. Some faltered with their second calf and I just delayed the cull causing myself more heartache and vets bills.
Maybe start to pelvic score potential replacement heifers at 12-14 months old and just remove the bottom quarter on the list. I have started to do that whilst i build up a history of calving the rest. I have a spreadsheet going to record the results of pelvic measurements and the outcome of calving. Only time will tell if it works.
For heifers - I think long and hard. Cause of the section. How good a cow is she making. If she ain't going to be a topper - gone. If her pelvis is too small - gone. If she has had a breech calf or the calf is overly big due to my mis-management then maybe. I would like to have hoped i have the mis management sorted by now.
It might be genetic that she had the big calf - was that from her or the bull. You chose the bull believing she would have a natural calf - so by that logic you have either over fed her or she is predisposed to longer than wanted gestation and bigger calves. Conclusion - gone.
The definition of a fool is to repeat the same thing and expect a different result. Your not a fool to keep her it just depends on your apatite for risk of repeated calving difficulty.
I have kept heifers that i sectioned, some never looked back and left the farm 15 years later having had a natural calf every year. Some faltered with their second calf and I just delayed the cull causing myself more heartache and vets bills.
Maybe start to pelvic score potential replacement heifers at 12-14 months old and just remove the bottom quarter on the list. I have started to do that whilst i build up a history of calving the rest. I have a spreadsheet going to record the results of pelvic measurements and the outcome of calving. Only time will tell if it works.
Succinctly put
Hilly
Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders.
I had one had a c section last year and is ready to pop again veey soon so i will let you know , i shouldnt have kept her but she was so canny i liked her and broke the rule of a life time and bulled her again .
If its a mal presentation c section I would take a chance and go again. I have found over the years that a tendency to throw a big calf will repeat in subsequent years.just culled a cow that was a first calve ceasaer only had one unassisted in the next five, the last one was 87kgs.
I'm a slow learner but she was an otherwise excellent cow, haven't retained any daughters.
I'm a slow learner but she was an otherwise excellent cow, haven't retained any daughters.
Northeastfarmer
Member
- Location
- Cleveland
I’ve got a cow here….had a ceaser as a heifer, then another ceaser the second year….then for the last 6 calves we’ve never even had to Jack one out of it….very odd
Cows 'n grass
Member
- Location
- Modbury, South Devon
I had a dairy cow have a c sec last weekend and she was a 13th calver. It wasn't overdue and it wasn't even the biggest calf we had that day but it wasn't coming out any other way.
Nice looking Harlequin Dane you have there !
M-J-G
Member
It's all very well talking about the ones that breed, that's a bit like people talking about the old cow that lived to she was 20, but it's the average that counts.
I recall reading an veterinary article some time ago and it suggested that around ½ of cows that had c-sections failed to calve again within 14 months.
In a tight block calving that makes them a waste of time.
I recall reading an veterinary article some time ago and it suggested that around ½ of cows that had c-sections failed to calve again within 14 months.
In a tight block calving that makes them a waste of time.