How far can a cow go past her due date?

[William Mellor]

This cow was due 15/02 and is still not showing any sign of calving. Should I take action e.g rectal examination or wait til my vet is next here and let him check her over. I am quite concerned as she is a first calve heifer incalf for her second, although she has shown no signs of coming in bulling/showing heat nor any unusual discharge(apart from clear slim when she is lieing down)

Edit near enough impossible to of held to a later service as she was pd+ at 43 days post service plus all ai and use no natural service

 

[Beef farmer]

She's not in calf

 

[Clay52]

She's not in calf

That's what I would be thinking.

 

[Beef farmer]

That's what I would be thinking.

I'd put a lot of money on it

 

[pappuller]

She's not in calf

+1 get the vet to pd next visit and if pd- a trip to leek could be on the cards

 

[Scholsey]

If she has been been running with a bull best get her PD'd again otherwise she looks like a good £700-800 barren cow.

 

[Beef farmer]

If she has been been running with a bull best get her PD'd again otherwise she looks like a good £700-800 barren cow.

No natural service, she's empty, and as you said a fair weight.

 

[multi power]

I'd put a lot of money on it

So would I, and I'm not a betting man

 

[Jamer]

Odds on; empty.

Long odds against; mummified calf.- We've had a couple over the years, one ran to 12mth pregnancy IIRC, the other just about her due date

 

[Fergieman]

Get her in the feeding pen and get some flesh on her.

 

[Beef farmer]

Or she's calved @Mixed_Farmer

 

[William Mellor]

She's not in calf

Will get her checked to be sure next time vets here but proberably holding out false hope

 

[tr250]

She's not got much bag anyhow

 

[Princess Pooper]

Seem to remember you had some slip their calves previously, did you get some neospora checks done? May have caused her to lose her calf.

Is she home bred and does her dam have any history of losing a calf?

 

[William Mellor]

Seem to remember you had some slip their calves previously, did you get some neospora checks done? May have caused her to lose her calf.

Is she home bred and does her dam have any history of losing a calf?

Yes, tested bulk tank and tested postive for bvd(but this could be because I've brought cows that have been vaccinated or exposure to the disease before I brought them) but no PI's present. IBR and Lepto postive along with neaspora postive but my vet said we will get another result for the neaspora which will come back as a% of the herd effected.
As for the IBR and Lepto we have had blood samples done on 10 random heifers (under 18 months of age) to test if we have a serious problem or if it is purely vaccinated cows I've brought in or exposure causing a postive bulk tank sample and awaiting the results on them.

I brought her as a freshly calved heifer about 12 months ago, and so far problem free, low scc held in calf first time, never had mastitis. To be fair I did think she wasn't a fat as I would think. What should I be looking/feeling for if a do a rectal examination(never done it before on heavy pregnant cattle, that is if she is in calf and at the moment it seems a BIG if)

 

[Irish NZ]

She can go 10month over due just needs to see a bull half way through for some reason

 

[Beef farmer]

She can go 10month over due just needs to see a bull half way through for some reason

I was going to comment that there is a greater chance of her calving 15/02/18

 

[multi power]

Yes, tested bulk tank and tested postive for bvd(but this could be because I've brought cows that have been vaccinated or exposure to the disease before I brought them) but no PI's present. IBR and Lepto postive along with neaspora postive but my vet said we will get another result for the neaspora which will come back as a% of the herd effected.
As for the IBR and Lepto we have had blood samples done on 10 random heifers (under 18 months of age) to test if we have a serious problem or if it is purely vaccinated cows I've brought in or exposure causing a postive bulk tank sample and awaiting the results on them.

I brought her as a freshly calved heifer about 12 months ago, and so far problem free, low scc held in calf first time, never had mastitis. To be fair I did think she wasn't a fat as I would think. What should I be looking/feeling for if a do a rectal examination(never done it before on heavy pregnant cattle, that is if she is in calf and at the moment it seems a BIG if)

Can you do AI? If she is how you would expect a cow you are inseminating then she isn't pregnant

 

[William Mellor]

Can you do AI? If she is how you would expect a cow you are inseminating then she isn't pregnant

Yes I do all the ai but not entirely sure what I be looking for when trying to find a calf, suppose it's quite easy

 

[stablegirl]

If you feel inside her run your arm around her the inside of her pelvis, if shes well in calf towards the bottom ie 5-7 o'clock you will find a thick tube like structure diving over her pelvis and down, itl feel the size of your arm. you wont be able to pull it because it will have a calf in it.

If she isn't in calf you should be able to find both uterine horns.

As previously stated she looks PD-

I would recommend you have a feel in her and then get her vet checked the experience will do you no harm.