too large beef shorthorn calves.

[hill billy]

hi, can anyone explain this problem?we have been using beef shorthorn bulls for the last 5 years and the vast majority of the calves are normal sized and healthy ,but every year we get 1 or 2 huge calves.,unviable,born dead or dying soon after birth. they look a month oldwith massive heads and bodies and unable to stand or suck .is this a genetic problem with beef shorthorn cattle as we have never experienced it with other breeds?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Every breed has one or two 'freaks' every year

 

[aangus]

Are the cows on a silage only diet?

 

[milkloss]

Can those cows be identified as been treated differently during gestation especially feed wise?

 

[hill billy]

this year the 2 cows with massive unviable calves were 2nd calvers[3 yrs old]. were weaned last autumnand joined the in calf heifers , toprevent bullying by mature cows .they received a couple of pounds of pellets and haylage to put a little condition on them. in previous years it has been mature cows wintered on haylage alone.

 

[milkloss]

I on,y asked because we had a year with some monster calves and couldn't pinpoint the reason. I've put it down to a combination of working them hard over winter (poor nutrition) which causes the placenta to be more responsive to protein or nutrients in the diet. Wean the calf and out to grass caused an abnormal huge surge in calf growth due to the enlarged/responsive placenta and, bongo, huge calves!

 

[John Chance]

PM?

 

[Overrun]

Maine Anjou breeding? always thought that clicked in with some cows.

 

[Treg]

TH disease maybe? Would be very rare, you'd need a TH positive bull & cow.

 

[M-J-G]

If pretty much all of your calves by the same bull are easily calved, I would be more apt to lay the blame at the cow's door than the bull's.

50% of the calf's genetics are from it's mother. I've culled cows for repeatedly producing oversized calves before. They can cause work and hassle and are at a higher risk of bring unprofitable. The big calf isn't much use if it's dead, or you've had to spend half the night calving it, and the following week feeding it.

As has been suggested before, cows that are on a poorer diet in mid pregnancy are more likely to have big calves, particularly if fed better in the months closer to calving.

Calf size is said to be determined 50% genetics and 50% by dietary & environmental influences.