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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 2:10 pm
by tim z
WE HAD OUR THIRD CALF BORN ON SUNDAY ANOTHER HEIFFER ,ALL SEEMS FINE.I,VE JUST WEIGHED HER 27KGS WOULD SHE HAVE VARIED MUCH FROM HER BIRTH WEIGHT?
MUM SEEMS VERY FULL OF MILK AND LOOKS A LITTLE AWKWARD WALKING BUT THE CALF LOOKS AS THOUGH SHES TAKING PLENTY OF MILK IT IS THE COWS FIRST CALF. FILLING OUT THE DCS FORM TO SEND OFF ,HOW DO I KNOW IF SHE'S POLLED OR NOT THE AI BULL WAS POLLED BUT NOT THE MUM. I'VE GOT THE RETEST ON A TB INCONCLUSIVE ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK SO I'M KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED ALL WILL BE CLEAR, THE COW BEING RETESTED HAS A 3 1/2 MONTH OLD CALF AT FOOT IF SHE HAS TO GO WILL THE CALF BE O.K. ?
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:29 am
by Sylvia
I can't help much with the other questions but polled or not is just one of the things asked for by DCS, along with colour, which would be so much better if it could be left for longer. How does one know in the first month whether a calf will be kept or sent to slaughter, and with calves coming thick and fast it is a nightmare trying to get all the information required on the form together in time. It is not the same as registering a calf with BCMS (as has often been said). This involves a few clicks on the computer. How much better if everything could be sent in one batch at the end of the breeding season. I'm sure I'll get slaughtered for these views but that's life!
Good luck with the test, I've got the 2nd part of a whole herd test today. So must go and put everyone in the barn.
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:44 pm
by Inger
Tim if all you can feel are indents or hollows on the calf's head where there should be little bumps, then its probably polled. Normally in horned animals, even new born calves have slight bumps.
If your cow does end up having to be sent away because of Tb, the calf will manage okay. You can get the calf used to eating calf meal as a precaution. Supplements help prevent weight loss until the calf gets used to eating grass only, instead of getting milk as well.
Sylia, you're right. how can anyone know for sure what the final destiny will be of a particular calf within its first month of life. As most animals in a herd are calved within a 2 month spread of each other, I don't see why you can't send in your returns at the end of calving. It would reduce the amount of paperwork. In NZ our system allows us to do just that. We send in one piece of paper at the end of calving, to register all our heifer calves at once and bull calves if appropriate. Then its only one cheque to cover the payment.