TWINS

chriskirise · Post by **chriskirise** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:01 pm

We have had a very tiny calf born late this afternoon. Both cow & calf are well but we wondered if there was another calf yet to come and how long between births are twin calves.
The cow seems settled and is not straining.

From Christine

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:36 pm

Normally twin calves are born very soon after one another, if you think there may still be acalf in someone should do a vaginal examination and find out NOW. This needs to be done hygeinically and carefully, if you do not feel able to do this yourself get some competent help. If you can weigh the calf which is there and put its weight on a reply to this it might be useful as a guide to whether or not the calf is abnormally small. I take it that it is full term - if it is more than 10 days early it should be reported to your vet or direct to DEFRA as an abortion/early calving even though the calf is alive and well. I'll be looking for a reply here soon!! I expect al is well but no harm in being careful
Let us know how you get on, email me on duncan.macintyre@btopenworld.com if you want an of board answer.

Duncan

chriskirise · Post by **chriskirise** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:54 am

Cow and calf doing fine this morning. I have just never seen such a small calf! He weighs 33lb and is about 17 " high. Maybe he is short-legged and this is normal size, but we have never had a short calf before.

What is average size for a short-legged calf??

Chris

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Sat May 07, 2005 6:59 am

Hi Chriskirise, how is your calf getting on? We had a calf born Easter 2004 which was 21.5 inches high and weighed 26 pounds (13kgs). He was the same size at 1 month old, as a heifer who was born a month after him. The first month was a struggle to keep him alive, but once he got past his initial problems, he grew fine. His growth rate has kept pace with the heifer. I will be watching his mother closely this year, when she nears her due date, but hopefully everything will be fine.

chriskirise · Post by **chriskirise** » Sun May 08, 2005 8:25 pm

Hi Inger, Our calf is thriving, and very cute, although still small! I think he is just short-legged, but as he was our first I didn't realise how tiny they are. He is very dinky compared to our non-shorts.

Chris