Problems in pregnancy - Concerns over are in calf Heifer

water_lily_uk · Post by **water_lily_uk** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:42 pm

Are Heifer is due to have her second calf in
5 weeks. Her first calf was born by c section.
So i am probley worrying to much as its are
first cow anyway. We eventually found are
problem was she was small for her age at first
calving she has since grown a lot. We had been
concerened first time round by how big round
she had become but dispite the fact she is
now genuinly a bigger cow she is much bigger
round this time and when she lies down know
her cervic pertrudes throw her vulva and she
is having a mucus discharge am I worrying to
much is this just what the vet means by there
cervic loosens buy second calving. It's just it
dose not seem like something i would expect.
We used Danny boy this time instead of redberry
to reduce the chance of a problem.
would be grateful for any advice
she is also starting o spring.
rachel

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:06 pm

I wouldn't worry, cattle are very tough but I would call the vet to see what she thinks.

Clive

water_lily_uk · Post by **water_lily_uk** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:24 pm

Are vet said the most important thing
was she did not become dry. that he
could no rule out she might have a lesion but there was nothing he could
do at this stage. He also told us when to call him if she had not calfed
by.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:59 am

I bought a very young heifer in who we realised in horror was in calf. By the time we realised, it was too late to abort so the pregnancy went ahead. A large heifer calf was delivered by c's. Mother and babe did well. We gave mum extra time, to let her grow some more, before sending her back to the bull. Next time she calved by herself, no problems. The c/s calf has grown into a big brindle heifer. As she was pd'ed not in calf last Autumn she was going to the freezer but now she is springing an udder and looking very round. The best laid plans .......

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:30 pm

Maybe there is hope for our 'empty' cow yet? :;): She was the only one empty in 12 cows vetted.

Is Redberry Prince known for producing large calves? If so, what is his average calf birthweight?

andy · Post by **andy** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:40 am

Hi Inger.

There is no evidence that calves from Redberry have any tendancy to being larger than from any other AI bull. We have had numerous calves from him with no calving problems. We are also in touch with lots of other breeders in the UK and throughout the world, again we are not aware of any problems with calf size. On the contrary we have had plenty of compliments on his calves - with lots of feedback on their show results. As an AI bull - there are naturally lots of offspring - and the more offspring there are then statistically there is bound to be an occasional problem with any bull.

Andy and Sherry (BrambledelDexters)

water_lily_uk · Post by **water_lily_uk** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:46 pm

Although are heifer had a c-section with a calf
redberry sired . I know from the man who inspected the calf to see if he should be kept
intacked, it was my heifer that had the problem.
So as it was only a small amount in the size of the calfs Head in it I would say he produces good size calfs . I picked danny boy to reduce head size to hope she has one easy calving.
Otherwise she will be put down. She had spent
her first year in a shed by a man who only took
her as a favour to someone . She has taken a
long time coming up to size with us dispite her genetics. Because her problems we took pity.
never a good thing to do. We delayed her first
service because vets advice on her size. He can
not even rule out it was this advice that was the problem. We aleast have a nice bull out of it.And no one wants a small unhealthy calf.

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:03 am

I have some Redberry straws. So I was wondering if it was better to use them on a second or third calver, rather than on a heifer. Mind you, I want to keep any bull that turns up, so for the sake of the calf's nutrition, it would probably best if I did use a 2nd or 3rd calving cow. It would give it the best start in life.

water_lily_uk · Post by **water_lily_uk** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:40 pm

Atleast if you do it on the second calf the heifer
has proved how good she is. Are mistake was
we new dexters where small and as she was are
first we did not no what to expect on size. To
give you a idea the calf was 24 kilo and 22inch
to the rump at birth (good size) but by 4 months was larger
than his mum at 12months when we got her at
26inches to the rump. Her father was Migh tonka who is a big bull so I think it had more to
do with her life. phil parfit told me he had met
her as a calf up to her shoulders in mud. her bull calf is already 41 1/2 inches to the rump at
a year. We had bad luck someone starting relies
to much on the seller as there are no size charts for animials below 4 years.

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:05 pm

Hi

I don't know whether this helps but I have a friend who used Redberry Prince (live, not AI) on two heifers and he reports that both were easy calvings. He said he had more trouble with a smaller, bigger headed bull the previous year. Our bull is similar to Redberry Price and he throws big'ish calfs but again, we've had no problems except one backwards out of 30 so far.

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:41 am

That reassures me Broomcroft. I won't worry too much if I need to use the straws on heifers.