Signs that Hereford heifers are getting close to calving?

[amysflock]

Glenolam, I can totally relate. I'm the only one (of the two of us) at my house who worries about this stuff, too. DH has been known to throw 2 bales of hay into the ring feeder and think that's enough for 2 days for 2 lactating cows, a large dry cow, and 2 calves! It makes me crazy.

It is very possible that adding more hay will just result in more waste. Hay isn't the fastest way to add calories...and I think they know it.

You might consider alfalfa as an option (dry). We did evening buckets (1 bucket apiece) of soaked beet pulp, plus alfalfa pellets and some grain, for Bridgit and Sheila (our first two cows) in 2008 before and after they calvedIt's a little time consuming, didn't solve Bridgit's weight problems, caused Sheila to get a bit bossy and demanding ("where the H*LL is my evening bucket, woman?!"), and is not something we do anymore.

After even the 16% dairy grain ration did nothing for Bridgit's weight during lactation other than cause her to further fatten her heifer calf, we switched to rolled corn. I think we mixed a little bit (less than a pound) of grain in because it had molasses in it and the rolled corn wasn't very tasty.

I did notice our dog seemed to like the rolled corn...we fed Bridgit (and thusly her heifer calf, who always came with) in our backyard to keep Sheila away, and Bridgit would forever spill rolled corn bits out of her mouth between bites. Honey the Foxhound cleaned them up, lickety split!

 

[glenolam]

"where the H*LL is my evening bucket, woman?!"

Ummmm, have you been spying on me and my animals?

It's the same with the goats - as soon as I step out of the car the darn things start yelling "MAAAAAAAAA - We're fricken starving here!" All the while I hear "MOOOOAAAAA.........!" from the cows.... sigh....

After even the 16% dairy grain ration did nothing for Bridgit's weight during lactation other than cause her to further fatten her heifer calf, we switched to rolled corn. I think we mixed a little bit (less than a pound) of grain in because it had molasses in it and the rolled corn wasn't very tasty.

That's funny because my husband has to stop at the feed store on the way home and I just texted him the list of what to get - I said sweet feed mix and rolled corn! Guess I might know something!

 

[herfrds]

Thanks for the comments. She is my favorite.
Her bag is not as full as it was a month ago. Her calf is off now grazing more by herself, but will come back to mom when she wants milk. Named her Spot because of the white spot right in the middle of her back.

We have a couple of cows that are around a score frame of 6. I stand 5'4" in my boots and I can't look over their backs. Too big. we are trying to get it more uniform in the herd with a 4 to 5 frame.

glenolam one thing to know is those heifers will lose body condition after they calve and start nursing the calves. It won't matter how much feed you pour into them they will put it into their milk for the calves.
Ours always look terrible about a week or so after calving. Once they are out on green grass and the milk production to the calf levels off they start putting on the weight again.
We wean at 6 months of age. It gives the cow some time before winter hits to get dry and start putting back on some more weight.
One thing we learned during a drought was to start the calves on feed about a month before weaning. I will take out a bale of hay and get the herd to come up to it. The cows teach the calves to eat the hay. They get a bale every 3 days.
Less bawling by the calf.
we learned that when the pasture had no grass and we had to start feeding in August.

 

[glenolam]

Well - I "won the bet"!

#1 calved early this morning and #2 followed at 10:30 am! We have a bull (from #1) and a heifer (#2). Poor ol' #3 just walks around wondering where her friends are....

I have a question so I'll start another thread, but wanted to update this first. I'll post pics as soon as I get the chance (because I took about a gazillion already!)

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Well - I "won the bet"!

#1 calved early this morning and #3 followed at 10:30 am! We have a bull (from #1) and a heifer (#3). Poor ol' #2 just walks around wondering where her friends are....

I have a question so I'll start another thread, but wanted to update this first. I'll post pics as soon as I get the chance (because I took about a gazillion already!)

Congrats! I definitely wouldn't have guessed they'd go this early by those pics you posted. They didn't look that big!

 

[amysflock]

Oh, wow, congrats! I wouldn't have guessed they were as close, either! Can't wait to see pics!

 

[herfrds]

So COOL!!!!

I love pictures of baby calves. I can hardly wait.

 

[glenolam]

I knew the pics I was showing you really weren't the best. I was taking in all the info you all were giving me and it just didn't seem to fit our girls!

None the less, here's our beautiful calves - first is the bull from heifer #1:

Here is the heifer from heifer #2 (who's the one having nursing issues right now):

By the way - What are the odds both calved on the same day - 4ish hours apart!!!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Beautiful calves! Glad #2 finally came around!

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I knew the pics I was showing you really weren't the best. I was taking in all the info you all were giving me and it just didn't seem to fit our girls!

None the less, here's our beautiful calves - first is the bull from heifer #1:

Here is the heifer from heifer #2 (who's the one having nursing issues right now): I think you meant #2, from the pictures I looked at on page 3 or 4 of this thread.

By the way - What are the odds both calved on the same day - 4ish hours apart!!!

Congratulations! They all look like nice calves. #3 I'm sure will soon follow soon enough.