Three on the ground! Update.
NeoBlackdog
Member Posts: 17,184 ✭✭✭✭
Woke up to our first calf of the year this morning. It was a up and suckling within a half an hour of hittin' the ground. It's amazing how fast they get their legs under 'em and get going.
2nd one dropped about an hour ago. Cute little buggers.
I love these little Aberdeen Angus. They hit the ground and bounce right up and head for a teet and the mama's are very protective of their little ones.
UPDATE: Number three just landed. He's got a belt like his mama. Took him about 15 minutes to get on his/her feet and now trying to find the spigot.
Got all three of the little ones in the picture below. All born within 7 days.
Comments
Well done. Congrats.
Nice! Got any wolf problems around your outfit?
Haven't seen a wolf here yet, but I did run a pair of 'yotes off this evening. BIG song dogs. Never had a clear shot due to the neighbors houses and livestock. So far the 'yotes have been doing us more good than harm. We've got an abundance of ground squirrels and the coyotes help keep 'em in check.
I know nothing about livestock (obviously) but 30 minutes is amazing to me.
The Lord is truly amazing with his creatures. I've had many calves, delivered a few. I'm always in awe.
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
A little late, aren't they? Ours here in NorCal are 4-6 weeks old. And, we have a wolf problem.
They are late! My sister in law got this program up and running not knowing anything about cattle. She just thought it would be better for the calves to be born when it was nice and warm. I got her thinking corrected on that and we're working at getting things adjusted for a late March/early April date. Last year they came the first and second weeks of June so we're workin' the right direction.
It'd be risky to do it in one big leap. I like giving the girls plenty of time to get their system reset before puttin' the bull in with 'em. 2 more seasons and we should be on track.
I remember calving in January/February when I was cowboyin' for a living. NOT FUN! Especially the first calf heifers.
"I remember calving in January/February when I was cowboyin' for a living. NOT FUN! Especially the first calf heifers."
AMEN!!!!
Dad ran Angus bulls with Hereford heifers which helped but there were some hard pulls in cold weather.
My sons have thanked me for not raising them as farmers🙄
So cute. I wonder if Donna will let me put that calf in the spare bedroom??? LOL. I really want a few farm animals when I retire, but my wife said I have no idea what it is like to grow up on a farm. 24-7 and no vacations. Guess we will just stick to the dogs.
Bumpity.
Good, good.
Wolves? What part on Northern Commiforina are you in? We are in Ferndale/Loleta
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
That 3rd should be here, update??? @NeoBlackdog
Not yet, @montanajoe . The ol' girl's so big I'm afraid I'm gonna have to rig up a little wheeled carriage for her udder so she doesn't drag it on the ground. Kinda hopin' she pops some twins out...
Keep an eye on her in case she has trouble. Twins would be great. Good luck, let us know.
I seen the first calf drop here around the first of November. Got up the next morning, looked at the thermometer and it was -24 out, with a stiff 20 plus breeze blowing. Little fart made it, never did see him missing since they don't have a barn. If there was no owner influence, mom did a pretty darn good job that time of year. Tough little sheets, that's for sure...
When banding and tagging, keep the calf between you and the mother. Ask me how I know.
Thanks, Joe! She's one of the 'experienced' cows so we shouldn't (knock on wood!) have any trouble with her. Last years calf she spit out like a watermelon seed.
Good girl.
LOL! Yeah, been there done that! Had one ol' angus mama chase me into the cab of a pickup once just 'cause I wanted to give her calf a shot and an ear tag. The driver went out his door as I was comin' in the passenger side and she was right on my butt! She got most of herself in the cab of the pickup and broke the floor shifter off and bent the steering wheel. Angus are good mamas!
We don't brand, just tag 'em.
Lassen County, Way up North. They introduced them about 12 years ago and they are increasing in packs every year. Most of them are tagged and followed. It is a felony to shoot one. Check it out. I have pictures of two of them.
sever
Good 'ol branding, you will never forget the smell, or the funny colored smoke. Worked for an old school rancher once, who never believed in paying for the ear tags either. He would just cut a certain patch out of their ears with a sharp knife. Come spring time, some of them didn't have much ear left due to frostbite.
Yessir, there's a distinctive odor that goes with branding. I've cut my fair share of those notches, too, those and dewlaps on the neck.
You mean well meaning democrats did that? Sounds crazy 😝
"Independence Now, Independence Forever."
John Adams
And don't forget sawzalling the clown stabbers off...fun times.
you all go to a lot of trouble for hamburgers, I get mine at the grocery store, no branding, dehorning, or calving involved........
I'll bet you dollars to cow pies mine are gonna taste better and I won't have an issue getting beef if there's a truckers strike or other social disruption.
One cold day my dad and I had to help pull a calf. Fortunately cow was in the corral so we had a good fence post to tie a rope around. But our hands were so cold we couldn't get a grip on the rope.
Ended up tying the rope to a post and I started standing on it and gently bouncing so it was like a pulse pulling on the calf.
Cow and calf did fine; we got warmed up by suppertime.🙄
One of our neighbors down the road have a BIG long horn steer. When my wife is with me in the PU I tell we should stop and ask if we could have the rack when it passes to put on the front of the truck! Really pisses her off😉
Bumped for the last time. See first post.
Woo hoo!! Congrats.
Around here Steve, it sure seems like bull calves are the majority of the new ones, what are yours?
Are the striped one's belted galoways?
Ya know, we aren't sure yet. We haven't seen any of 'em peeing yet so we're not sure which way things are pointed and we try not to put hands on 'em unless absolutely necessary.
The belted are Galloways.The bull is an Aberdeen Angus, so the newest little guy is 3/4 Aberdeen and 1/4 Galloway.Edit; I just read the above sentence again and got it wrong! The belted cow is 1/2 Galloway and 1/2 Aberdeen. The bull is full Aberdeen making the little one 3/4 Aberdeen and 1/4 Galloway.
Great that everbody's doing well.
All feeding and doing well I hope? Mommas are good too? @NeoBlackdog
All is well, @montanajoe ! The newest one is now right at 48 hours old and is starting (already!) to jump and run with the other two that are a week old. It has always amazed me how quickly they get up and going, even after all these thousands of calves I've seen born.
The mommas are very watchful and wary. When I walk down that way with the dog they all turn and keep a very close eye on the 'wolf' and they let him know that he is not welcome. I've watched the two female yearlings that are in the same pasture as the babies chase coyotes off twice now. The 'yotes were just down there hunting squirrels, not even anywhere near the babies, but the two yearling heifers charged 'em and made both Wily's take off for a safer haven. Pretty fun to watch!
Good news, glad to hear it.