Calving season is by far the most anticipated season on the farm. We have had 6 calving seasons so far. The wonder at watching new life come into the world never ceases to amaze us. I have been blessed to witness many births over the years. Most of the time, I am alone but a few times, I have had the boys with me. What an experience and education for them! And, this past … [Read more...] about Tales from the Cattle Farm: “The calf is coming!”
Pregnancy in Cattle
Late Term Abortion in Beef Cattle
It's devastating. A long, hard winter finally eases its grip, the snow begins to melt, and you find a dead calf on the ground. With today's calf prices and production costs, the financial aspect of a dead calf is a tough enough pill to swallow, but when added to the emotional toll, the abortion issue is not an enjoyable topic. We just found our first dead calf on the ground … [Read more...] about Late Term Abortion in Beef Cattle
Cow Pregnancy Blood Testing
Before we knew it, THAT time was upon us again. Our 60-day breeding season had come and gone in the blink of an eye and it was time for us to answer the question that had been looming over our heads all summer - are they pregnant?! They, of course, being our 20 cows. We leased a red Angus bull (known for calving ease calves) for our breeding … [Read more...] about Cow Pregnancy Blood Testing
That Cow is Gonna Calve Soon! – Signs of the Onset of Labor
Here on the farm, calving season is still hanging on, with one straggler still due to have her calf. With this being our first calving season, we didn't know what exactly to expect; of course, we certainly had a "vision" for our first calving season. We were realistic with knowing that it would not be all rainbows and unicorns but we certainly were not expecting quite as … [Read more...] about That Cow is Gonna Calve Soon! – Signs of the Onset of Labor