In in two weeks we are expecting our first calves. What should I watch for? What do I need to have on hand (such as injections--vitamins, etc.)? We have a large bull in the pasture ,should we remove him? He is very gentle--so much more that the heifers.Thanks for any help/ suggestions.

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), December 30, 2001

Answers

Forget the date and stay out of the pasture.Most will due fina all alone.The most you may have to do is iodine the navel if mom will let you get that close.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), December 30, 2001.

My neighbor has about 150 head of Angus, and I asked him a few weeks ago do they ever need the vet for calving problems. Answer, once about every ten years or so. Beef cows of the English breeds (Angus, Herefords) tend to calve with no problems. Their calves are generally not big, and size is usually the determining factor for problem births. Even a calf coming backwards can get out safely without assistance IF they get out fast enough, and size of the calf is the factor here. Cows that are normally sized should have no problems.

If you have a large bull in the pasture, if he's over 2 years old I'd sell him as a safety factor for YOU. Start a new one every year and sell the old bull. Bulls can be pussy cats---until the day they decide they aren't anymore, and they give you small warning. But he shouldn't hurt the cows or calves.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), December 30, 2001.

Debbie, I would do nothing. We have lots of cattle and so does my dad and I have never heard of a bull hurting a calf. Maybe if they were smashed in a small area together and even then I am sure it would be an accident. If the mothers are heifers I would watch them closely. They will probably be fine, but you never know. And it is really discouraging to lose your first calf. I also don't get rid of my bull unless something is wrong with him or his calves. We have never iodined a navel in 6 years and my dad has not done it 30. Nobody does it around here but it won't hurt if your concerned about navel ill to go ahead. They only thing I would keep around might be a calf bottle. There cheap and there is nothing worse than checking cattle in this cold weather and finding one chilled or weak and not having a bottle. I wouldn't worry to much though I would say our cows calve fine 99% of the time. But when in doubt call the vet. I would rather spend 100 dollars on the vet than lose a 400 dollar calf. Good luck.

-- renabeth (renabeth@yahoo.com), December 30, 2001.

We always injected vite AD and E/Selenium, we're selenium deficiant here though. Iodine in a spray bottle is easier to use but not as good as dipping. The bull might pester the cows during calving, but I doubt it's really much of a worry. Did you vacinate the cows? We use an 8 way vaccine, follow the instructions. We keep sheep now and they really need the extra fuss, cattle usually don't need quite so much. If your cows are easy to handle the fuss is cheap insurance.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), December 30, 2001.

I agree that staying out of the way is your best course of action. Unless mom is a small heifer that you expect problems with, she won't need your help and wouldn't appreciate the attempt. Unless mama is a very gentle pet, she's liable to hurt you if you get too close to the newborn.

The bull won't hurt the calf, but if mom feels threatened and starts to bawl, he may run to her defense.

-- Mona in OK (modoc@ipa.net), December 30, 2001.