03/17/2008 04:58PM
Calf mortality at calving time is reduced significantly with frequent checking of the herd. This supervision is becoming more important with the increasing number of calves with larger birth weights. Therefore it is important to try to calve during the daytime hours when supervision and assistance is
02/14/2008 09:43AM
The newborn calf has many challenges to face as it begins live on its own. The first of these challenges is a change in environment. If a calf can get beyond the challenge of finding its feet and finding mom’s teat, there is a good chance it will be able to handle life. However, some challenges won’t
05/18/2007 05:08PM
Many Oklahoma ranchers choose to breed the replacement heifers about a month ahead of the mature cows in the herd. In addition, they like to use a shortened 45 to 60-day breeding season for the replacement heifers. The next logical step is to determine which of these heifers failed to conceive
05/11/2007 02:56PM
Feed conversions of calves fed creep feeds have been quite variable to say the least. Conversions of 5:1 or 5 pounds of grain consumed to 1 extra pound of calf weight are very rare and the optimum that can be expected when producers are using a "typical" high energy creep feed. Conversions
03/06/2007 10:15AM
No sooner did I mention that the winter has been warmer, yet still stressful, that we were hit with almost 30 days of below average temperatures. Producers have often felt that calves are bigger after cold winters. Is this really true? Often it is hard to compare one year to the next
02/06/2007 07:12PM
It is important to be very clean when attempting to correct a dystocia and the vulva of the cow should be washed thoroughly with a mild soap or disinfectant solution. The operator’s hands and arms should also be scrubbed clean.
If you find upon inserting your hand into the vagina that the cervix will
02/05/2007 06:14PM
What is a prolapse?A prolapse is defined as: the falling down or slipping of a body part from its usual position. Vaginal or cervical prolapses are two types that occur in beef cows. The complete uterine prolapse is most common at calving. This is when the uterus is completely expelled out behind the
01/12/2007 03:16PM
Recently an Oklahoma rancher called to tell of the success he had noticed in using a warm water bath to revive new born calves that had been severely cold stressed. A quick check of the scientific data on that subject bears out his observation. Canadian animal scientists compared methods of
01/12/2007 03:05PM
As the spring calving season approaches, the cows will show typical signs that will indicate parturition is imminent. Changes that are gradually seen are udder development, or making bag and the relaxation and swelling of the vulva. These indicate the cow is due to calve in the near future