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RainierRidgeRanch
6 Posts
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 Posted - May 31 2016 : 11:24:35 AM
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| Hi All! I am new to the dairy cow world, we raise Piedmontese beef cattle which are so very different I am finding! I recently purchased my first dairy cow, a 3 year old jersey named Clarabelle. I am enjoying her so much! She was bred by AI last year on August 18th which put her due date at May 27, last Friday. Her udder is huge and we've seen a little mucus off and on for several days but nothing else. Now my beef cattle go late sometimes but I don't worry about them, they are able to handle it. But Clarabelle is a midsize jersey and seems so much smaller to me so I'm worried about her calf getting too big. Our vet does not like to induce, and normally I'm all for letting nature take its course but with my sweet Clarabelle I'm more nervous I guess. Any thoughts? What's the latest you all have seen a jersey go? |
Raising kids, cows, pigs, goats and chickens in Rainier Wa. |
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farmlife
1413 Posts
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Posted - May 31 2016 : 11:30:43 AM
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| My Elli went over her due date by quite a bit. Her breeding records put her at April 17th, the ultrasound was April 23rd and she actually calved April 29th. However I think "normal" is somewhere around 10 days over. MaryJane could tell you for sure. Has she calved before? |
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RainierRidgeRanch
6 Posts
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Posted - May 31 2016 : 11:34:11 AM
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| This is her second calf. The people we bought her from said she didn't have any trouble with her first calf but I don't recall them saying anything about her being a late gal. |
Raising kids, cows, pigs, goats and chickens in Rainier Wa. |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - May 31 2016 : 11:52:33 AM
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i learned a bit about this lately. it seems that 10 days early or 10 days late is to be expected - so not a worry at all. her udder increasing just recently is a good sign.
here are a few threads to help you out, there are quite a few more with people talking about leading up to birth and the watch beforehand. and lots of photos of the day's leading up to it, so it will prob make you feel better.
https://www.heritagejersey.org/chatroom/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=838
https://www.heritagejersey.org/chatroom/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=917
https://heritagejersey.org/chatroom/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=234
https://www.heritagejersey.org/chatroom/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=247
i won't be of much use beyond this, and i do NOT suggest that your situation is what i recently encountered. but i did have a calf due May 9th and 10 days came and gone with no changes at all. we had the vet out at two weeks past and found that our cow had miscarried and was no longer pregnant, even after confirmed pregnancy she had proceeded to apparently gorge on fresh spring pasture and tricked me that she was increasing in these last stages of pregnancy... please do not think this applies to you, i mention it only because i didn't have an udder increasing at all. if you do, then that is a great sign. and if her hind end is swelling and changing thats another great change.
by all means call your vet and schedule an appointment for the day past due you/they feel is best... be it 10 days or another day. then you'll know that at least you'll find out that day, or earlier if she calves more timely ;>
and maryjane did some research and found that previous calving early/late is no indication of subsequent calving timing - every pregnancy is different and consistency is just as likely as inconsistency.
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_(199x300)_(66x100).jpg?v 93697001) Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
Edited by - txbikergirl on May 31 2016 11:54:50 AM |
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farmlife
1413 Posts
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Posted - May 31 2016 : 3:23:07 PM
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| There you go. Cindy is on the job. |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jun 01 2016 : 04:08:40 AM
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| I had a cow that went past her due date, can't recall which one without going back to look it up. I wouldn't be concerned as long as she isn't showing any signs of distress or problems. If her udder is getting larger like you mentioned and she has been showing mucus lately then I would guess it won't be much longer. Is she eating and drinking? acting okay? Each person has to make there own decisions about their cows, but I wouldn't be alarmed unless I saw some signs of distress or something unusual. Just my opinion. ;) |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jun 01 2016 : 11:21:57 AM
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| i am hoping a little absence by rainierridge means that there is a calf on the way ;> |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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RainierRidgeRanch
6 Posts
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Posted - Jun 01 2016 : 3:29:22 PM
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| Yes! Clarabelle had a sweet little heifer calf last night after evening chores but before I checked on her before bed. Sneaky girl! All seemed to have gone well. Now we are just working on getting baby to learn how to breathe and eat at the same time and get mama's edema under control. |
Raising kids, cows, pigs, goats and chickens in Rainier Wa. |
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txbikergirl
3197 Posts
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Posted - Jun 01 2016 : 4:43:05 PM
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| CONGRATS! what a joy! by all means post a photo for us to drool over, and don't be a stranger as i'll think you'll find that the knowledegable and caring people on HJO are just fantastic. its a real special place - very sharing, but not ugly like some internet places can be. just kindness, respect, and any difference of opinions are handled sweetly. |
Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy") |
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maryjane
7072 Posts
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Posted - Jun 02 2016 : 05:52:33 AM
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| What are you doing for her edema? I have a cow who is prone to edema when she calves. I'm with Cindy, photos! Name? |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11214 Posts
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Posted - Jun 02 2016 : 07:33:50 AM
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| All's well that ends well! Way to go Clarebelle! Congratulations on your new little heifer RainierRidgeRanch!!! Photos when you get time. Calving time takes more time and care, but thrilled for you. Any names in mind? This has been a happy couple of weeks with all the new cows/calves on HJO. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Reverence
22 Posts
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Posted - Jun 06 2016 : 12:58:10 PM
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Congratulations on your little heifer! Every calving is different and I've had girls go early and up to two full weeks late with no problems.
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GingerBKelly
274 Posts
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![[flourish]](/images/flourish-txt_mobius.png)
Jersey over due
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![Heritage Jersey Organization [logo]](/images/HJO-logo.png){kind=logo}
