The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Templelands on March 09, 2013, 12:10:32 pm

Title: Our first calf
Post by: Templelands on March 09, 2013, 12:10:32 pm

Popped in the field today and our first calf had arrived! Hoped to be there but this was a nice surprise!

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on March 09, 2013, 12:15:29 pm

How beautiful and what a lovely sight to greet you!! Lovely surroundings too!! Congratulations to you and also to Mum and her calf!

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: HappyHippy on March 09, 2013, 12:16:01 pm

Gorgeous, congratulations  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: sabrina on March 09, 2013, 01:53:08 pm

Now that's what I call a stress free birth.  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Rosemary on March 09, 2013, 02:14:49 pm

Congratulations! Is it a bull or a heifer? What kind of cattle are they?

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Templelands on March 09, 2013, 04:42:41 pm

Tragedy strikes. Mum crushed her calf and we lost her.
Thats a pregnant ewe and calf in the space of a few weeks. Devastated is not the word.
Mum has had 9 calves without incident - wondering whether we could of or should of done anything differently. They were in a big field so plenty of space...
The cows are Shetlands, and the calf was a well bred pure bred. Little Girl. Sad sad, painful times.....

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on March 09, 2013, 05:03:10 pm

Oh no........... :'( :'( :'(  Im so sorry  :gloomy: :gloomy: :gloomy: ......... :hug:

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Rosemary on March 09, 2013, 06:54:18 pm

I didn't know you had Shetlands - I thought they looked like Shetlands but wasn't sure.

What a shame about the calf  :'( How did it happen?

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Templelands on March 09, 2013, 07:36:55 pm

We got them about four months ago now.


Calf was lying down and mum went down next to her - looks like she was too close and when we went over to feed her calf was dead. Just trying to source a foster calf now - a few people on the look out.

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Castlehill Farm on March 09, 2013, 08:05:54 pm

Templelands,

We feel for you! The calf looked real healthy.

We have a small herd and would be a tragedy if we were to loose any!

Hope you get a foster calf soon to help the cow get over the loss of her calf.

Best of luck,

Ian.

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Rosemary on March 09, 2013, 08:30:05 pm

That's so sad  :( I'd be gutted if that happened to us.

She might take two calves, you know. There's an article on multisuckling and Shetlands on the TAS website (not by us but by another breeder).

When you feel more like it, tell me more about your Shetlands - always love to hear about other localish Shetland breeders  :)

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: scarlettoara on March 19, 2013, 10:55:53 pm

Quote from: Rosemary on March 09, 2013, 08:30:05 pm

She might take two calves, you know. There's an article on multisuckling and Shetlands on the TAS website (not by us but by another breeder).

where abouts is that article, please?

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Hassle on March 20, 2013, 05:29:44 am

It's always sad when a calf is lost even when you have a large herd, a year lost.

But an accident like that there was nothing you could have done.

Good luck

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: Rosemary on March 20, 2013, 08:47:07 am

Quote from: scarlettoara on March 19, 2013, 10:55:53 pm

Quote from: Rosemary on March 09, 2013, 08:30:05 pm

She might take two calves, you know. There's an article on multisuckling and Shetlands on the TAS website (not by us but by another breeder).

where abouts is that article, please?

Good question! I will ask Dan.

Title: Re: Our first calf
Post by: sabrina on March 20, 2013, 02:20:38 pm

What a shame, have you managed to find a calf for her.