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Author Topic: Do cows need to be in pairs?  (Read 15640 times)

humphreymctush

  • Joined Jul 2010
  • orkney
Re: Do cows need to be in pairs?
« Reply #30 on: July 30, 2010, 10:42:46 pm »
So if you let the cow wean each calf naturally what age is the calf likey to be when this happens, how long before the cow can conceive again and therefore what would the interval between each calving be?

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Do cows need to be in pairs?
« Reply #31 on: July 31, 2010, 07:58:44 am »
Cows don't need to be weaned before coming back into season. Suckler cows would normally be bulled before the calves are weaned, probably when the calves are about 3 months old so that the cow calves every year. I don't know when the cow will start knocking the current calf off - I'd guess about 9 or 10 months old.

humphreymctush

  • Joined Jul 2010
  • orkney
Re: Do cows need to be in pairs?
« Reply #32 on: July 31, 2010, 07:15:48 pm »
I've often wondered why I see a bull in fields with cows and young calves so that explains it.
So to set myself off with the "One cow" plan could I buy two calves, maybe one of each so that they had company. train the heifer to be easily handled and then eat the boy when she has her first calf? Does this sound like a reasonable plan or would he be too old by then?

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Do cows need to be in pairs?
« Reply #33 on: July 31, 2010, 09:52:59 pm »
A traditional breed would be ready 24-30 months old, I would have thought. It woudl have to be a bullock though, not an entire bull. Others more experienced can advise better of age at finishing.

humphreymctush

  • Joined Jul 2010
  • orkney
Re: Do cows need to be in pairs?
« Reply #34 on: July 31, 2010, 10:47:22 pm »
And what age would the heifer be when she could have her first calf?

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Do cows need to be in pairs?
« Reply #35 on: August 01, 2010, 08:19:37 am »
Two years old.

humphreymctush

  • Joined Jul 2010
  • orkney
Re: Do cows need to be in pairs?
« Reply #36 on: August 02, 2010, 02:14:51 pm »
Thank you very much for all this useful information Rosemary.

 

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