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What else can I help you with?
Why are calves from first calved heifers smaller?
Heifers are still growing and maturing themselves, so a lot of resources being put into the calf's growth still need to be put into the heifer to keep her growing as well.
What age should bulls and heifers be bred for the first time?
Bulls can reach puberty by the time they are 8 months of age, but most are put in with the breeding herd by the time they are 12 months of age. Heifers reach puberty by the time they are 10 to 12 months of age, but most heifers are not bred until they are 15 months old. Of course the breed of the bulls and heifers depends on when they reach puberty and/or when they should be used for producing offspring.
My heifer had twins is that common?
No, it is not common for heifers (first-time mothers) to have twins. It is more common for mature cows to have twins. Twins in heifers can pose challenges in terms of care and nutrition for both the heifer and the calves. It is important to monitor them closely and seek advice from a veterinarian.
Does a cow go through puberty?
No, a heifer does. Cows are mature female bovines that have had at least two calves, and thus are females that have already been through puberty when they were heifers, before they had their first calf.
Is every cow a girl?
Yes! Cows are mature female bovines that have given birth to at least two calves. Heifers are females who have not given birth at all during their lifetime, and first-calf heifers are heifers that have given birth to their first calf. Steers and bulls, on the other hand, are MALES. Steers are male bovines that have been castrated or neutered (some people like to refer to them as "castrated bulls"), and bulls are intact male bovines that have not been castrated and are used (or going to be used) for breeding purposes.
What are short bred cows or heifers?
Short bred cows or heifers are females that are in early gestation or pregnancy, mostly in their first trimester.
How many teats do mother cattle have?
Cows and first-calf heifers have four functional teats.
Why are calves from first calved heifers smaller?
Heifers are still growing and maturing themselves, so a lot of resources being put into the calf's growth still need to be put into the heifer to keep her growing as well.
What age should bulls and heifers be bred for the first time?
Bulls can reach puberty by the time they are 8 months of age, but most are put in with the breeding herd by the time they are 12 months of age. Heifers reach puberty by the time they are 10 to 12 months of age, but most heifers are not bred until they are 15 months old. Of course the breed of the bulls and heifers depends on when they reach puberty and/or when they should be used for producing offspring.
Do heifers lactate like cows do?
No. Heifers, being young female cattle, don't lactate until after they've had their first calf, which is typically at 24 months of age. A heifer remains a heifer, from birth, until she's had her first or second calf, whereby she is considered a cow. But until then, heifers don't lactate like cows do, and when they do lactate after birthing a calf, they typically produce less milk than their older counterparts.
At what age does a calf have her first cycle?
Depending on the breed, generally most heifers begin to cycle at around 10 to 12 months of age. Some breeds have heifers begin cycling earlier, such as Jersey which begins cycling at around 7 months of age.
Can you experience pelvic girdle pain in the first 2 weeks of pregnancy?
Yes
When do young heifers go into estrus for the first time?
There are a few factors involved, care of the animal will play a part. Typically it depends on maturity of the reproductive tract, but also on body condition and genetics. Most heifers will begin their initial cycling at around 11 to 12 months, however this is not always the case with breeds that are early maturing such as Jerseys, Dexter, Gelbvieh and Galloway, which may start coming into heat around 8 to 9 months of age. Late maturing breeds such as Brahman will find heifers going into first heat at 15 months. Other late maturing breeds like Charolias, Chianina and Limousin will have heifers going into their first eat between 13 and 15 months of age. Malnourished animals or those in poor body condition will have a delayed first estrus, but overly fat heifers will also come into heat for the first time later than those that are in normal condition. Genetics also play a role in determining the start of puberty for heifers. Some breeders select for cattle within a certain breed they're raising to be more early maturing than the breed average.
Should you keep heifers out of heifers?
No. All offspring from first-calf heifers should be sold because they are just going to be too small to be any good as replacements. I'd wait until your first-calvers are older, like after they've had their second calf to consider keeping any replacements from them. You may have an opportunity to keep some heifers as replacements from second calvers, but you're better off keeping heifers from cows that have proven time and time again to produce good keeper-quality calves. First-calvers are still growing when they have their second calf, and loose their baby teeth after this time. This growth and teeth-replacement period is quite stressful on both mom and baby, and as a result the calf isn't going to be gaining well because of these stressors. Besides, this first-calf heifer isn't a proven dam yet, so it is better to ship her offspring and give her a second (or third) chance to redeem herself and produce a better calf. By the time she has weaned her first and had her second, her adult teeth would've grown back and she would've finally reached maturity. Mature cows tend to give bigger, and better calves than first-calf heifers do.
Are heifers dangerous?
They can be, but not as much as a young bull that has just entered puberty. Heifers, if treated well, can be quite docile and well-mannered. This, of course, may change during and after calving time because of the hormones coursing through them, and their first experiences with ever having a calf. You may find heifers that are more scared and flighty of you than them being aggressive. When they are cornered in a small corral where they have nowhere to escape, that's when they can turn dangerous.
Is pelvic sonogram similar to ultrasound?
The first uses the second, so they are not really "similar".
Where on the cow is the sirlon?
The sirloin is the first section of the pelvic area of the cow, before the leg joint that joins the back leg to the pelvis. The other half of the pelvic area is called the round.
