Post by hoperefuge on Jan 12, 2013 11:14:01 GMT -5
I have a cow here to be bred to my bull, and I really don't know what to make of this. I'd like to hear what some of you think. Sorry it's long...please bear with me, I really need help here!
This same cow was here (calf at side) last Jan also, and she was "textbook" last year. Started showing signs of coming into heat, the next day Rousseau was stuck to her like a cockleburr, and the next morning we had a red Estrotect sticker. Two days later she had a bleed-off and they took her home a few days later. She's back with a pretty Rousseau heifer at her side this year. The only unusual thing I noticed last year was that the rubbed-off area of her sticker was smaller than what I normally see with my cows, but then she's a bit smaller than my girls, too.
So, details of what has happened so far this year. The owner was planning, based on the timing of last heat signs they saw, to bring her here Sat 1/5. He called me Friday 1/4 saying, "She just tried to mount me, I think I better bring her today yet." OK, fine. We were talking when we turned her out that evening & stupid me forgot to get a sticker on her while he had her on lead. They are in our "front yard" paddock, where I can look out any of my front windows 100 times a day to check the status of things.
Sat 1/5: I took her a bucket of feed in the AM so I could get a sticker on her. Rousseau was moderately interested in her through the day, and Sunday also, but no cockleburr action.
Mon 1/7: She had a small string of brown-tinged mucous discharge. I figured it was bleed-off from heat Fri. night, but unsure because I didn't have the sticker on her. Bull was not very interested in her Mon. or Tues.
Wed 1/9: Bull was in cockleburr mode all day & continually asking & trying her...definitely convinced the cow was about ready. She was constantly grooming him, chin-pressing & trying to mount him. I was sure she'd have a red sticker in the morning.
Thurs 1/10: Sticker is just as silver as can be!?! Rousseau spent the entire first half of the day laying down snoozing & chewing cud (looked like he wore himself slick out) unconcerned with the cow going about her business. In the afternoon he got up & was hanging out with her, and did try her occasionally.
Fri 1/11: Not much interest between the two of them.
Today 1/12: Cow has a string of bloody mucous this morning...definite bleed off.
So, what the heck?! It sure looks like she should have been in standing heat Wed. night.....except that there's not a thing rubbed off her sticker. Is it possible he bred her without hitting the sticker at all? (And, yes, I have it in the proper place) Is it possible she was in heat & wouldn't let him mount because she thinks he's too heavy or something? (Unlikely) Could this be pointing to her being cystic? I just don't know what to think!
Kim
This same cow was here (calf at side) last Jan also, and she was "textbook" last year. Started showing signs of coming into heat, the next day Rousseau was stuck to her like a cockleburr, and the next morning we had a red Estrotect sticker. Two days later she had a bleed-off and they took her home a few days later. She's back with a pretty Rousseau heifer at her side this year. The only unusual thing I noticed last year was that the rubbed-off area of her sticker was smaller than what I normally see with my cows, but then she's a bit smaller than my girls, too.
So, details of what has happened so far this year. The owner was planning, based on the timing of last heat signs they saw, to bring her here Sat 1/5. He called me Friday 1/4 saying, "She just tried to mount me, I think I better bring her today yet." OK, fine. We were talking when we turned her out that evening & stupid me forgot to get a sticker on her while he had her on lead. They are in our "front yard" paddock, where I can look out any of my front windows 100 times a day to check the status of things.
Sat 1/5: I took her a bucket of feed in the AM so I could get a sticker on her. Rousseau was moderately interested in her through the day, and Sunday also, but no cockleburr action.
Mon 1/7: She had a small string of brown-tinged mucous discharge. I figured it was bleed-off from heat Fri. night, but unsure because I didn't have the sticker on her. Bull was not very interested in her Mon. or Tues.
Wed 1/9: Bull was in cockleburr mode all day & continually asking & trying her...definitely convinced the cow was about ready. She was constantly grooming him, chin-pressing & trying to mount him. I was sure she'd have a red sticker in the morning.
Thurs 1/10: Sticker is just as silver as can be!?! Rousseau spent the entire first half of the day laying down snoozing & chewing cud (looked like he wore himself slick out) unconcerned with the cow going about her business. In the afternoon he got up & was hanging out with her, and did try her occasionally.
Fri 1/11: Not much interest between the two of them.
Today 1/12: Cow has a string of bloody mucous this morning...definite bleed off.
So, what the heck?! It sure looks like she should have been in standing heat Wed. night.....except that there's not a thing rubbed off her sticker. Is it possible he bred her without hitting the sticker at all? (And, yes, I have it in the proper place) Is it possible she was in heat & wouldn't let him mount because she thinks he's too heavy or something? (Unlikely) Could this be pointing to her being cystic? I just don't know what to think!
Kim