Major calving malpresentation....ANOTHER one!?!?
Apr 3, 2016 12:50:45 GMT -5
Pinevalleydexter, trina b, and 2 more like this
Post by hoperefuge on Apr 3, 2016 12:50:45 GMT -5
So, I'll start by saying that Tiggy is now the happy momma of a bouncing wee boy...all has ended well. But this has brought some serious questions to my mind. I've now had two half-sisters, bred to the same bull for their first calf, have significant malpresentations. It hardly seems like coincidence, but I've never heard that there's any genetic component to calving malpresentation, so I'm wondering what's going on. I know that there are other Dexter breeders who cull cows that have a malpresented calf, because the breed is known for easy, trouble-free calving, and they want to keep it that way. I want to be a responsible breeder, so what to do?
Since milkmaid is one that I'd like input from, here are all the pertinent facts I can think of.
All animals involved are purebred Dexters.
Tiggy is a small 2yo heifer, 39" tall, 475# according to the weight tape (HG x HG x L /300 formula = 425#), in half decent condition for a FF coming out of a hard winter, but I'd like to see a bit more weight on her.
The sire of the calf is also a small boy, 41" tall, with lower birth weights.
Her calf weighed in at 33#, only 21" tall...a wee bitty boy, born on day 272 of gestation (teeth erupted, so he was term). He presented completely upside down, so when I checked her I felt nose first & the feet were above & stuck wedged against (bone??) a bit further back. Dh managed to push him back in & roll him over. My calving book says this is an extremely rare presentation...don't I feel special!
Here they are yesterday afternoon (to make everybody else happy ). And yes, the bull calf will definitely be beef....petite cuts.
The other sister, Zoie, had her first calf last spring at 2 years of age, by the same bull as above. Zoie was 41" tall, but I don't have a weight recorded.
She had a heifer calf, born day 286 at 44# and 24" tall. That heifer calf, Stormy, presented with one foot & nose, the other leg was the whole way back. Labor stalled after repositioning & we pulled. Zoie was culled for other reasons, but I still have the heifer, Stormy, now a year old & a nice improvement over her dam.
These two sisters (Zoie & Tiggy) are out of the same dam, Ebby, by totally unrelated sires. Zoie was Ebby's first calf & was a normal presentation. Tiggy & calf #3 were born at zephyrhillsusan's farm, and from what I understand, were also normal births, right Susan? I also owned Ebby's dam & grand-dam, and had all normal presentations from them.
There have been nine other calves sired by this same bull that were all normal births also.
So, just some freak coincidence? OR is there some genetic component to this? Do I need to worry about future calving issues with Tiggy? What about Stormy who was malpresented herself...any extra risk there? Should I just cull, or give them a chance?
I'd also like to hear thoughts from some of my Dexter friends, simplynaturalfarm Nonesuch Melissa and anybody else. I'm really hoping it's nothing to be worried about, but am willing to make a hard decision if needed.
Thanks!
Kim
Since milkmaid is one that I'd like input from, here are all the pertinent facts I can think of.
All animals involved are purebred Dexters.
Tiggy is a small 2yo heifer, 39" tall, 475# according to the weight tape (HG x HG x L /300 formula = 425#), in half decent condition for a FF coming out of a hard winter, but I'd like to see a bit more weight on her.
The sire of the calf is also a small boy, 41" tall, with lower birth weights.
Her calf weighed in at 33#, only 21" tall...a wee bitty boy, born on day 272 of gestation (teeth erupted, so he was term). He presented completely upside down, so when I checked her I felt nose first & the feet were above & stuck wedged against (bone??) a bit further back. Dh managed to push him back in & roll him over. My calving book says this is an extremely rare presentation...don't I feel special!
Here they are yesterday afternoon (to make everybody else happy ). And yes, the bull calf will definitely be beef....petite cuts.
The other sister, Zoie, had her first calf last spring at 2 years of age, by the same bull as above. Zoie was 41" tall, but I don't have a weight recorded.
She had a heifer calf, born day 286 at 44# and 24" tall. That heifer calf, Stormy, presented with one foot & nose, the other leg was the whole way back. Labor stalled after repositioning & we pulled. Zoie was culled for other reasons, but I still have the heifer, Stormy, now a year old & a nice improvement over her dam.
These two sisters (Zoie & Tiggy) are out of the same dam, Ebby, by totally unrelated sires. Zoie was Ebby's first calf & was a normal presentation. Tiggy & calf #3 were born at zephyrhillsusan's farm, and from what I understand, were also normal births, right Susan? I also owned Ebby's dam & grand-dam, and had all normal presentations from them.
There have been nine other calves sired by this same bull that were all normal births also.
So, just some freak coincidence? OR is there some genetic component to this? Do I need to worry about future calving issues with Tiggy? What about Stormy who was malpresented herself...any extra risk there? Should I just cull, or give them a chance?
I'd also like to hear thoughts from some of my Dexter friends, simplynaturalfarm Nonesuch Melissa and anybody else. I'm really hoping it's nothing to be worried about, but am willing to make a hard decision if needed.
Thanks!
Kim