Post by Tricia on Oct 12, 2011 21:27:02 GMT -5
So Molly is 9 1/2 years old. She calved number August 2010. With the sale of the old farm, closing, moving..... well she was bred in october and we thought it took b/c she showed no other heats. In December we moved and gave her a calf to raise since I couldn't do much milking where we were- oh did I mention she plopped her udder right in crap the first few days of the move? And we had no runnig hot water? yeah, we let her raise the calf and saw no heats. So come spring and her due date looming.... I noticed no baby bump, couldn't get calf to kick... milk prodution still at 4 gallons steady...... I began to wonder.... Then the 2 hereford cows that were close to calving started mounting her. hmmm....... I don't think she is preggers. I sent in blood to biotracking. She was open, wide open.... The bull was 1/2 mile away at the old farm. I didn't even have much of a stanchion so we could AI her. So once we got here in July we quickly got the bull with her. Then the steers thought the hormones were great- and were constantly mounting her. That got the bull ticked off and ramming them. The bloat happened. Molly bloated, a young steer died and the bull bloated. Molly and the bull recovered. So we removed molly to her own pasture with the bull when she was due for another heat. Bull totally ignored her and wanted back with the steers.
I was having thoughts this bull was now a dud or molly wasn't going to have another calf this late in life.
So last week I got some blood and sent it in. Today I find out she is preggers.. finally!!!!!! No wonder production dropped 1/2 gallon!
So yes 9 year old cows do get pregnant. Yes 9 year old bulls are still fertile. Guess I don't have to sell either one!
I really would like a heifer this time. she did 3 heifers in a row then 4 bull calves..... I'd really like another heifer- then Molly can retire. Hear that Molly?
I was having thoughts this bull was now a dud or molly wasn't going to have another calf this late in life.
So last week I got some blood and sent it in. Today I find out she is preggers.. finally!!!!!! No wonder production dropped 1/2 gallon!
So yes 9 year old cows do get pregnant. Yes 9 year old bulls are still fertile. Guess I don't have to sell either one!
I really would like a heifer this time. she did 3 heifers in a row then 4 bull calves..... I'd really like another heifer- then Molly can retire. Hear that Molly?