Herefords are pretty quiet. Angus bulls can be ornary. Mainly at keeping in and not impregnating others’ herds.
New cows with calves can kill. The saying is to hide under the bull if attacked so that tells you how much danger you are in.
Our cows do not even get up if they see my husband or I. We can walk past them. If anyone else comes they act completely different and act up from paddocks away. Your biggest problem will be that they don’t know or trust you.
[QUOTE=maybedog;8134747]
Have a couple days break with foaling. Got a chance to look at cows and talk with neighbor. The girls are White Face Herefords the daddy is Black Angus. Anyone see potential problems here???[/QUOTE]
Well, you should have black baldy calves.
Are those cows or heifers with their first calf?
Hopefully cows and so they should just have their calves on their own.
Mostly you just go count heads and see all is ok and the calf is nursing.
You can tell because the cow’s bag will get very big if the calf doesn’t nurse, at least the quarter/s (tit/s) the calf can’t nurse, may be stopped up.
If it is, you have to call the owner to come take care of the problem.
The calf will have curly hairs over it’s nose if it nurses well.
I expect when you tell the cattle owner there is a calf there, it should at least come over to see all is ok.
I predict no problems. 
[QUOTE=Bluey;8135305]
I expect when you tell the cattle owner there is a calf there, it should at least come over to see all is ok.[/QUOTE]
He just asked if I would give him a hand if needed. I am not taking care of the cows.
Thanks cowboymom! You made me feel better:)
[QUOTE=maybedog;8138507]
He just asked if I would give him a hand if needed. I am not taking care of the cows.
Thanks cowboymom! You made me feel better:)[/QUOTE]
Oh, great, you can learn helping him and if you see something wrong, you can then tell more what is going on and where to go next.
I have yet to see someone that doesn’t see calves and smiles, they are so cute.
That is the best way to learn and the cattle will get to know you as well.
The best part is watching the calf races early in the morning and late evening…and the next time it rains you might see where the word bulldozer came from!
I live in the middle of cattle country and calves are EVERYWHERE right now!
As I just drove down our dirt road I see someone has put a bunch of pairs in a field along the way and the calves’ eyes were SO BIG and WIDE at the car and then RUN RUN RUN they stick their tails in the air and run away just for the fun of it. They’re such fun babies! Calf races are the best!
Ours also stick their tails in the air, adults as well, to cross water!
And maybedog what is the difference between a cow getting up and a horse getting up? There are so many fun things to learn.
[QUOTE=SuzieQNutter;8138668
And maybedog what is the difference between a cow getting up and a horse getting up? There are so many fun things to learn.[/QUOTE]
Well I know they get on their knees and rise butt first.
Bluey, I get the feeling you don’t think I should attempt to help. All he asked was if he thought there was a problem would I help if I could. I can reposition if necessary or use our pulling equipment if needed. With either only if I do not feel like I am in harms way. I am not stupid. I am a nurse and have delivered many high risk mares and more than our share of severe dystocias. I will know pretty quickly if I don’t feel I can handle the situation and call the vet.
Thank you all for the tips of what to look for. They will be very helpful.
[QUOTE=maybedog;8140756]
Well I know they get on their knees and rise butt first.
Bluey, I get the feeling you don’t think I should attempt to help. All he asked was if he thought there was a problem would I help if I could. I can reposition if necessary or use our pulling equipment if needed. With either only if I do not feel like I am in harms way. I am not stupid. I am a nurse and have delivered many high risk mares and more than our share of severe dystocias. I will know pretty quickly if I don’t feel I can handle the situation and call the vet.
Thank you all for the tips of what to look for. They will be very helpful.[/QUOTE]
Not at all, you should help and informed is even better, why you asked and why the advice from all kinds here.
Sorry to have given that impression just trying to be helpful.
Then, tell me, you have mares foaling, would you put some in with someone that has cows, doesn’t know about horses and tell them to watch them and foal them out for you?
I spent years checking calving cows and calving out heifers and would not think to be that lighthearted about putting some under the care of a person that had never been around cattle at all, as your post first sounded he was doing.
Later you explained he is looking after them, you are helping do so.
That is very different.
You will do fine, it is really about common sense stuff, but it also helps to have some idea of what to look for.
She does have an idea of what to watch for; she asked about the differences between horses and cows. She didn’t just fall off the turnip truck and she’s more experienced than most night calvers I’ve ever met! :lol:
Cows are easy and you generally have a lot of time to notice a problem and fix it. Cows can have feet out for hours, heifers can push for hours (some people get in a hurry and start yanking on them but heifers take longer, just like any first time mother). Compared to horses cows are super easy; the main issue with calving is no progress and that can mean half a day. People get in a rush to start pulling calves but sometimes it just takes that long. Watch for two feet or just one, obviously one is back. Watch for lots of effort and no feet-backwards calf. Watch for feet showing and absolutely no progress all day-big calf. Unlike horses, a cow’s main purpose in life is to make more cows and through the centuries people have generally bred for some degree of calving ease, especially with the beef breeds. Sorry, but it ain’t rocket science to keep an out for a couple cows to calf.
OP, you got this! :lol:
This is where the misunderstanding is. I’m not watching the cows. They are at his place across the road. I will peek at them periodically as they near their due dates. He will be watching them and if he thinks their may be an issue he will call me. Chances are I will loan him my cameras and knowing me will watch too:)
Cowboymom, again, thanks for the vote of confidence!
[QUOTE=cowboymom;8140973]
She does have an idea of what to watch for; she asked about the differences between horses and cows. She didn’t just fall off the turnip truck and she’s more experienced than most night calvers I’ve ever met! :lol:
Cows are easy and you generally have a lot of time to notice a problem and fix it. Cows can have feet out for hours, heifers can push for hours (some people get in a hurry and start yanking on them but heifers take longer, just like any first time mother). Compared to horses cows are super easy; the main issue with calving is no progress and that can mean half a day. People get in a rush to start pulling calves but sometimes it just takes that long. Watch for two feet or just one, obviously one is back. Watch for lots of effort and no feet-backwards calf. Watch for feet showing and absolutely no progress all day-big calf. Unlike horses, a cow’s main purpose in life is to make more cows and through the centuries people have generally bred for some degree of calving ease, especially with the beef breeds. Sorry, but it ain’t rocket science to keep an out for a couple cows to calf.
OP, you got this! :lol:[/QUOTE]
Is that not what I just said?
[QUOTE=maybedog;8141109]
This is where the misunderstanding is. I’m not watching the cows. They are at his place across the road. I will peek at them periodically as they near their due dates. He will be watching them and if he thinks their may be an issue he will call me. Chances are I will loan him my cameras and knowing me will watch too:)
Cowboymom, again, thanks for the vote of confidence![/QUOTE]
Right, I got that later, sorry for misunderstanding he was bringing some cows to your pasture and you were to look after them.
You won’t believe how cute the calves will be, oh, my.
Many here do Sunday afternoon driving around right now, just to see pastures full of baby calves.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
