Spring Babies and Mother’s Love

“You’re doing great mom!”

One of our cows checking on her newborn

Everyone likes babies, and February is the month we start having baby calves! We plan insemination periods so that our first-time mom (heifer) herd delivers their babies beginning around February first, before the mature cow herd. 

The gestation period for cows (bovine) is 283 days, or nine months, basically the same as humans (280 days). Similar to a human fetus, the baby calf does the most growing during the last three months in utero. At birth though, a new calf can weigh 70-120 pounds. Our baby weight goal for new moms (heifers) is 70-75 pounds and for mature cows the baby weight goal is 75-85 pounds. 

Since the potential for problems is greater with heifers (new moms), this planning timeline for herd birthing allows us greater opportunity to watch and assist as necessary. The herd gets checked every three to four hours around the clock, especially if the weather is bad. We watch the weather and pressure systems, as barometric pressure may affect calving. 

For checking and watching the birth progress I use this general rule of thumb when we see a water bag:

• one hour later we should see front feet showing, pads of hooves pointed down (hind feet, or pads of feet pointing up mean breech position and we'll need to assist with birth)

• another hour later we should see a calf on the ground

• another hour later the calf should be nursing

I say rule of thumb because weather and birthing complications can determine when and if we need to intervene and assist mother nature.

“Will you come visit me?”

Some babies are so curious!

If you visit the farm in February, March and April there's a good chance you'll be able to see some baby calves! While you're here, step into our mill and greenhouse for a tour. Even if the weather is cold and windy outside it'll be warm in our year-round greenhouse!