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COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 66
As soon as the semen is deposited the sperm cells migrate through the uterus and up the oviduct to meet the egg from the cow's ovary. The egg has been sitting in a follicle on the ovary waiting to be released during ovulation which occurs about 23 hours into the heat period. Sperm cells must undergo a 6 – 10 hour period of adjustment to be ready to unite with the egg so they have to be deposited in the cows reproductive tract ahead of ovulation this is why a cow becomes receptive to the bull and allows him to breed her fairly early in her heat period for she actually ovulates.
Gestation:
Gestation last approximately 285 days. If you know the breeding date you can ascertain within a few days when she will calve. Her calving date is usually 9 months and 7 days from the time she was bred. Most will calve within 3 – 4 days of that date but some calve in advance as much as 10 days before and some 10 days after the expected date.
Nutrition, sex of the calf, weather conditions are also factors that affect the time of calving. If there is a sharp decline in temperature this may trigger labor a day or two ahead of the due date. If a cow goes past her due date it is probable that he is going to have a bull calf.
CHOOSING THE BULL AND BREEDING THE HEIFER:
Bulls that were born easily will sire calves that will also be born easily. When buying a bull check it's birth. The principle matter for a heifer's first calf is a good bull that sires calves that are either streamlined or small at birth. Calf size is for the most part determined by genetics. If a heifer was large at birth, her calves will probably be large also, but if she is bred to a bull who was small or streamlines at birth and sires calves with the same trait, there is a good chance the calf will have reasonable birth weight. Do not breed heifers to a bull that sires calves that are large or thick-bodied – that is heavily muscled or thick through shoulders and hips – because you will have calving problems.
The danger is that a calf too large to come through the birth canal, even with pulling by you, must be delivered by caesarean section performed by a vet who cuts through the cow's abdomen and into the uterus to deliver the calf and thereafter having its mother sewn up – this type of birth is risky for both mother and calf.
On the other hand if you just have a few heifers, you might consider taking them to a farm or breeder and leave them to be bred, but makes sure the bull sires well.
You may prefer to breed a group of heifers on your own farm. If you do not have
Gestation:
Gestation last approximately 285 days. If you know the breeding date you can ascertain within a few days when she will calve. Her calving date is usually 9 months and 7 days from the time she was bred. Most will calve within 3 – 4 days of that date but some calve in advance as much as 10 days before and some 10 days after the expected date.
Nutrition, sex of the calf, weather conditions are also factors that affect the time of calving. If there is a sharp decline in temperature this may trigger labor a day or two ahead of the due date. If a cow goes past her due date it is probable that he is going to have a bull calf.
CHOOSING THE BULL AND BREEDING THE HEIFER:
Bulls that were born easily will sire calves that will also be born easily. When buying a bull check it's birth. The principle matter for a heifer's first calf is a good bull that sires calves that are either streamlined or small at birth. Calf size is for the most part determined by genetics. If a heifer was large at birth, her calves will probably be large also, but if she is bred to a bull who was small or streamlines at birth and sires calves with the same trait, there is a good chance the calf will have reasonable birth weight. Do not breed heifers to a bull that sires calves that are large or thick-bodied – that is heavily muscled or thick through shoulders and hips – because you will have calving problems.
The danger is that a calf too large to come through the birth canal, even with pulling by you, must be delivered by caesarean section performed by a vet who cuts through the cow's abdomen and into the uterus to deliver the calf and thereafter having its mother sewn up – this type of birth is risky for both mother and calf.
On the other hand if you just have a few heifers, you might consider taking them to a farm or breeder and leave them to be bred, but makes sure the bull sires well.
You may prefer to breed a group of heifers on your own farm. If you do not have