I was out checking on cows and heifers today. Put out a big bale of hay for each group although cows are not enthusiastic about any hat now that the grass has sort of started growing in their winter pasture by the woods. Hopefully today's steady rain will get the other pastures growing so I can move the cow group to some clean grass before they start calving. Due date is 4/26 per the AHA gestation chart.

I was all out of steers to put in with my bull when I pulled him away from the cow group a couple weeks ago. To keep him company I moved the thinnest of the cows at the time at put them both in a separate pasture away from the rest. I wasn't sure if this 4 yr old cow was going to calve at all.

Well, checking on the bull and cow pasture today in the rain what do I find but the first calf of the year. Looks like she was born yesterday, a week ahead of schedule. Active, bouncing around, looks healthy. Watched as she nursed. Probably a keeper. I'm in rebuild mode right now.

So now what do I do? Don't want to leave the bull alone in a 17 acre part wooded pasture. But don't want any February calves either...

Anyway here's a picture of the first calf of 2025, hopefully the rest will follow soon and as easily. High CED bulls seem to work, especially after several generations. One nice thing about calving this time of year (~May 1 target) is that the calves really take off growing as the grass greens up for mama and then them, with minimal input from me.

(PXL_20250420_183835898 (full).jpg)

(PXL_20250420_183614914 (full).jpg)

PXL_20250420_183835898 (full).jpg (107KB - 6 downloads)

PXL_20250420_183614914 (full).jpg (183KB - 8 downloads)