Walks Alone Calving help - updated with pics

Davidsonranch · Mar 27, 2014

On some of my posts I've mentioned our first attempt at a clubby calf this calving season. Walks Along bred to a black brokle faced Herf/Angus cow about 7 years old. Yesterday was her 3rd full day over her due date. She is bagged up, but not super tight. No signs of anything. No tail in the air, discomfort, etc. This cow the last three years has been spot on her calving dates. Last year she had a 65 pound heifer, the year before she had a 100 pound bull calf. So her calving weights have been all over the place.
I need some help / advice on when do I need to start worrying? Is there a max amount of days you go before considering inducing? And if so, what is the best method?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

mooch · Mar 27, 2014

Sounds like everything is fine. In our experience with WA, never had any problems on cows. Calving dates are only estimates not facts, sex of calf , genetics and alot of other things could have effect on the actual calving date. I have been doing this along time and never induced anything ,and especially not an old cow. Just keep monitoring her close like you are and you should be fine.

OH Breeder · Mar 27, 2014

If you are accurate on AI date and their is no bull coverage it never hurts to have the vet palpate to make sure everything is in line. We spend all this money on these cattle, I d'ont heistate if I have doubt to have one checked. Usually I check first myself to make sure calves in line and not a giant. IF you feel comfortable in doing that, if you don't have that experience skip that step just have a vet take a look. If I think things are gonna be complicated I spend the money on a vet call to have them give me there professional opinion. I have a great vet and access to some good facilities. What were the bulls that gave you the BW's?
JMO

rackranch · Mar 27, 2014

My last two WA calves were about a week or so past expected date. No problems, I wouldn't worry about it and I doubt you will see a 100lb calve out of him unless she has been on some good groceries. Mine have been around 80-85 pounds. Please let us know how it turns out for you.

Davidsonranch · Mar 27, 2014

Thanks everyone! Most of her calves have been out of commercial bulls, angus, some herefords, and last year the Grandmaster simmi bull via AI. I AI'ed her and she stuck first time per a positive biopryn blood test. Has not been with a bull for the past two years. Using the 283 day calculator she was due on Sunday the 23rd.
I saw the calf kicking around in her yesterday so I know it is alive. The comments make me feel better and time will tell. Especially a week over due date and no problems.

Freddy · Mar 27, 2014

If it is bigger it could come backwards is my experience , we just had trouble with a flush and there were 5 of them ,all put in same day and all came a week late .. One cesarean and 3 backwards ...The donor cow was bred to have bigger calves and we AI'D to him other cows and no problems !!!!!! Some of the best show calves came in that flush but make sure you start working with them early because some are a little hard to handle .....

Davidsonranch · Mar 27, 2014

Thanks Freddy,
I'm keeping my eye on her and good info to know. After breeding her to W.A. I've been a little nervous as my daughter tried a Two Tone early this year and it was horrible. The steer actually might have been one notch below the meanest Mexican fighting bull you have ever seen. Take you out kinda guy. Even knocked my 6'1" 260 pound arse out one day. I've been hearing mixed comments on disposition from him. At least the cow is about as dog gentle as it comes so hopefully that will help.
Did the three backwards calves present with feet up or did you have to go "fishing" to figure out they were backwards?

Barry Farms · Mar 27, 2014

I have heard about Walks Alone calves being bad or good or all over the place (breeding some to his brother BIM) but every report I hear about Two Tone has been consistently awful.

parkerqb7 · Mar 27, 2014

mooch said:
Calving dates are only estimates not facts, sex of calf , genetics and alot of other things could have effect on the actual calving date. I have been doing this along time and never induced anything ,and especially not an old cow. Just keep monitoring her close like you are and you should be fine.
[/quote/]
Normally the bull calves are the ones who are late, well that's how it is with us. So don't worry last year we had a bull calf out of Survivor and he was 21 days late. Gestation tables are based on a only a certain group of cattle. Cows with larger frames tend to have a longer gestation period then cows with a smaller frame.

ROMAX · Mar 27, 2014

My Walks Alones have all been unassisted but they are a tick bigger and stouter. I don't want to scare you but the last WA I had last week prolapsed the cow and she died,she was a week and a half over her due date.That was her 4th calf so I figured she could handle him,had a vet check her at 6 days over and he said everything seemed fine and that she was nowhere near calving. That's my latest calving nightmare story,that said I still have WA semen and I will still use him,but just on big mature cows.

Barry Farms · Mar 27, 2014

Davidson did you have any BIM calves? Any one else? I was wondering how big they are in comparison to the Walks Alone calves.

Warrior10 · Mar 27, 2014

Davidsonranch said:
Thanks Freddy,
I'm keeping my eye on her and good info to know. After breeding her to W.A. I've been a little nervous as my daughter tried a Two Tone early this year and it was horrible. The steer actually might have been one notch below the meanest Mexican fighting bull you have ever seen. Take you out kinda guy. Even knocked my 6'1" 260 pound arse out one day. I've been hearing mixed comments on disposition from him. At least the cow is about as dog gentle as it comes so hopefully that will help.
Did the three backwards calves present with feet up or did you have to go "fishing" to figure out they were backwards?

IMO, that is the biggest factor in a calf's disposition. I've got calves that are out of old show heifers that I interact with since day 1 that will literally chase me around the pasture to get combed, then I've got cows that soon as they see a vehicle are walking away (not wild just not tame), and their calves follow them and are usually harder to break come time to do so.

ROMAX · Mar 27, 2014

Actually if you go on Rodgers cattle blog there is picture of one of my WA calves,a black baldy out of a strictly commercial cow(no clubby)he's real cool and gets better everyday.

GoWyo · Mar 27, 2014

Had 2 Walks Alone calves out of Angus cows last year. Both born unassisted and basically identical dispositions to their mothers. The steer has been puppy dog gentle since the day he was born. The heifer can get go from 0-60 very quickly if something scares her, but doesn't have a mean bone in her body.

Warrior10 · Mar 27, 2014

ROMAX said:
Actually if you go on Rodgers cattle blog there is picture of one of my WA calves,a black baldy out of a strictly commercial cow(no clubby)he's real cool and gets better everyday.

Very nice calf, congrats.

korytm · Mar 31, 2014

Curious if shes calved yet?

Davidsonranch · Mar 31, 2014

Sorry everyone, busy weekend and just now got back to a computer. So today (Monday) is day 7 overdue. Still no calf. She has been having pretty big mucus "hangers" for the past couple days. This morning her bag looks the biggest it has been and she appears to be springing a little more than the weekend. But this could not be a worse week to calve. I was hoping I would be finished. I have to go out of town for work and my wife works all day in town. Relying on retired neighbors to help check on her.

Had to pull a NLC Upgrade bull calf out of a lazy cow (PB Angus New Design Bred) who appeared to either give up or tire out while delivering on Friday. He was a little overdue also 88 pounds. He is Awesome! I will try to get some pics when it quits snowing and sleeting out here.

Davidsonranch · Mar 31, 2014

Barry Farms, No BIM calves. Walks Alone was the only clubby bull we tried last year.

rackranch · Mar 31, 2014

Good luck, keep us posted.

Davidsonranch · Mar 31, 2014

I think I'm going to go the "mother nature" route. She has never had a calving problem in the past. But if she goes to this weekend, I will consult my vet and probably look at inducing.

Walks Alone Calving help - updated with pics

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