Heifer Calving

[flyintale]

I have grown up mainly around dairy cattle.  Our beef cattle were down the road at my grandpa's house....so I have never been able to witness the changes a beef heifer goes through while pregnant and shortly before calving.  I know that they don't bag down and swell as much in the udder as a dairy heifer would, but I know there should be some similarities.  I have 2 clubby heifers that are due march 5.  I never got around to preg checking them due to chute situations, but I also never seen any signs of heat.  They are not extremely fat like I had figured an 8 month bred heifer would be, and have shown minimal changes in their udders.  Does anybody have any pictures of a heavy bred heifer I could go by or any have any info that would be helpful?  Thanks in advance!

 

[Gargan]

what are ur hfrs pedigree (sire and dam side)? Also, a 1st time hfr can literally bag up overnite, but u should be able to see a little sign of them being bred (springing up a little behind or a little fullness starting to show in the udders). Any pics of ur 2 hfrs?

 

[flyintale]

I have a Grizzly x Maine cross and Aftershock x Irish whiskey daughter, both are bred to Ali.  I am not feeding them very hard, so I'm hoping the calves are just pee-wees.  The Aftershock heifer is a very long and broody.  And I actually just came back feeding and saw what I didn't want to see....A trace of blood on the grizzly heifer's tail   I will get a pic of the Aftershock heifer soon!

 

[flyintale]

This is the Aftershock heifer!

 

[Gargan]

i wouldnt be too concerned yet, its possible she could be 3 weeks away. she is pretty stout made so i wouldnt expect a large bag from her. looks to me like shes starting to make a bag from the top pic. its hard to tell if shes starting to spring up any by the 2nd photo IMO. keep us updated

 

[savaged]

That is a typical udder, if not an above average one for a clubby heifer three weeks out IMO.

 

[mainegirl]

My AI bred heifers are due the 6th and most of them have bags about the same size as yours. I have 1 that is bigger and swelled a little heavier than the others, but I'm pretty sure she's gonna come a little earlier than the rest. Good luck!