Bigger calves than normal?

[firesweepranch]

Any one having larger than normal calves? We had some great grass and lots of clover, which I suspect is the cause. We had a Dream On x Ms ETR Antoinette L120 that was 286 days gestation born right at 90 pounds (no problems, recip had him on her own). Dream On calves are usually smaller. Then, this morning, we had a Built Right x SOSF Joys Shadow R-15 (a direct Joy daughter) that is a big boy at 89 pounds. He was 284 days gestation. Same thing, recip just pushed him out by herself, but both calves are a bit bigger than I expected. I pictured both below; the white face is the Built Right and the solid black is the Dream On, of course, both are bulls. We have three more due in two weeks, one embryo than two AI calves, just wondering if I should expect the same thing. All this after having the tiny (49 pound) heifer calf last weekend.

 

[ALTSIMMY 79]

What ? 89 and 90 pound bull calves ? I'd say that's pretty normal for Simmental , back in the red n white days they were all a hundred pounds plus. The weight range your getting them is perfect , no where near big !

 

[knabe]

What ? 89 and 90 pound bull calves ? I'd say that's pretty normal for Simmental , back in the red n white days they were all a hundred pounds plus. The weight range your getting them is perfect , no where near big !

i remember 30 years ago when people would call that a calving ease bull.

 

[cedargrove]

That is a calving ease sire!!!Sorry,but that 49 pounder will never grow into anything.
I am all in favour of needing calving ease....we all need to start with a live calf, but if we keep breeding exclusively for birthweight and calving ease---we will breed the calving ease right out of our cows.
If you can find a bull to give you a 90 pound average--keep him a long time.(it's the anomalies of 50 lbs and 125lbs that we need to get rid of)

 

[firesweepranch]

What ? 89 and 90 pound bull calves ? I'd say that's pretty normal for Simmental , back in the red n white days they were all a hundred pounds plus. The weight range your getting them is perfect , no where near big !

Dream On and Built Right do not have that large of calves, typically. They are usually in the higher 70's lower 80's range, or so I thought. Maybe they seem big to me because they are standing next to the little bitty one we had (which is doing well, by the way). Regardless, we are happy with them (but wish they were heifers!). The blaze face calf is really thick and has a very cute, attractive head.
But thanks for your thoughts and input. Three more to go in two weeks, then no more till December.

 

[ALTSIMMY 79]

On the bull side I'd say your weights are pretty typical even with the Dream on influence. That's right in that "just right" range. Nice calves by the way !

 

[husker1]

Calves look nice.

Our fall ET's have all been about a week longer gestation.  One Broker bull in the low 90's...rest of the calves in the high 70's and 80's. 

Calving falls is always so much less stressful than the springs....

 

[kanshow]

I agree with all who responded.  Those aren't bad sizes and I'd be more concerned about the little one that the big one.  Our fall calves tend to be a little bigger than our spring calves.  Can't say how it is this year yet as we've only just started but that was an 88# ET hfr calf that is about 10 days early.    And yes, fall calving is less stressful, we have rarely had to pull anything in the fall..  and there is no urgency to get them in and dried off and warmed up ASAP either.

 

[Till-Hill]

I thought my fall calves were a little bigger than normal. Sharper Image x In Dew Time heifer calf 74 lb. Sharper Image x Jumpstart bull calf 92 lb. TJ Easy Money x PB Hereford cow 88 lb bull calf. But they all had them on their own and they were a son of a gun to catch to tag and weigh!

 

[ALTSIMMY 79]

Cows everywhere also came off a tough hot dry season into a long drawn out winter to this spring being wet and grass growing like crazy again ! Think maybe there's a bit of effect there Nick ??????? Just maybe your cows are a little heavier this fall !!!! I know mine are !!!

 

[trevorgreycattleco]

Those are all bw's shorthorn folks would deem calving ease.

 

[Till-Hill]

Matt you probably have a point there. My 3 fall cows and their heifers are still tick fat! Old herf has to be 1800+!

 

[firesweepranch]

Good point about the cows. Our recips are heavier this fall, last summer we were on junk hay because of the drought but this year our pastures are doing well, along with the field they grazed the last 60 days has about 75 to 80% red clover in it now that we seeded after the drought.
That is why I think my birthweights are up by 10 pounds. We will see, three more calves due next weekend, and one cow is still a bit thin for me because she nursed twins and is still trying to recover. That is an AI calf (final cut) so I am betting it will be the smallest in the next group. Could be wrong though...

 

[ALTSIMMY 79]

Good luck ! Sure like that Built Right calf , he's a bull that's standing the test of time , and still doing it well !

 

[Duncraggan]

I think we all underestimate the role of nutrition on calving ease and associated functions.

Too fat cows have big calves and higher chances of calving difficulty whereas too thin cows have higher retained placentas, in my experience.

All thing seem to have an 'optimum' band!

Nice calves you have.