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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: I have a mature cow I found nursing a calf (surprised because she wasn't due for 3 weeks). At the same time, my heifer was bawling (like for her calf), about the time her calf was due, but her udder did not look full or sucked on. She has either lost her calf or the cow "stole" it. Three weeks later I found a calf, just born, with no mother with it. My question is, do you think the mature cow could have "adopted" the heifer's calf and that's why she was looking for her calf, or do you think the cow had 2 calves 3 weeks apart?
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A: The cow could have adopted the first calf. If this is the case, I doubt that the calf received colostrum. The cow could have also given birth to two calves, three weeks apart. This is very rare, but can happen. The reason it is rare, is that the two calves are from ovulations that are three weeks apart and may be from the same sire mating the cow at two different times or from different sires at two different mating. Also, it is hard for a fetus to remain in utero when the other fetus is being delivered. Uterine contractions are pretty powerful.
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Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science
Animal Science, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
March 7th, 2008
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