Texas longhorn calf management tips, all of which we follow.
In the next few months, all our 2025 Texas Longhorn calves will be leaving us. To prepare for their transition, we follow a routine.
Nowadays, our schedule complements how we manage our entire longhorn herd, but 20 years ago, things were different. We just were not as organized as we are now.
To be honest, our calf management practices start long before the calves are born. We think happy cows have happy calves. Similarly, less stressful cows will likely have less anxious calves. It’s a full circle. A stress-free longhorn herd keeps our stress levels in check too.
We have learned a lot over many decades.
It is our pleasure to share our Texas Longhorn herd management practices as a guideline for you to use and adapt in your cattle management operation, the best way you see fit.
⭐️ This article also features basic tips for training our Texas longhorn calves ⭐️
Texas longhorn calf management practices at GVRlonghorns
Before longhorn calves are born
Before baby longhorn calves are born, we move our herd closer to the working pens. The Texas longhorn cows are confined to a few hundred acres of adjoining pastures. These pastures are all easily accessible to our corral.
We keep the gates to the corral open and feed cubes to the longhorn cows in the corral.
Cattle cubes at GVRLonghorns are an occasional treat, although we are more generous with cubes in cold weather, and when we anticipate working our herd.
Our longhorn cows receive deworming treatment after the first frost and before their calves are born.
Following, the longhorn cows are free to calve in the open pastures. We do not confine our longhorn cows to the corral to calve.
The Longhorn calves are often born deep in the bushes away from the herd.
Texas longhorn calf management – the 1st few hours.
Throughout the calving season, we check on our Texas longhorn herd regularly. We keep an eye on our new baby longhorn calves and their mamas, from a distance if necessary.
The TLBAA highlights the “Ease of Birthing” characteristic in Texas Longhorn cows. In practice, birthing difficulties are generally a rare occurrence. To reduce complications even further, our heifers are 24 months old or older before they breed for the first time. Subsequently, our experience is limited when it comes to abnormalities during calving. We have been fortunate.
Even so, there are a few things we know to look out for.
- A pregnant cow with a bloody discharge. Before calving, a pregnant cow with a clear or watery discharge may not be a cause for alarm. However, a discharge that is bloody, thick, and/or foul-smelling could be a sign of distress and usually requires veterinary attention. Often, post-calving, parts of the afterbirth and fetal membranes will hang from a cow’s vulva hours after the birth and sometimes for days. Generally, this is a natural occurrence, whereas a retained placenta warrants a call for a veterinarian.
- Meconium. A yellow to brownish color staining on a newborn calf is a sign of a difficult or prolonged birth. The medical term for a problematic birth is “Dystocia.” A calf covered with a yellowish discharge at birth may well be fine, but it is a clue to watch for weakness both in the longhorn calf and in the longhorn cow as time passes.
- Colostrum. The first milk a cow produces after giving birth. It has essential antibodies and nutrients. A longhorn calf should receive colostrum as soon as possible and ideally within the first 2 hours of being born. After 24 hours, a calf’s stomach becomes less permeable to these essential substances. As a note, if we don’t see the calf nursing, we can usually tell if it has nursed by the appearance of a cow’s teats. They are smooth after a calf suckles them. Also, if a cow is calm and her calf is sleeping, that’s usually a great sign. Longhorn calves sleep a ton.
- Some longhorn cows are comfortable in our presence, even immediately after giving birth. However, if a longhorn cow walks away, so will we. Unless we suspect an issue, we turn and drive away from a longhorn cow and her newborn calf.
Want more information?
- For more on Texas Longhorn Calving Ease and Maternal Instincts, READ HERE
Texas longhorn calf management – the 1st months
Now and then, a younger cow will become increasingly more protective of her calf as the days go by. To avoid unnecessary stress to the longhorn mother and her calf, we follow her lead.
In the same vein, we try not to intrude on the longhorn calves. We wait for them to approach us, even as they get older.
Especially in the first few weeks of calving, we park our Polaris at a distance and watch for the longhorn herd to come to us. Usually, all the cows move forward.
A missing cow is a sure sign that she is calving or has a new calf by her side.
When a cow is missing….
- The drone comes in handy.
- Once we locate our missing cow, we return to the pasture armed with cubes. We still stay a fair distance away.
- If the cow doesn’t come out of the bushes on her own accord when we drive by, she will generally come out for cubes.
To be true, we have yet to have a shy new mother cow ignore the food bag shake, with or without a calf.
We can say, with confidence, that our Texas Longhorn cows are 100% motivated by food.
Our assumption and the tendency is that when a longhorn cow comes to us, her calf will follow along.
Food motivation helps. Trust is a factor too.
Longhorn Calve Management Tip to reduce stress:
- Give a longhorn cow her space before calving, during calving, and after the new baby has arrived. In other words, maintain a comfortable distance.
- Socializing calves takes time. Let calves come to you before you approach them. In the long run, you will earn a deeper trust.
Texas Longhorn Calf Management: 4-6 months
We vaccinate and deworm our longhorn calves during this period. We also castrate at this time. In the past, we trialed early vaccinations. However, waiting a few more months seems to be the healthiest option for our Texas longhorn calves.
(For ranchers with limited acreage, waiting this long may not be ideal.)
After treatments, the longhorn calves are reunited with their mamas.
✨ In our experience, this is a huge step and enables faster recovery and healing.✨
- Another instrument we use is the RAU Immobilizer. We have used it for many years with tremendous success. ( Our vet uses it too). Because the calves don’t struggle,
- It’s safe for us,
- it’s safe for our calves,
- and there is a bonus….
The calves do not seem to remember the treatment. Generally, their fear is reduced. They often come to us and to the chute again, directly after their treatments.
Longhorn Calve Management Tip to reduce stress:
- Treat longhorn calves before separating them from their mothers and before weaning. In other words, reunite calves with their mothers after shots and castrations.
Texas Longhorn Calf Management: 6 months +
Most of our longhorn calves are weaned at 6 months.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO WEAN CALVES FOR THE HEALTH OF THEIR MOTHERS.
Every so often, we keep a heifer for ourselves. In these cases, we may wean at 8 months.
Weaning is a ‘two-week training course’
This is what our longhorn calves learn after 2 weeks:-
- Independence – After 2 weeks, the longhorn calves are comfortable on their own without their mothers in sight.
- They come for food when called
- The longhorn calves are not skittish in the working pens, as we run them through our working area almost every day.
- All our weanlings will eat cubes either directly from us or at our feet.
Longhorn Calve Management Tip to reduce stress:
- Wean longhorn calves over two weeks rather than one.
- Wean calves in a group, or at the very least, with another bovine friend.
Additional information:-
Reducing stress for our Texas Longhorn calves and weanlings is always our priority.
Here are two articles previously posted:-
In Conclusion
Many ranchers have a vision of owning a Texas Longhorn cattle herd that runs towards them rather than away. A trusting Texas Longhorn herd takes time to achieve. In addition, making time for longhorns takes foresight, and happy calves require a certain amount of planning in advance. In general, it’s not difficult to achieve, but it does take effort. A Texas Longhorn Calf Management plan can enable ranchers to work smarter.
All our Texas longhorn calves are raised with love and care. They fill our days with happiness. It gives us so much pleasure to pass them on to our Cowmoonity and share this joy.
We are so appreciative to everyone who has supported us and our Texas Longhorn herd.
Let us know what you think about this post in the comments below or email us directly.
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Thank you for spending time with us.
Cathy
Disclaimer: All material noted above is based on our hands-on experience as ranchers, as well as our observations of our cattle over the years. We have done and continue to do extensive research to maintain our herd‘s optimum health. Please note, all opinions, and statements made on our website are guidelines only. In addition, we are not qualified statisticians/ veterinarians and urge you to consult a specialist with your concerns. In addition, we strive to publish accurate information; however, in the unlikely event that you detect an error, please let us know.
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