Ours seem worst if we have a good growing year (not this year for us) with a lot of weeds. After the weeds cure out and they start stepping on broken weed stubs it causes scratches and worse between their toes and around the hairline and that seems to be where cases get started. Also going...
60-85% depending on the year. Usually 65-70%. General herd seems to breed up 2/3 first cycle, 2/3 of 1/3 second cycle, then the stragglers. I think sometimes they initially stick A.I. then lose the pregnancy around 30-40 days and become late breeders. Always something.
I always ask if buyers want papers transferred. 90% don't want more paper. The ones that do it is pretty simple to do on our account with the AAA website and they will mail directly to buyer for a small extra fee.
I had a spare twin that was a bottle calf for a month or so last spring. Accidentally bought some replacer that had soy protein. That calf's butt reeked for a two weeks after I found the real stuff. His name was Stinky for the rest of the summer even after I got a cow to take him.
I have a 485. At the bottom of the tank on the right side mine has a fuel shut off valve. That has built up sludge a few times and had to take it off and clean it. Drain water out of the fuel/water separator filter. Those would be two things to check.
We use Dectomax in the fall at preg check and vaccination time (late October to mid-November). Then Clean Up II for lice control about the end of December. We didn't get the Clean Up II work done this year and cows looked pretty bad by March due to lice. They look normal now though.
Rope and drag brandings can be real slick, but the key is the crew. I cut bull calves at branding and much prefer the table than kneeling in the dirt. Plus with a table, 2-3 people can get them done and 3-4 people can get it done a little faster.
This set up is hard to beat. Worst job is pushing calves, but it is not hard. Got tired of the sh!t show rope and drag brandings and risk of injuring calves that may be worth several thousand in less than a year.