This calving season SUCKS
- Putangitangi
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
I feel for you and am sorry to read your story.
That's a situation I fear, to the extent that I watch nearly all my cows/heifers calve. I've sometimes waited for a while to see what will happen to a calf that lands on and lies on its own head and occasionally a vigorous licking will help it turn the rest of its body so the head is free but often it looks like that isn't going to happen and I've been glad I was there to fix it.
Most cows, from my observation, aren't deliberately doing anything life-enhancing to their calves when they're born, so they don't take the membranes off the noses of those that will suffocate, unless the calf is lucky and the cow starts in the right place and it rips free; they don't turn them over if their necks are bent, unless they're overwhelmed by hormones and getting a bit rough with the calf.
That's a situation I fear, to the extent that I watch nearly all my cows/heifers calve. I've sometimes waited for a while to see what will happen to a calf that lands on and lies on its own head and occasionally a vigorous licking will help it turn the rest of its body so the head is free but often it looks like that isn't going to happen and I've been glad I was there to fix it.
Most cows, from my observation, aren't deliberately doing anything life-enhancing to their calves when they're born, so they don't take the membranes off the noses of those that will suffocate, unless the calf is lucky and the cow starts in the right place and it rips free; they don't turn them over if their necks are bent, unless they're overwhelmed by hormones and getting a bit rough with the calf.
- pdfangus
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
I sat in a truck one time watching a cow calve.
She was a big and veteran cow but not an old cow....
she kept getting up and lying back down but was making progress.
she stood up and the calf was half out and the calf popped right out.
she turned around to lick it and her uterus popped out....
I picked up the radio and called the boss to call the vet...
while I was talking to him the cow fell over dead....had popped the uterine artery.
if you stay at it long enough you will see that ma nature is a harsh old gal sometimes.
in the words of Josey Wales....."Buzzards gotta eat, same as the worms."
She was a big and veteran cow but not an old cow....
she kept getting up and lying back down but was making progress.
she stood up and the calf was half out and the calf popped right out.
she turned around to lick it and her uterus popped out....
I picked up the radio and called the boss to call the vet...
while I was talking to him the cow fell over dead....had popped the uterine artery.
if you stay at it long enough you will see that ma nature is a harsh old gal sometimes.
in the words of Josey Wales....."Buzzards gotta eat, same as the worms."
Strength is of no value if it does not have a
useful application for good.
Jim Tate
pdfangus@gmail.com
useful application for good.
Jim Tate
pdfangus@gmail.com
- Nesikep
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
Putangitangi wrote:I feel for you and am sorry to read your story.
That's a situation I fear, to the extent that I watch nearly all my cows/heifers calve. I've sometimes waited for a while to see what will happen to a calf that lands on and lies on its own head and occasionally a vigorous licking will help it turn the rest of its body so the head is free but often it looks like that isn't going to happen and I've been glad I was there to fix it.
Most cows, from my observation, aren't deliberately doing anything life-enhancing to their calves when they're born, so they don't take the membranes off the noses of those that will suffocate, unless the calf is lucky and the cow starts in the right place and it rips free; they don't turn them over if their necks are bent, unless they're overwhelmed by hormones and getting a bit rough with the calf.
Yes, they always start by licking the butt!
Haven't seen you in a while, good to see you back!
What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence
-Christopher Hitchens
-Christopher Hitchens
- Putangitangi
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
Oh I've been around reading, just had nothing much to say.
Calving at present, 32 of 39 done, all well so far other than a couple of really tough pulls and one backwards. Fifth 2-y-o heifer calved easily yesterday to ...whateverhisnameis 878, just slid it out, but two of the earlier heifers needed help (not that bull). One to go.
Calving at present, 32 of 39 done, all well so far other than a couple of really tough pulls and one backwards. Fifth 2-y-o heifer calved easily yesterday to ...whateverhisnameis 878, just slid it out, but two of the earlier heifers needed help (not that bull). One to go.

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- Cowhand
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
Had my first one hung up last night. Looked like it had been dead for a while. By the time I got it out mom went down and gave up and didn't make it. Hurt my feelings pretty good. As small as my little operation is I get attached to these girls.
- True Grit Farms
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
That really stinks, my wife and daughter named our first heifer and it died same way. We almost quit after that ordeal, we still lose some but the hurt isn't nearly as bad. Sorry for your bad luck.
If we'd of know this we'd of picked our own cotton.
- Putangitangi
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
I hate losing a single one! There are "farmers" around me who simply accept a level of loss that would equate to at least two of my calves every year.
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
I feel your pain, things sure can go south in a hurry when it comes to calving. We had 15 in a row, lost a set of twins, and then a 12 day old calf to an umbilical abbcess . Grandpa Griffith use to say you can't lose em if you don't have them and if you have them you are going to lose em. Still stinks !
John 3:16 For God so loved the world...
- ALACOWMAN
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
the old Hereford man? Bought a couple bulls from him years ago....coachg wrote:I feel your pain, things sure can go south in a hurry when it comes to calving. We had 15 in a row, lost a set of twins, and then a 12 day old calf to an umbilical abbcess . Grandpa Griffith use to say you can't lose em if you don't have them and if you have them you are going to lose em. Still stinks !
It's that time of year, where cattle go from being conservatives,too liberals...
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- Trail Boss
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
For all the reasons above it sucks to lose even one.
Our set up and the fact we are a small operation (30 breeders) makes it easy for me to put any heifer or a cow with any difficulty the previous year, in the lot right by the house when they get close to calving. We check them every 4 hours. No problems last year, but the prior year I'm sure this saved us 3 calves. I, like Putangitangi, also birddog all the cows. Only 3 more months till the new babies start dropping...sure do love it!
Our set up and the fact we are a small operation (30 breeders) makes it easy for me to put any heifer or a cow with any difficulty the previous year, in the lot right by the house when they get close to calving. We check them every 4 hours. No problems last year, but the prior year I'm sure this saved us 3 calves. I, like Putangitangi, also birddog all the cows. Only 3 more months till the new babies start dropping...sure do love it!
Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.
Abraham Lincoln
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
This is why I spend calving season out in the fields..I usually save one or two from sack suffocation, and risk my life doing it.. This season i'll carry a stick with a hook to do it from my 4wheeler on the run.....Last spring I watched a cow calve from a distance and saw her just lay there...after a few minutes thinking, Yay I don't have to keep hanging around and drove past her on my way out, I saw the calf behind her still fully incased in the sack trying to breath. As quick as I could, I jumped off and tried with my nails to rip a hole in the nose area...That dang thing was so tough I couldn't. Meanwhile, the cow named Stinkeye, got up and put her stinkeye in my eye...One day my family is going to find me crumpled up on the ground and wonder what the heck happened to me...
For those who understand, need no explanation, ....for those who don't, none will do
- Bright Raven
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
cowgirl8 wrote:This is why I spend calving season out in the fields..I usually save one or two from sack suffocation, and risk my life doing it.. This season i'll carry a stick with a hook to do it from my 4wheeler on the run.....Last spring I watched a cow calve from a distance and saw her just lay there...after a few minutes thinking, Yay I don't have to keep hanging around and drove past her on my way out, I saw the calf behind her still fully incased in the sack trying to breath. As quick as I could, I jumped off and tried with my nails to rip a hole in the nose area...That dang thing was so tough I couldn't. Meanwhile, the cow named Stinkeye, got up and put her stinkeye in my eye...One day my family is going to find me crumpled up on the ground and wonder what the heck happened to me...
Here I am telling you to be careful - when I get right there after the calf is out and weigh, spray the navel with iodine, and administer First Defense and Inforce 3. All with the cow there licking and mooing in my face. My cows are very familiar with me but it is a risk!!!
"Looking for an honest man".
Diogenes.
Diogenes.
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
Bright Raven wrote:cowgirl8 wrote:This is why I spend calving season out in the fields..I usually save one or two from sack suffocation, and risk my life doing it.. This season i'll carry a stick with a hook to do it from my 4wheeler on the run.....Last spring I watched a cow calve from a distance and saw her just lay there...after a few minutes thinking, Yay I don't have to keep hanging around and drove past her on my way out, I saw the calf behind her still fully incased in the sack trying to breath. As quick as I could, I jumped off and tried with my nails to rip a hole in the nose area...That dang thing was so tough I couldn't. Meanwhile, the cow named Stinkeye, got up and put her stinkeye in my eye...One day my family is going to find me crumpled up on the ground and wonder what the heck happened to me...
Here I am telling you to be careful - when I get right there after the calf is out and weigh, spray the navel with iodine, and administer First Defense and Inforce 3. All with the cow there licking and mooing in my face. My cows are very familiar with me but it is a risk!!!
Did you see the video of the woman who was tending to a dairy calf....I saw the video and then it was removed from youtube because she was killed. It was brutal and went on forever... I'm sure that cow had been handled all her life, you'd think you'd be sort of safe...
For those who understand, need no explanation, ....for those who don't, none will do
- pdfangus
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
you are never safe from any new mother.......of any species....
Strength is of no value if it does not have a
useful application for good.
Jim Tate
pdfangus@gmail.com
useful application for good.
Jim Tate
pdfangus@gmail.com
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Re: This calving season SUCKS
pdfangus wrote:you are never safe from any new mother.......of any species....
That's why a frequently used profanity starts with "mother"
"“The more you know, the more you know you don't know.” ― Aristotle