Can't remember the last time I had to pull a calf. But I've also never had first calf heifer with a 105 lb. calf - and the calf is a heifer. Yowza! Spunky pelvic measured at 168, so she should (theoretically) easily have an 80-85 lb. calf unassisted. And Tallywacker is the sire; average calves from him are 70-75 lbs. What could go wrong? Well, her lineage grows 'em big. She just surpassed her dam & grand-dam as a first time mama.
Relatively easy pull with just the straps (which I prefer over chains) and my brute strength (and lemme tell you, I'm feeling it today!). Heifer was super easy - no chute or halter, she just let me help her unrestrained in the barn. All good, right? Yeah, not initially. She couldn't get up for 2 hours and I tried everything except a hot shot because I didn't want her to associate calving with that kind of pain. Just as I pulled the cap off a syringe with Dex, she got up and immediately mothered-up to her calf. All good!!!
Moral of the story: don't rely solely on a bull's EPD's!!
Sparky in action:
Spunky & Sparky
That's one big baby girl!
Relatively easy pull with just the straps (which I prefer over chains) and my brute strength (and lemme tell you, I'm feeling it today!). Heifer was super easy - no chute or halter, she just let me help her unrestrained in the barn. All good, right? Yeah, not initially. She couldn't get up for 2 hours and I tried everything except a hot shot because I didn't want her to associate calving with that kind of pain. Just as I pulled the cap off a syringe with Dex, she got up and immediately mothered-up to her calf. All good!!!
Moral of the story: don't rely solely on a bull's EPD's!!
Sparky in action:
Spunky & Sparky
That's one big baby girl!