Recent content by R&SGilles

We use nylon straps and they work great. Very strong. Just a little harder to clean after the job is done.

To Bretsam: Girlfriend...used to in the day when they first come out, but no more!

To reply to tamarack: that is how my husband's father used to pull calves. We have a rachet style calf puller that pulls one leg and then the other plus a hip hugger. The hip hugger is a device that has two large heavy duty rings, attached in the middle. Each ring fits over a hip bone and...

I am wondering what anyone thinks of hip huggers. Are they good to use every time when pulling a calf? Do they have a tendency to pinch a nerve that may do more harm than good? When pulling a calf should the cow be in a stall or small pen? Should she be standing or laying down to pull a...

FYI... The vet just stopped by to let us know the spinal fuid was lacking white blood cells or bacteria which told him it was NOT meningitis. After seeing the calf and more research he came up with Bovine Familial Convulsions and Ataxia. Some say it is a defective autosomal-dominant gene with...

To all the kind people that posted to my inquiry: Thank you. Our vet did finally make it out to the ranch today and after withdrawing spinal fluid confirmed meningitis. He gave the calf a hefty dose of antibiotic that will penetrate the spine and brain, and left enough for 10 days. The calf...

How do we take his temperature? What is a normal temp for a calf?

Hi, we're new to the cattle forum and hopefully someone can give us an answer. We had a two yr old heifer calve four days ago. She calved without any assistance, and licked him off. When my husband found them at 2am the newborn calf was laying out stiff and kicking. He was unable to get up...