Band or Cut?

[Kingfisher]

Which method do you use and why? Thanks in advance. The little longhorn bull calf we picked up a couple of months ago the
you fellow who took them home for us " cut" him for us. Seemed pretty straight forward and didn't seem to bother him too much.
When I was little and lived in Germany the sheep herder near our home " banded" his lil sheep but I read how some folks feel that might
not be the best way for the animal.

 

[shaz]

Cutting is the prefered method around here. Personally, I band. I never cut before and was concerned that blood in the floor of my chute would make it really slick. I guess if I saw someone else cut I would be more confident in doing it myself.

 

[HOSS]

I band. Quick easy and effective. I have never had one get an infection or have problems. If you make sure you can count to two banding is the way to go. It is also less stressfull in my opinion.......and I cringe when I see one getting cut.....man thing I guess.

 

[cypressfarms]

We had this discussion a long time ago. At the time I banded, and another member "challenged" me and said that big stockyards/feedlots prefer cut calves instead of banding; to the point of giving a premium price for cut calves over banded. I called four or five of the biggest stockyards/feedlots in the country from Texas to Wyoming (including the ones that the member challenged me to call) and all said that they have no preference.

I also did research about the effect cutting had on a calf. I found that a cut calf actually quits gaining weight for a small time - maybe like a week to two, while a banded calf never quits gaining. I think it worked out to about 20 or so pounds gained by weaning - if you band instead of cut. Not sure if I remember all of the facts exactly, but I definitely remember talking to the stockyards/feedlots and them telling me that they offer no premium for cut calves opposed to banded calves. Now if they did start receiving "stags" from a producer that would be something totally different.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I band mine within a day or 2 of birth. Its pretty easy to count to 2. No fuss no muss, calf gets up and runs back to mom. The tagger seems to bother them more than the application of a band.

Where I work the calves are also banded within a day or 2 of birth unless its a bull calf who has "promising" genetics. The unbanded ones are evaluated later on and those that aren't panning out get cut and go to the feedlot.

Katherine

 

[bse]

I band mine at 5 months with a big bander they seem to grow good and the never know it happened and keep growing the whole time. and the best part i can do it by myself.

 

[Angus Cowman]

I was always a knife man and have cut 1000s of calves in my time running cattle and last yr I used a a calicrate bander and loved it the calves just kept going never slowed down at the bunks and I am planning on banding again this yr
If I was doing smaller calves(400lbs or less) and leaving them on the cow I think I would go back to a knife but as I do my calves after weaning I think I am gonna use the bander atleast for now
main thing with banding be sure and give a tetanus shot

 

[uscangus]

I band mine at 5 months with a big bander they seem to grow good and the never know it happened and keep growing the whole time. and the best part i can do it by myself.

hey "bse", i did not know this. the effect of banding or castrating them affects their weight initially before weining. how does
it affect the weight gain on banding or castrating at early age. i am willing to wait to band near weining age.

 

[dun]

I band mine at 5 months with a big bander they seem to grow good and the never know it happened and keep growing the whole time. and the best part i can do it by myself.

hey "bse", i did not know this. the effect of banding or castrating them affects their weight initially before weining. how does
it affect the weight gain on banding or castrating at early age. i am willing to wait to band near weining age.

This is one of those trade off kind of deals. Cutting or banding at an early age will (according to the experts) decrease weaning wegiht unless they are implanted. Cutting them at an older age will set them back because of the stress, banding them at a llater age won;t have that affect. BUT, you have to have the right equipment to band those larger nutted calves.

 

[uscangus]

I band mine at 5 months with a big bander they seem to grow good and the never know it happened and keep growing the whole time. and the best part i can do it by myself.

hey "bse", i did not know this. the effect of banding or castrating them affects their weight initially before weining. how does
it affect the weight gain on banding or castrating at early age. i am willing to wait to band near weining age.

This is one of those trade off kind of deals. Cutting or banding at an early age will (according to the experts) decrease weaning wegiht unless they are implanted. Cutting them at an older age will set them back because of the stress, banding them at a llater age won;t have that affect. BUT, you have to have the right equipment to band those larger nutted calves.

thank you dun, i did not know this. once again, dun, thanks for your generous and experienced advises. you don't get these important advises from the books.uscangus

 

[bse]

hey uscangus i use the callicrate bander on my calves it works well on the bigger calves i havent noticed any weight loss ive been using it for 10 yrs i guess no problems. It is expesive to buy around $250 dollars but like i said i can do it by myself and take advantage of the extra weight gain make sure to give them a tetnaus shot if you use this method and make sure both nuts are in the loop.

 

[uscangus]

hey uscangus i use the callicrate bander on my calves it works well on the bigger calves i havent noticed any weight loss ive been using it for 10 yrs i guess no problems. It is expesive to buy around $250 dollars but like i said i can do it by myself and take advantage of the extra weight gain make sure to give them a tetnaus shot if you use this method and make sure both nuts are in the loop.

thank you "bse", i have 90% of calves that are bull and most are already three months old with uniform weight and shiny coat, not like pot belly due to grain. since they have been grazing like rabbits, they added weights so rapidly. i will end up looking for your callicrate bander ASAP. thank you kindly for your advises. like i said, being a new newbie, i am open for advises and criticisms and know that i have a long, long way to go. thank you.

 

[uscangus]

hey uscangus i use the callicrate bander on my calves it works well on the bigger calves i havent noticed any weight loss ive been using it for 10 yrs i guess no problems. It is expesive to buy around $250 dollars but like i said i can do it by myself and take advantage of the extra weight gain make sure to give them a tetnaus shot if you use this method and make sure both nuts are in the loop.

thank you "bse", i have 90% of calves that are bull and most are already three months old with uniform weight and shiny coat, not like pot belly due to grain. since they have been grazing like rabbits, they added weights so rapidly. i will end up looking for your callicrate bander ASAP. thank you kindly for your advises. like i said, being a new newbie, i am open for advises and criticisms and know that i have a long, long way to go. thank you.

 

[novaman]

Neither. Masculate. For those that don't know what masculating is, its basically a big pincher type thing that pinches the cords. No open wound like cutting but probably not as easy as slipping a band on. Just how we've done it in the past so the practice continues.

 

[farmwriter]

http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/930 ... eef-calves

This is just some fairly basic info on castration and rates of gain you might be interested in.

 

[HEREFORD ROADHOG]

Neither. Masculate. For those that don't know what masculating is, its basically a big pincher type thing that pinches the cords. No open wound like cutting but probably not as easy as slipping a band on. Just how we've done it in the past so the practice continues.

I also use the "clamping" method,as long as its done correctly I think this is the most humane way to do it. When I hearabout banding calves, or other animals, Just ask yourself ,if you had to choose how you would want it done.......... :???:

 

[char]

Hi i havent wrote much but read a lot, have a ? as usual. we baned our bull calf at 2 weeks old will they just fall off, ? and about how long does that take? well he be heald or will he have a open sore?. He is doing fine he and his mamma both lick his bubu.
our first cow had a heifer calf about 4 weeks earlier and her calf started to suck both cow. so we seperated them. now since both cow have their own calf the heifer is sucking from both mammas. they both eat grass ,hay and a little feed.

my husband want to let them wean them self.have ever heard of it?. we want to breed then a gain in june. they are just pets.

thanks char

 

[dun]

Hi i havent wrote much but read a lot, have a ? as usual. we baned our bull calf at 2 weeks old will they just fall off, ? and about how long does that take? well he be heald or will he have a open sore?. He is doing fine he and his mamma both lick his bubu.
our first cow had a heifer calf about 4 weeks earlier and her calf started to suck both cow. so we seperated them. now since both cow have their own calf the heifer is sucking from both mammas. they both eat grass ,hay and a little feed.

my husband want to let them wean them self.have ever heard of it?. we want to breed then a gain in june. they are just pets.

thanks char

They'll just fall off, sometimes a month somethimes 2 months. There well be a very small sore spot but it will heal fine. The weaning themsleves deal may work but being a rookie myslef I've never seen it actaully work. Usually you end up with a huge calf hoging all the groceries and a little one that doesn;t get any colosturm or enough to eat.

 

[char]

Thanks Dun,
for the info.you really know your cattle.and thats grate.sure glad there people out there like you to help us new one.
char