Banding at birth tips & tricks

[tncattle]

How many of you band at birth? For the ones that do please share some tips & tricks to making it as quick as possible and dealing mad mamas.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Ideal thing is to have a fence to drag the calf thru. it happens some times.

If the calf has a belly full of milk, in teh brush and is laid up with mom out foraging, strike then.

I've got the hot shot on the ground. Bands and tags are loaded with spares buttons and bands readily accessible. Band first then tag. Calves tend to beller when tagged and the bellering upsets the dam.

There's many. If I miss one I get them in the chute later on when I change pastures. Just gotta remember who is who so they can be tagged for record keeping.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Make sure you have both nuts before you take the ring off the bander.

 

[hillsdown]

A great tip to get both testicles easily, is to band them when they are sleeping .They are relaxed and the blood is flowing there, so it is really easy to get both.

Also make sure you buy new bands each season ,less chance of them breaking .

 

[dun]

Keep an eye on the cow and a pair of small diaganal to snip the band if you slip and lose a nut

 

[Old_man_emu]

If mad mamas are a problem, why not wait a while until things settle and do them then? Best laid plans can't keep you 100% safe.
If you really want to get them done early and you have a quadbikes, you can throw them over the seat and scoot off to a quiet corner and fix them up.

 

[cattlepower]

I pick them up and put them into back of the pickup and shut the tailgate--then get to work

 

[tom4018]

I quit doing them at birth after a head but sent me to the hospital. I wait and run them thru the corral within the first few weeks. We have a small herd so it is not too big of a deal knowing which calf is which. The cow that got me was never a problem before but got me twice in one day.

 

[Isomade]

I used to try and keep up with it, but too many close calls and just not enough time. Now I just get em at spring work up.

 

[tncattle]

anyone use a dog or dogs to keep that mama at bay?

 

[Isomade]

Better be a good dog. I tried that with Sam and he chased the cow right over the top of me.

 

[Old_man_emu]

anyone use a dog or dogs to keep that mama at bay?

DO NOT USE A DOG! It's seriously dangerous and if they are anything like my cows it won't just be the calfs mama it will every cow within ear shot!
If you're that worried about the cow, get them in once they are a few weeks old or just do them all at the end of calving.

 

[Lon]

We band at birth. You are going to get hit sooner or later doing it that is all there really is to it, even putting them in the back of pickup is no garuntee cause a mad momma is one athletic animal. banding them first like said is best than tag them. I will say take the time to make sure you got both nuts it only take 2 seconds to check. for me what works best and i am not a big guy at all i just get them on thier side stick my knee one thier flank reach threw thier back legs with the bankder and put from just behind thier belly with a cupped hand till i get to the sack where my fingers are nowpushed together. than let go of handles grab sack check both are there if so jerk the bander off. than i tag making sure to try and put it inbetween the 2 main blood veins in the ear at least half way back (only reason is it seems to get less of them hanging ears this way). most of the time the momma is blowing snot and trying to bluff you while your doing it.Also if catching them off horse you can either pull the calf up on the horse with you cause even if the cow hits the horse as long as he is a good saddle horse he will just jump. or if you know it is a cow that will take you wait till someone else is there and have them start heading her in the oppisite direction and once out a ways get to work.
On the subject of dogs. I have used a blue healer that was damn good at grabbing a nose and backing a cow off if need be but it was in a herd that was used to a dog and had respect for this dog(THAT THEY WAS USED TO) do not take a dog with you in a herd that is not used to dogs and dont take a strange dog they are not used to either cause they are smart and can tell the difference it would just be a wreck waiting to happen.

 

[tsmaxx47]

we band within days of birth; no matter what you hear, you'll have to find something that works for you. we bring them into a corral, escort the mama cows out and go from there..........

 

[JSCATTLE]

I Used to try to band them as they hit the ground . I usually missed a few . Some of the cows hide thier calves for a few day . I have started to wait after the first wave of calves are born and none of the cows are springing . Put them in the pen , tag , and cut them . The next time I pen to cut the calves the first wave gets ralgro . Continue until all the calves are done on the last penning I worm the cows that's usually about may .

 

[HOSS]

For me it depends on which cow it is. I have a few that will let me band and tag with them just standing there watching. These are some of my "pet" cows raised from birth. The boss cow is like this. She will fight anybody and anything over her calf with the exception of myself or my dad. We can do anything we want with her calf and she will come over and watch from about 10 feet away until we are done and then go lick it. Others I just wait until they leave the calf in the woods and do it then. The cows that I don't catch away from the calf I will just wait until I get them up and then band / tag in the pen.

 

[Limomike]

I have always banded at birth.. best to catch them the first day or two.. after that.. you will need to rope em. :) Many good suggestions here on what to do, but I say, make sure you have both nuts for sure.. and I have learned to either take a coffee can of feed with me to distract mama cow... or if she does get a bit riled... keep my shocker with me to let her know she wont be getting close to me. And do NOT take a dog with you.. EVER. Unless it sits in the truck and behaves..
Most of my cows are so tame, they dont mind me messin with their calves.. just have a few of them that get upset, but both the ways I described take care of that problem.

 

[Calman]

We always band and tag after all calves are born.That way we can pretty well figure which ones to band and which we wan't to leave a bull.Then match them with momma later as we see them nursing.But it only makes sence to do what works better for your operation.

Cal

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

we band within days of birth; no matter what you hear, you'll have to find something that works for you. we bring them into a corral, escort the mama cows out and go from there..........

Sounds like a pretty good system.

 

[1wlimo]

When I am tagging and banding I sit the calf on it's rump and hold it with my legs, (the same way you would when shearing an ewe), means I am standing and have both arms free to work. Most calves are much quieter, like this, and the mama can see and smell her calf so is quieter too.

Some still better to wait until you can get some nice heavy steel between you and the mama.