Do you De-Nut and dehorn and deworm and vaccinate all at the same time? we dont, we like to split up dehorning and castrating so there the calf only has one stress at a time. usually deworm and give black leg when we dehorn. Also, when you castrate, how many people throw or flip (by hand or table) and how many of you just do it standing in the chute?
Castrating and Dehorning Questions
- Thread starter Beefy
- Start date
we usually do it in the chute but i was toying with the idea of throwing em this year. i would have to be doing the cutting since dad is opposed to him castrating anything. (the vet did it before i did). we usually have one hired hand who is about 24 and occasionally another guy 13 but looks about 18 will help us work cows and calves. i figured i could teach them how to throw one and where to sit on one or how to hold one but they are a little scared of cows and i dont know that i would want them holding the leg back for me.
i guess i could do it myself like Sidney does if i could get that Twister technique down. left foot...right nut. right hand ...neck. right foot ..back leg. left hand..left nut...
i guess i could do it myself like Sidney does if i could get that Twister technique down. left foot...right nut. right hand ...neck. right foot ..back leg. left hand..left nut...
Beefy":3hafcw5e said:
Can't say as I blame you. Sounds like a really good way to get the snot kicked out of you. :shock: I've learned over the years that cows + people who are afraid of cows = wreck in the making!
msscamp":24jkimpp said:
they arent so much "afraid" of them now as they just dont "know" them ... and so they will do something like stand toward the front of the cow and expect it to move forward or something stupid like that and when they dont they dont understand why. I yelled at the cow, why did it run away?
Beefy":15aqxtr3 said:
I had that happen Christmas week. My neices step-daughter was so willing to help, but she didn't have a clue about cattle as she has never been around them. It got a little interesting, but there was no hands-on stuff to be done and she listened and adjusted her actions accordingly. We got the job done and she is that much farther ahead in understanding cattle.
Beefy":2oevv70n said:
That is very easy to do, but when there is this 16 year old looking at you with shining eyes wanting so much to help and trying to help, what can you do but think back to the days that you were inexperienced and try to explain. I think I have the advantage on this situation as I'm female and tend to be empathetic. That is not something that comes easily to a lot of men. I don't mean to be sexist, bash men, denigrate them, or anything like that, just going from observations, how various circumstances were handled, and things I've seen. In general, women tend to have more patience than men do for this type of situation.
Ryder
Well-known member
Back to the question, throw to castrate. Don't have a table and I am a little scared of cutting them in the chute. One of the Canadians I think (sorry I don't remember who) had someone stand behind them and I think bend tail over back and block a leg with his leg. I never have help that good.
If castration is done at birth, we lay down. After that, they stand in the chute.
If we have one that we castrate late, he's done prior to weaning & gets all fall vaccinations at same time. Haven't had to dehorn for a several years, but we would burn them at April vaccination time (and might cut one in chute at that time also). Never had a problem combining jobs. Turn lose to run to momma & get a suck - everythings OK.
If we have one that we castrate late, he's done prior to weaning & gets all fall vaccinations at same time. Haven't had to dehorn for a several years, but we would burn them at April vaccination time (and might cut one in chute at that time also). Never had a problem combining jobs. Turn lose to run to momma & get a suck - everythings OK.
norriscathy
Well-known member
Ryder":2ffy08yr said:
Get a good calf table. They are not that expensive and will save a lot of wear and tear on both you and the calf. We do everything at once. Just working calves twice places a lot of stree on them.
sidney411
Well-known member
B- you've got the 3rd step backwards :lol:
Throw to cut, between age 2 weeks - 4 mts (BTW - I've never attemped a calf older then 1 mth by myself, it's amazing how strong a little 100 lb calf can be!)
after about 400-450 lbs - pull the tail up in the chute, unless someone is feeling their oats that day and wants the challege of who can throw the biggest calf :roll: We bought a calf table but that thing gets more in the way then helped I thought. It takes longer the pull the thing out of the barn and get it set up then to just throw and cut em. I always do the cutting. The guys just can't seem to bring themselves to do it, I wonder why? At that time I tag and implant, I've just started this year with the 8 way at that time too.
I worm the calves when I worm the cows, late fall and late spring.
If I have a calf with horns I cut the horns at weaning if I'm preconditioning, if thet go to auction, they stay. I have very few that come out with horns maybe 1 or 2. With these new bulls it should be 0 so I won't have to worry about it.
Throw to cut, between age 2 weeks - 4 mts (BTW - I've never attemped a calf older then 1 mth by myself, it's amazing how strong a little 100 lb calf can be!)
after about 400-450 lbs - pull the tail up in the chute, unless someone is feeling their oats that day and wants the challege of who can throw the biggest calf :roll: We bought a calf table but that thing gets more in the way then helped I thought. It takes longer the pull the thing out of the barn and get it set up then to just throw and cut em. I always do the cutting. The guys just can't seem to bring themselves to do it, I wonder why? At that time I tag and implant, I've just started this year with the 8 way at that time too.
I worm the calves when I worm the cows, late fall and late spring.
If I have a calf with horns I cut the horns at weaning if I'm preconditioning, if thet go to auction, they stay. I have very few that come out with horns maybe 1 or 2. With these new bulls it should be 0 so I won't have to worry about it.
DiamondSCattleCo
Well-known member
I always vaccinate/ivomec separately from dehorning/castrating. I've been told by several vets, as well as drug sheets/drug reps, that high stress can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.
On the castrating side, I always castrate with them standing, unless they happen to be particularly rowdy, then I rope and throw em. I usually just run a fence post behind their legs to prevent them from kicking.
I'm with Sidney on the calf table. I tried one and found it was just in the way. Slowed down things, and the longer it takes to work the calves, the more stress.
Rod
On the castrating side, I always castrate with them standing, unless they happen to be particularly rowdy, then I rope and throw em. I usually just run a fence post behind their legs to prevent them from kicking.
I'm with Sidney on the calf table. I tried one and found it was just in the way. Slowed down things, and the longer it takes to work the calves, the more stress.
Rod
toby
Well-known member
Does anyone use Elasticators (sp). My Vet doesn't like them so I quit. Dehorn and cut same time for us. :)
DiamondSCattleCo
Well-known member
toby":3t1vnj8x said:
Are you talking about the big units for larger calves? If so, I don't know why your vet doesn't like them because there is reduced chance of infection, and I think reduced stress. I don't have any, but I get the neighbor to come over with his from time to time if I don't have a chance to cut em. Quicker, less stressful, less infection. I think its a winner.
Rod
