marksmu
Well-known member
Ive always considered myself a pretty lucky person - I am very optimistic, and I think good luck follows those who are optimistic. Well - Friday was an all around bad day. When I went out on Thursday night after work (7pm) to check the cows/calves we just bought last month I noticed one of our younger calves was pretty far behind the herd, and moving slowly. Drove up to her to get a better look at her, and saw her nose was running and she was having trouble breathing...she was able to sprint and catch up to the herd when I got near her, but I could tell she wasnt right. Called up the vet to get his recommendation of treatment, and he told me it sounded like pnemunoia and to treat her accordingly.
Course I didnt have any medicine laying around yet so I had nothing to treat her with. Only other folks I know are my neighbors and of course they are out of town at the time. I decided to work her in the morning when the store opened up and I could get some medicine. Got up early, got the medicine, got out there around 9 - and I couldn't find her. Drove around for an hour - till I finally found her dead up under a big live oak. My first calf to die. Had a feeling of guilt that I was not prepared to treat her when I first noticed she was sick.
So of course I check the rest of the herd - the others all appear fine - eating well, and no other apparent signs of illness. But just to be safe I decide I am going to work them all this weekend and give them a set of vaccinations, worm meds, and a vitamin shot - so I go out to buy the headgate I need. Wind up deciding on the priefert and go out to buy it. Find one in stock bout an hour from my place - go out to pick it up - give it a one over - looks good but you cant work it cause its wired up for transport. Pay for it, and head back to the ranch - unload it - its broken. The side escape hatch has a welded lever that wont catch the locking door hinge because it was welded in the wrong place, and the rubber head gate wheels are cracked and broken, so the gate wont catch on its own.
Must say after a whole day out on the ranch, accomplishing nothing, buying an expensive piece of broken equipment and losing a calf - sure took the wind out of my sail.
The only plus to the whole ordeal is the McCoys is more than cooperative working with me. They are going to send a truck out to get and swap it out with a new one. So I do have to give them credit for being customer friendly.
Course I didnt have any medicine laying around yet so I had nothing to treat her with. Only other folks I know are my neighbors and of course they are out of town at the time. I decided to work her in the morning when the store opened up and I could get some medicine. Got up early, got the medicine, got out there around 9 - and I couldn't find her. Drove around for an hour - till I finally found her dead up under a big live oak. My first calf to die. Had a feeling of guilt that I was not prepared to treat her when I first noticed she was sick.
So of course I check the rest of the herd - the others all appear fine - eating well, and no other apparent signs of illness. But just to be safe I decide I am going to work them all this weekend and give them a set of vaccinations, worm meds, and a vitamin shot - so I go out to buy the headgate I need. Wind up deciding on the priefert and go out to buy it. Find one in stock bout an hour from my place - go out to pick it up - give it a one over - looks good but you cant work it cause its wired up for transport. Pay for it, and head back to the ranch - unload it - its broken. The side escape hatch has a welded lever that wont catch the locking door hinge because it was welded in the wrong place, and the rubber head gate wheels are cracked and broken, so the gate wont catch on its own.
Must say after a whole day out on the ranch, accomplishing nothing, buying an expensive piece of broken equipment and losing a calf - sure took the wind out of my sail.
The only plus to the whole ordeal is the McCoys is more than cooperative working with me. They are going to send a truck out to get and swap it out with a new one. So I do have to give them credit for being customer friendly.