Hardest pull I ever succeeded at

[Bigfoot]

Hardest pull, I Believe I ever made in my life. I know it was the hardest pull I ever succeeded at saving the calf. A heifer had been in labor most of the night, evidently. I checked at dark, fine. Checked her at daylight, feet. Tongue swelled so bad I'll end up raising it on a bottle (if it makes it. She should breed back fast, seems like when they lose one they do. Think I'll sell the calf when it's lined out, and her as a short bred this fall.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

You didn't use a Corriente bull?

 

[highgrit]

Hopefully it'll work out. It could of been a lot worse.

 

[Bigfoot]

You didn't use a Corriente bull?

Bought her as an open heifer. Turned out she was bred, at probably 10 months old. My fault. Should have luted her and the ones that came with her soon as they got off the trailer. I was able to tell she was bred, for quit a while now. I should have ran her through the stockyard. I hope I smarter than this mistake, the next time. If this calf makes it, and sells good, and she sells good this fall, I won't have really lost much, if anything. I'd of rather her been bred to my bull, and not gone through this though.

 

[Bigfoot]

Calf just weighed in at 98 pounds. Yikes

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I figured there had to be a back story..

 

[bball]

Good job on saving both of them BF..could been a lot worse. That's a great feeling when you salvage both.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

What is the heifer? What does it look like she was bred to?

 

[M-5]

I feel your pain bf

 

[Bigfoot]

She was a brangus/black sim. I'm guessing she was bred by her father, or perhaps a pasture mate. Im giving the calf a slim chance. Just too difficult of a delivery. I'm a glass is half full kinda guy. Still got the heifer, she'll be worth something this fall.

 

[Ojp6]

If she weighed up very good she would probably bring 13-1500 now. Seen a few little wet bags weighing around 1000 that lost their first calves in bad weather bring around 1700 to go back to breed. But if she's bred this fall she sure could bring 2000+ if prices stay where they are.

 

[Nesikep]

Depending on this heifer's behavior, I wouldn't separate them just yet.. see if you can get that calf going and get him on momma... I had 2 hard births this year that required the calf puller.. both were OK up to the hips and then hung up, both on first timers, the first was a small heifer with a 95 lb heifer calf, second was a much bigger (1100-1200 lb) heifer with a 108 lb bull calf. The first pair were the ones that were the worse for wear from it, the heifer was really wobbly for a while, and the calf didn't get up for about 18 hours (fed it 2 servings of colostrum in the evening) but it was good to go in the morning. Second pair, it took the momma 1/2 hour to get up, and the calf I got nursing by holding him up with my knee under the cow, he was hungry and did OK, but had badly contracted tendons.. spent his first week laying down, getting up just to nurse, but he's doing really well now and looks impressive.

That bull isn't getting any more heifers to breed... 3/4 I had to help, but 0 out of 18 cows.. he'll get the cows!

 

[cross_7]

If the calf makes it you'll be in good shape
If it doesn't I bet she'll weigh out enough you won't get hurt bad
The bright side is you didn't lose the heifer

 

[Bigfoot]

Best choice was seperate. He's alive this morning, and slightly more lively. Head and tongue still swelled. Still hasn't stood. I'm tubing him.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Good luck to the little feller!

 

[Bigfoot]

Picked up a round of shots for him. Not sure what all it was. I'm guessing selinium, steroid, b12 etc. He just don't have it in him to stand.

 

[Bigfoot]

Stood on his own a little while this morning. I'm raising his odds some.

 

[A.J.]

Glad to hear that. Hopefully he will pull through .

 

[bball]

Swelling going down any??

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

How's momma?