Missing calf!

[southernultrablack]

Had a calf born yesterday morning, was gonna weigh him this morning but when we got close he bolted. The 5 strands of barbed wire barely even slowed him down! We are in mountainous area and he got in the woods and now I can't find him, this area is very steep and I am concerned he will not be able to get back up to momma. Any suggestions or experiences like this?

 

[dun]

Has simialr a couple of years ago. After 4 days the calf ended up just appearing back in the pasture. If he was that spooked once, if you find him again the chances he'll spook even worse and maybe end up further away. Ours was almost a half mile away in the timber. If there is a way you can safely turn the cow out in the general area that may work. Problem then may be getting her caught again once she finds the calf.

 

[Muddy]

Had a few days old calf went 1/2 miles but I let the momma cow out and she led her calf back and punished him.

 

[Deepsouth]

I had a new born slip through the fence once. I didn't spook it. He just happened to have been born real close to it and wound up on the other side in some thick woods. It was my calving season so I was checking cows and noticed something white in the bushes. It was his white face a shinning. I went over the fence and he actually spooked back into the field and went straight to momma. So I went home happy. The next day he was missing. The cow was close to the spot where the calf was across the fence the day before. I checked and there he was in the same exact spot. I went across the fence and he went right back through to momma again. Aftet that I stopped worrying about him. But he stayed on the outside the fence for over two weeks. Every once in a while I would see him sucking but other than that he was in the woods.

I'm telling you that because there maybe a chance your calf is near momma but hiding in the woods. Those young ones can slip right through a tight 5 stran fence.

I hope it shows back up.

 

[turklilley]

That calf will find it's mother. Two years ago we ran one thru the fence 3/4 mile away, ran into the woods and thick brush. We went and moved the cows to another pasture. Then I got a neighbor to hunt the calf on horseback. Two hours, and never seen that calf. Went back that evening, and no calf.
The next morning that calf was in the new pasture nursing. I don't know how a newborn calf did that.
I did not expect to see that calf again.

 

[southernultrablack]

Thanks everybody for the responses. I just got back from looking again, no luck.Hope he shows back up in the morning. Sure hate loosing one!

 

[dun]

Thanks everybody for the responses. I just got back from looking again, no luck.Hope he shows back up in the morning. Sure hate loosing one!

We had 5 people looking in about a 10 acre patch when ours disappeared. In 4 days I think we bumped into him twice.

 

[talltimber]

I had a new born slip through the fence once. I didn't spook it. He just happened to have been born real close to it and wound up on the other side in some thick woods. It was my calving season so I was checking cows and noticed something white in the bushes. It was his white face a shinning. I went over the fence and he actually spooked back into the field and went straight to momma. So I went home happy. The next day he was missing. The cow was close to the spot where the calf was across the fence the day before. I checked and there he was in the same exact spot. I went across the fence and he went right back through to momma again. Aftet that I stopped worrying about him. But he stayed on the outside the fence for over two weeks. Every once in a while I would see him sucking but other than that he was in the woods.

I'm telling you that because there maybe a chance your calf is near momma but hiding in the woods. Those young ones can slip right through a tight 5 stran fence.

I hope it shows back up.

I get that a lot, but with one strand of ht hot holding cattle out of most of the wooded draws. Those babies can hide pretty good in very little/low cover.

 

[Supa Dexta]

They can hide behind a tuft of grass in an open pasture, dang near impossible to find em in the woods. Hope for the best is really all you can do.

 

[southernultrablack]

Just wanted to give an update, Did my morning check on the cows and he was back with momma!!!

 

[Alan]

Good to know the calf made it back, I've been watching this thread since your first post. I've had several decide it's better to lay down on the other side of the fence but never had one bolt like they've been shot. Probably better you didn't chase too much and drive it further away. For me, I have found moms milk usually overcomes fear. Congrats on the return of your calf.

Alan

 

[M-5]

Just wanted to give an update, Did my morning check on the cows and he was back with momma!!!

Good deal, I had a suspicion it would show back up.

 

[Supa Dexta]

In all these years I still haven't figured out how they find one another in deep woods.

I had one going way into a grain field last summer, it would zig zag in deep and lay down, but always knew how to get back to its mother a couple fields away. soft moos I guess, Cause its hardly enough to hear when you're around.

 

[dieselbeef]

don't overthink cow stuff

 

[JMJ Farms]

Good to know the calf made it back, I've been watching this thread since your first post. I've had several decide it's better to lay down on the other side of the fence but never had one bolt like they've been shot. Probably better you didn't chase too much and drive it further away. For me, I have found moms milk usually overcomes fear. Congrats on the return of your calf.

Alan

Had one last year that I ear tagged in the middle of a millet field. He got up and started trotting. I didn't think nothing about it. He went to the farthest fence line on the place. Didn't see him for two days. Sometimes they react oddly. I've come to the conclusion that Murphy (the one that coined Murphy's Law) was in the cattle business. I'm sure of it.

 

[Williamsv]

Thankful to hear the little calf got back to its mama.

 

[redcowsrule33]

Just had one take off in me. Three fences were no deterrent. He was last seen headed west into the woods. All I can do is hope but I’m still sick about it.

 

[Lucky_P]

One particular Angus sire we used, years ago... his calves were a threat to get up and haul @ss if you startled them... one crossed four fencelines and a paved road. After dealing with those wild-@ss little b@st@rds, we decided... unless they were still wet and hadn't yet gotten to their feet... we weren't gonna try tagging - or doing anything that might alarm them - for at least 48 hrs.
Small enough herd (only about 40/calving group) that it wasn't absolutely essential that we tag them right away.

 

[coachg]

Think we have all experienced that . I’d say 99 % of the time they go back to momma. We have a pasture with a shear bluff on one end . So I can understand your concern.

 

[redcowsrule33]

He turned up this afternoon. Thank goodness!