Moving calves across water ?

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Stocker Steve

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We have a creek that runs thru the middle of our main pasture. We had several 2" to 4" rains this spring that caused it to flood for several days each time. Most of the cows cross readily but the calves do not - - so the cows keep going back once or twice a day to the calves. Now most of these calves seem to be "trained" to stay in this small (now plugged) area even through the water has gone down. Any tips on moving month old calves across water during paddock moves ?
 
M-5":20fpa1r9 said:
how deep, I have had newborns wade about 50 yrds from one patch to the other in a flooded area around a gate. its knee deep on me
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When it floods it is 5 to 8 feet deep. A few calves will swim this. Once the water goes down it is only calf to ankle deep on me -- but the calves act like they are "barn stale" and make the cow wade back to them.
 
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Eventually the calves will cross. Cows will get tired of their bawling and start leaving them for longer lengths of time as they graze further away from the water source. At that point, the calves will panic and start crossing.

Once had them cross the creek at the crest of the biggest flood here ever 13 years ago. Nearly 10' deep in the center of the channel with a raging current. Can't believe they all weren't just swept away down the creek.
 
I had one this week cross with the 15' deep creek running brim full. I was there cutting up a tree that had split in the wind. Her calf crossed first with no issue. Mama got swept down about 10 yards and slammed into a flooded tree about 5 yards off the bank. She was t boned against the tree and still had a bunch of bushes between her and the bank. I saw her when she went in and could here her thrashing around and when I went down to check, only her muzzle was above water. I ran to grab a rope even though I was not sure what to do if I got it around her except maybe hold her head above water. When I got back down there she had got off the tree and was fighting through the brush. Finally got out and walked on up the bank and starting eating the leaves off the downed tree like nothing happened. All in a days work I guess.
 

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