cypressfarms
Well-known member
This calving season has been veery strange here. We've got about 15 calves on the ground; I say about because we had two yesterday, and they haven't been logged in yet on the books, so my numbers are fuzzy now until I can get my notebook in my hand. Anyway, I've usually tagged calves at birth, with a number tag. For some reason, this calving year (2010-2011), the momas have all gone nuts.
These are all calm cattle that are 5+ years old. I cull cows that are too mean at birth. I've have three really close calls already. First was an old Brangus that normally could care less what I do. This year when I grabbed the calf, she jumped over it to get at me. Good thing she slipped while jumping, or I'd still be hurting. As it was she pushed me back on my butt about 4 or 5 feet. Second was a true Superbaldy. I caught her calf while it was sleeping about a day old, put the tag in quickly, and the calf never made a sound. Moma saw me came running up (by this time I was back on the mule driving past her), and she charged the mule. Took her a week to settle down. This is a cow who normally lets me walk up to any her calves and spray the navel, put a tag, etc. and just stands back and watches. Third was yesterday evening. One of my best Beefmaster cows that is about 7 yars old put her head down on me and started coming. I backed off quickly.
Could it be that I'm getting older/slower or is it something in the weather/water ; I've sure had some close calls this year. I may start tagging as they come through the corral from the front pastures to the back.
These are all calm cattle that are 5+ years old. I cull cows that are too mean at birth. I've have three really close calls already. First was an old Brangus that normally could care less what I do. This year when I grabbed the calf, she jumped over it to get at me. Good thing she slipped while jumping, or I'd still be hurting. As it was she pushed me back on my butt about 4 or 5 feet. Second was a true Superbaldy. I caught her calf while it was sleeping about a day old, put the tag in quickly, and the calf never made a sound. Moma saw me came running up (by this time I was back on the mule driving past her), and she charged the mule. Took her a week to settle down. This is a cow who normally lets me walk up to any her calves and spray the navel, put a tag, etc. and just stands back and watches. Third was yesterday evening. One of my best Beefmaster cows that is about 7 yars old put her head down on me and started coming. I backed off quickly.
Could it be that I'm getting older/slower or is it something in the weather/water ; I've sure had some close calls this year. I may start tagging as they come through the corral from the front pastures to the back.