Need advice on heifer not taking calf

[kenny thomas]

Thanks to 3-way for suggesting the hobbles and to DAYMON for trying it and for the picture. In all my years of cattle handling I had never heard this one. So simple. :tiphat:

 

[tripleBfarms]

Thanks to 3-way for suggesting the hobbles and to DAYMON for trying it and for the picture. In all my years of cattle handling I had never heard this one. So simple. :tiphat:

Yep. Thanks. Good thread. Nice corral too Daymon.

 

[Lon]

was just reading this and glad to see you used the hobbles. :tiphat: this is what we have done, plus leave her in a pen and kept her hobbled. But i do have to say i am disapointed i didnt get to see pics of the cow with panels strapped to her. now that would have been one for the books. another thing we have done is on top of hobbling them is to just let the calf suck twice a day for a couple days that way she is good and full of milk and realizes that calf provides her with some comfort as well.

 

[Victoria]

Glad you got it all worked out - I agree with I think it was 3way?? who said give her a treat for letting him nurse. Heifers can freak out without even thinking - I have found that putting them in the chute to nurse and then out to a pen with a bucket of grain right by the pen fence helps - if they are quiet. That way when doing corrections (yes I have done that too) they can stay focused on the grain rather than running.

 

[DAYMON]

To update, I took the hobbles off Saturday after I noticed one leg had come out. I haven't seen the calf nurse yet but he doesn't act interested in nursing when I put her in the chute and he looks and acts full. I went out this evening and she ran to the other side of the pen about 400 feet away I got the calf and put him on his side to check the band and when he bawled she came running and snorting at me and acted worried. So after that I decided to turn them out and watch them for a while I think everything is going to be ok though. Thanks for youralls help.

Daymon