A couple comments come to mind on this problem of folks asking for advice and never or delayed posting back:
I ask a questions on things, check back often to see if there are replies, but I do not always post an immediate thankyou as I hate to be the one to bump the post back up to the top of the list when I haven't really added anything new of interest to take folks time to open and read it.... My request for advice on shipping beef is an example. I look at it often for replies but don't say thank you and bump it up to the top without adding some new information. I will say thank you to all replies when it looks like there won't be any more.
I heartily agree that on these "sick calf" posts it would be interesting to see what course of action was taken and the result. However from some friends' experience, these types of dairy bull calf/bottle calf situations often result in a dead calf, almost regardless of action taken and the original poster is hesitant to post admitting the animal died. I think this might be understandable.
A thank you is certainly deserved for most of the advice offerred here.
And to Kay - about some of the posters on here as beginners offerring advice shortly thereafter....
Many of the "beginners" posting on here may be new to this board but are not beginners at all and may have good often different viewpoints and advice to offer. And some true beginners in cattle may in fact have much other agricultural experience to offer. And beginners with some relevant recent experience, good or bad, can help other beginners too.
As long as this is a 'clear your chest' thread, what really irritates me is when someone makes a post with NO indication at all of their geographic location! Even if its just pictures of some new heifers, etc, almost everything in agriculture is somewhat "site-specific". Advice which applies in Texas or Florida may be very different from advice for Minnesota, Wisconsin or Alberta. I just don't understand why people can't put at least a state somewhere in their post or avitar.
I have received some very useful information here from many of you experienced cattle folks. For example on bull management in a small herd from Angie. It saved me from selling a very good bull. I have contributed some new experience such as drilling red clover into existing sod and its positive effects as the weather and pastures dried up this past summer.
Most of the advice received here is applicable but some good advice just doesn't fit my situation. But we can learn from both. Thank you for both kinds.