Still a beginner?

[9 ER]

I will always be a "hobby boy", but I was wondering if I have graduated from a "beginner" to a "novice" yet? My resume includes building corall and chute, put new fence up, buying a stock trailer, buying 4 heifers and making arrangements to have them bred to low BW bull, had them palpated, purchased hay and minerals, spraying and fertalizing my pasture after getting back soil sample analysis, battled navel ill and administered shots, and I currently have calves on the ground.

 

[warpaint]

9 ER,

Been messin with livestock all my life, and still learn something new everyday. I guess I'll always be a beginner. :cboy:

 

[MikeC]

I will always be a "hobby boy", but I was wondering if I have graduated from a "beginner" to a "novice" yet? My resume includes building corall and chute, put new fence up, buying a stock trailer, buying 4 heifers and making arrangements to have them bred to low BW bull, had them palpated, purchased hay and minerals, spraying and fertalizing my pasture after getting back soil sample analysis, battled navel ill and administered shots, and I currently have calves on the ground.

You now classify as "Novice" 4th Class. Check back with us when you have your first Prolapse. That will get you to 3rd class. ;-)

 

[cypressfarms]

Guess this another potshot at Caustic, but I could be wrong.

9 ER, the good thing about this board is that you can take what you need and go from there. No one knows everything. Any person that pretends to is putting up a front. I believe firmly that each and every day we all need to learn something.

As to which level belt (karate) you are, you can put on any belt you like. The proof is when you get down and have to do something or lose the calf and cow (like pulling a calf for example). Only you will know that if you were good enough or not. I will say one thing though; it is a very good feeling to know that by stepping in, you can save a calf/cow etc. and you can also save money as well!

And there is no worse feeling when your ignorance caused a calf to die. (I speak from experience on this one)

 

[Susie David]

We're born again beginners, learn something new all the time.
When you don't get excited by a runny nose and matted eye or a sporatic cough and know the difference between fresh grass manure squirts and scours and have been up to the shoulder in a cow you can put on another merit badge.
Learn all that you can, keep a clean farm, keep up on the vaccinations, good feed, clean fresh water and know what's normal bovine behavior and you should be all right. Dmc

 

[backhoeboogie]

9er,

They can call me what they want. I know what I know and don't have to establish a rough/tough image to be somebody.

I was reared by a long line of cattlemen. None of them tried to be rough and tough. They already were.

Truth is, all you have to do is tell these name callers to put their money where there mouth is. If you were to buy out three of four of them, pay off all the debts on their farms, they'd still be calling you a wannabe etc.

The truth doesn't hurt one iota. I am who I am - and darn proud of it. I'll always try to do a little better.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

9ER, I guess you're getting there. I think I will alwyas be a beginner/novice/whatever. After 23 years, on and off, I am constantly learning new things. I guess I've earned a load of "merit badges" as Dave Mc puts it. Pulled calves, lost calves, cows stuck, cows loose,culled cows, shot calves, built/repair fences, corrals, alley, put up headgates, bottle calves, hauled cows, pasture rotation, mowed-raked-baled-picked up-stacked hay,made mineral feeders,built feed troughs, sync'd for AI, scours, changed tires,banded, castrated, tagged, vaccinated, been bunted-bumped-stepped on,dealt with pink-eye,lice etc. And I still have much to learn and experience. If I live to be 150, I am sure there are things I will not experience, nor will I have learned all there is....but I keep at it.
Keep up the good work.

Katherine

 

[Bret]

My mentor is a close friend, Veterinarian, Purdue Grad (him, not I) with two five way heart bypasses and if you tied all of the long plastic gloves together that he has inserted into the green cattle canyon they would stretch a far piece. I asked him one day how long I would be a greenhorn. He told me that he is still a greenhorn.

 

[dun]

My mentor is a close friend, Veterinarian, Purdue Grad (him, not I) with two five way heart bypasses and if you tied all of the long plastic gloves together that he has inserted into the green cattle canyon they would stretch a far piece. I asked him one day how long I would be a greenhorn. He told me that he is still a greenhorn.

He has the "most correct" answer of all

dun

 

[flaboy+]

You know, they say a cow is a dumb animal but they teach me something new almost everyday I work with them.

 

[9 ER]

Novice 4th class huh? I'll take it. I was hoping that maybe I was moving up the ladder step by step, but it seems that ladder never stops. Yesterday, I also had to cut the placenta away that was dragging the ground. Would have never known what to do if not for this site and all the helpful people here. 90% of everything I know(which aint much) about cattle and grass I learned from here. I know there is still lots to learn and that I will never know enough.

I would like to stay at novice 4th class. No desire to deal with prolapse.

 

[MikeC]

Novice 4th class huh? I'll take it. I was hoping that maybe I was moving up the ladder step by step, but it seems that ladder never stops. Yesterday, I also had to cut the placenta away that was dragging the ground. Would have never known what to do if not for this site and all the helpful people here. 90% of everything I know(which aint much) about cattle and grass I learned from here. I know there is still lots to learn and that I will never know enough.

I would like to stay at novice 4th class. No desire to deal with prolapse.

Yesterday, I also had to cut the placenta away that was dragging the ground.

You have been "Busted". Why cut it loose? The weight of the placenta hanging out would have helped it fall out on it's own. Now that you've taken that away she will have to strain harder.

Back to "Beginner" for you. ;-)

 

[9 ER]

Come on Mike, Demoted already? I cut it because it was dragging the ground and could have got caught on something and tore the inside of the cow before it was ready. I read a topic here where most agreed that you shouldnt pull it out, that you should let it hang and the weight would do the rest. The only exception was if it was dragging the ground, then you should cut it off.
Was I wrong?

 

[Bez!]

Come on Mike, Demoted already? I cut it because it was dragging the ground and could have got caught on something and tore the inside of the cow before it was ready. I read a topic here where most agreed that you shouldnt pull it out, that you should let it hang and the weight would do the rest. The only exception was if it was dragging the ground, then you should cut it off.
Was I wrong?

Yup - you were wrong.

Many millions of cattle in the field with no calving assistance prove the best is to just leave it be.

Never saw the thread you mentioned or I would have been with the "let it drag" crowd.

Bez!

 

[dun]

Come on Mike, Demoted already? I cut it because it was dragging the ground and could have got caught on something and tore the inside of the cow before it was ready. I read a topic here where most agreed that you shouldnt pull it out, that you should let it hang and the weight would do the rest. The only exception was if it was dragging the ground, then you should cut it off.
Was I wrong?

If it's dragging tie it up to itself about hock high.

dun

 

[Texan]

My resume includes building corall and chute, put new fence up, buying a stock trailer, buying 4 heifers and making arrangements to have them bred to low BW bull, had them palpated, purchased hay and minerals, spraying and fertalizing my pasture after getting back soil sample analysis, battled navel ill and administered shots, and I currently have calves on the ground.

I'd say that's a pretty good resume, Coach. You'll have to run some laps for the afterbirth deal, but you're showing a lot of progress. Keep up the good work. ;-)

 

[J-CCCC]

I'd have to agree with Dun tie it up about hock high and let nature take its course. My most recent placenta hanger carried it several days and finally stepped on it with a front hoof while walking backward in the alley. Everything came out okay but I like tying it up.

If it hangs for a couple of weeks, or if she's straining for long periods after carrying it that long or if there is a fever or obvious infection contact a vet.

Jay

 

[MikeC]

My resume includes building corall and chute, put new fence up, buying a stock trailer, buying 4 heifers and making arrangements to have them bred to low BW bull, had them palpated, purchased hay and minerals, spraying and fertalizing my pasture after getting back soil sample analysis, battled navel ill and administered shots, and I currently have calves on the ground.

I'd say that's a pretty good resume, Coach. You'll have to run some laps for the afterbirth deal, but you're showing a lot of progress. Keep up the good work. ;-)

Not too many laps there Coach Texan. He's a good kid with lots of spunk. I see potential. Might need him over here for some "OJT" training from time to time to work out the minor kinks, but overall, I think he'll make a "Master Cattleman" in about say........................20-30 years. ;-) ;-)

 

[cypressfarms]

Might need him over here for some "OJT" training from time to time to work out the minor kinks ;-) ;-)

Don't do it 9 ER, it's a trap!!!

 

[MikeC]

Might need him over here for some "OJT" training from time to time to work out the minor kinks ;-) ;-)

Don't do it 9 ER, it's a trap!!!

YOU stay outa this Cypress! Every cattleman needs to have put up a few square bales! The education and diploma wouldn't be complete without it. :lol: