tagging tips

[rjk]

Don't have many cows, and I try to tag asap. Sometimes I can tag right there, couple of time I've had to look for cover, (hope if someone tries to steal a calf they pick one of them). What seems to work best is watching where they leave calf and usually after feeding them and closing gate behind me, I am fortunate enough to ease up on them and tag and blackleg.
Since I can get most of them this way, what I have left is not hard to fix when they get worked.

Used to band at same time, and probably should, but lost one born in July one year, approximately 1-2 weeks after banding. When I found it, coyotes had beaten me to it. An experienced cowhand thought it could have been infection or something related to banding in the warm weather. What are your thoughts?

 

[Daybreak]

Howdy,
I get onto the calves as soon as possible. Usaully they still might be a little wet, but, I will tag, shot of Bo-Se, iodine, and weigh, then let momma have the calf back. Out into the pasture in the gator with shot, and tagger ready. Most times the cow leaves me alone, sometimes I have to use the calf as a shield, and othertimes, I have to forgo the usual practice and move the momma and calf towards a smaller yard and chute area.. (sometimes that is because the turkey buzzards have already bothered her. 99% of the time, I tag and do everything in the pasture by myself.

 

[CWT Angus]

We tag, iodine & Bo-Se & weigh right away too. Mama usually leaves them after a while when they're sleeping & I can walk right up to them. As long as you can keep the calf from bawling Mom will leave me alone- so I tag last. Sometimes I park the mule between me & mama & throw her a tub of grain just to buy myself a few extra seconds if needed. Most of our girls are very good & I don't think we will have to do the mule trick this year. Sold that one.