When you are cutting calves by yourself

[dj]

How do you hold their tails back over. Tried a come 2 me and a series of half hitchs around the tail. That managed to leave them looking rat tailed (no hair). Now I am hobbling their legs.
That's just a so-so solution.
I have seen cable pulls that look something like the old chinese finger traps. One end open and the other gathered to a pulling link. You smash it together to open it and pull it to tighten around what your wanting to pull. Anyone know what you call these things and where you would find one? Wal-Mart isn't helping.

 

[jcarkie]

that is why i do them when they are 1-2 days old. i can hold them, i do almost everything by myself.

 

[Bez!]

How do you hold their tails back over. Tried a come 2 me and a series of half hitchs around the tail. That managed to leave them looking rat tailed (no hair). Now I am hobbling their legs.
That's just a so-so solution.
I have seen cable pulls that look something like the old chinese finger traps. One end open and the other gathered to a pulling link. You smash it together to open it and pull it to tighten around what your wanting to pull. Anyone know what you call these things and where you would find one? Wal-Mart isn't helping.

Here I go - about to jump on you- but all with your best interest at heart.

Anyone who works cattle by himself and does not have the correct infrastrucutre in place, or does not work cattle at an age that they are easily handled - very young - is simply asking for trouble.

I would suggest the following:

1. Change the way you operate unless you plan on potentially visiting the hospital.
2. Work the cattle with help from a neighbour.
3. Get a decent pen / chute and squeeze set up in place so you can operate on any animal safely by yourself.

As for Wal-Mart helping - I have been in the biz for about 45 years and your description does nothing for me - so I am not surprized the part timers from the city have no friggin idea.

Why not BUILD yourself at least a small chute that you can run your animals in. Put a gate at each end and now you got him / her trapped.

Cheap, safe, effective and even a village idiot can put it up in a day.

I know - that is how we started out.

Do not know how big these animals are, but you can cut them standing up -we do it all the time - no need to lay them down.

You wrassle a calf of any size by yourself - or tie it to a post with a rope - or however you do it - and work them - you are an accident that has found the place and now it is looking for the right time to happen.

Bez!

 

[Hereford/Pinz Guy]

My grandpa always puts the calf laying down and has someone sit on its head holding its front feet. Then he steps on a hind one and bends over and does the job.

BTW: Bez I found your post a little rude. Anybody can raise cattle, most just need help.

Roger

 

[mitchwi]

My grandpa always puts the calf laying down and has someone sit on its head holding its front feet. Then he steps on a hind one and bends over and does the job.

BTW: Bez I found your post a little rude. Anybody can raise cattle, most just need help.

Roger

Did you not read the caveat Bez posted first off?

 

[Bez!]

xx

 

[Bez!]

My grandpa always puts the calf laying down and has someone sit on its head holding its front feet. Then he steps on a hind one and bends over and does the job.

BTW: Bez I found your post a little rude. Anybody can raise cattle, most just need help.

Roger

No, not everyone can raise 'em. Yes most need help - some will take it and some will not.

Further more - your Gramps was obviously a man who knew cattle - he has someone sit on the calf. Hmm ... working young animals and not alone. Does that say something?

Perhaps you need to read the title of this thread?

Did not like my tone?

Then move along - or take it to pm.

Bez!

 

[msscamp]

How do you hold their tails back over. Tried a come 2 me and a series of half hitchs around the tail. That managed to leave them looking rat tailed (no hair). Now I am hobbling their legs.
That's just a so-so solution.
I have seen cable pulls that look something like the old chinese finger traps. One end open and the other gathered to a pulling link. You smash it together to open it and pull it to tighten around what your wanting to pull. Anyone know what you call these things and where you would find one? Wal-Mart isn't helping.

1. Change the way you operate unless you plan on potentially visiting the hospital.

Bez!

If you're that lucky - Dad was cutting bulls one day with help, the bull jumped, the knife slipped and cut a major artery in his arm. Had he been trying to do it alone he would be dead today.

 

[dj]

msscamps
I'm glad your dad made it alright.
Bez'
Thank you friend for your concern.
Let me clarify some. I could cut at day 1 when I tag. But like to let them get 4-5 mo.s my perference. They are in a head gate. I can hobble each leg to the outside of chute. I have overhead suspension available. I was just kidding about Wal-Mart 8). Sorry my description didn't do anything for you.
But it's time to think outside the box here. I didn't say I had seen this in the cattle industry. But I have seen a wire mesh apparatus that slipped over cables would tighten down to squeeze on the cable so you could pull tension on it.
Now instead of the cable think of a calfs tail. This helping any?
I haven't been in the business 40 yrs, but I have seen things advertised to assist in this very way or similiar. Just can't remember who or where.

 

[msscamp]

msscamps
I'm glad your dad made it alright.
Bez'
Thank you friend for your concern.
Let me clarify some. I could cut at day 1 when I tag. But like to let them get 4-5 mo.s my perference. They are in a head gate. I can hobble each leg to the outside of chute. I have overhead suspension available. I was just kidding about Wal-Mart 8). Sorry my description didn't do anything for you.
But it's time to think outside the box here. I didn't say I had seen this in the cattle industry. But I have seen a wire mesh apparatus that slipped over cables would tighten down to squeeze on the cable so you could pull tension on it.
Now instead of the cable think of a calfs tail. This helping any?
I haven't been in the business 40 yrs, but I have seen things advertised to assist in this very way or similiar. Just can't remember who or where.

In my humble opinion, no one has any business trying to knife castrate 4-5 month old calves alone - there are too many things that can go wrong and cost a life, and I'm not talking about the calves. But I'm just a woman and, therefore, know nothing.

 

[Bez!]

msscamps
I'm glad your dad made it alright.
Bez'
Thank you friend for your concern.
Let me clarify some. I could cut at day 1 when I tag. But like to let them get 4-5 mo.s my perference. They are in a head gate. I can hobble each leg to the outside of chute. I have overhead suspension available. I was just kidding about Wal-Mart 8). Sorry my description didn't do anything for you.
But it's time to think outside the box here. I didn't say I had seen this in the cattle industry. But I have seen a wire mesh apparatus that slipped over cables would tighten down to squeeze on the cable so you could pull tension on it.
Now instead of the cable think of a calfs tail. This helping any?
I haven't been in the business 40 yrs, but I have seen things advertised to assist in this very way or similiar. Just can't remember who or where.

In my humble opinion, no one has any business trying to knife castrate 4-5 month old calves alone - there are too many things that can go wrong and cost a life, and I'm not talking about the calves. But I'm just a woman and, therefore, know nothing.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

And do not ever forget that msscamp!

8)

Yeah, it can get a little crazy - but with the right infrastructure it can be done.

Just keep the cell phone right handy and a bit of duct tape to close up any cuts!

I figure you know a thing or two.

Bez!

 

[dj]

msscamps you are correct. about all of it but the knowing nothing part.

Bez' duct tapes old school. now next to the scapel is a new tube of super glue.

Anyone else seen my dream machine? I would swear I've seen this someplace.

 

[Bez!]

msscamps you are correct. about all of it but the knowing nothing part.

Bez' duct tapes old school. now next to the scapel is a new tube of super glue.

Yeah, but that stuff scares me - and I am old enough to be old school - what happens if I get it on my lips - wife will not have to listen to me for at least a week.

On a positive note, I might drop a few pounds.

Anyone else seen my dream machine? I would swear I've seen this someplace.

Still have no idea what you are talking about - be sure to let us in on this when you figure it out.

 

[msscamp]

msscamps
I'm glad your dad made it alright.
Bez'
Thank you friend for your concern.
Let me clarify some. I could cut at day 1 when I tag. But like to let them get 4-5 mo.s my perference. They are in a head gate. I can hobble each leg to the outside of chute. I have overhead suspension available. I was just kidding about Wal-Mart 8). Sorry my description didn't do anything for you.
But it's time to think outside the box here. I didn't say I had seen this in the cattle industry. But I have seen a wire mesh apparatus that slipped over cables would tighten down to squeeze on the cable so you could pull tension on it.
Now instead of the cable think of a calfs tail. This helping any?
I haven't been in the business 40 yrs, but I have seen things advertised to assist in this very way or similiar. Just can't remember who or where.

In my humble opinion, no one has any business trying to knife castrate 4-5 month old calves alone - there are too many things that can go wrong and cost a life, and I'm not talking about the calves. But I'm just a woman and, therefore, know nothing.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

And do not ever forget that msscamp!

8)

Bez!

 

[msscamp]

msscamps you are correct. about all of it but the knowing nothing part.

Bez' duct tapes old school. now next to the scapel is a new tube of super glue.

Anyone else seen my dream machine? I would swear I've seen this someplace.

Thank you, dj, I appreciate that very much. Duct tape might be old school, but it still has a whole lot of uses, including the possibility of saving your life! ;-) No, I can't say as I've seen your dream machine. What is it?

 

[msscamp]

My grandpa always puts the calf laying down and has someone sit on its head holding its front feet. Then he steps on a hind one and bends over and does the job.

BTW: Bez I found your post a little rude. Anybody can raise cattle, most just need help.

Roger

Bez! was right on the money, and I would have to argue with your comment about 'anybody can raise cattle', as I know it to be false.

 

[Big D]

Dj, for holding the tail out of the way we mounted a clamp from an old set of jumper cables to the top brace of our chute. Works great for cutting bulls or pulling a calf.

 

[dj]

Thank you, dj, I appreciate that very much. Duct tape might be old school, but it still has a whole lot of uses, including the possibility of saving your life! ;-) No, I can't say as I've seen your dream machine. What is it?

It's purpose is to replace the person that is pulling the tail over their backs. It uses a wench. Boat or come-a-long I can't remember. The wench is fastened securely(2 xtra wraps of baling twine :lol: ) to the frame of your chute. Somehow they attached the other end to the victims tail. Wench it up tight and it supposed to hold them as well as a person holding the tail. Now I can finger out a wench system. But what will hold the tail without stripping all the hair off, like my half hitches.
Thats when I thought of the old chinese finger pull thingy.
Only it would have to be shiney stainless steel with a place to mount some chicken lights. And maybe one of the new ballsy
bumper ornaments. :shock:

 

[dj]

Big D
Thanks that does sound pretty handy.

 

[Hereford/Pinz Guy]

My grandpa always puts the calf laying down and has someone sit on its head holding its front feet. Then he steps on a hind one and bends over and does the job.

BTW: Bez I found your post a little rude. Anybody can raise cattle, most just need help.

Roger

Bez! was right on the money, and I would have to argue with your comment about 'anybody can raise cattle', as I know it to be false.

Most anyone can raise cattle. They are not "hard" to raise. If you can get some one to help sure it is better, but plenty of people make it on their own.