Worst pull ever

[coachg]

Been watching a cow for a week or more . Thought she was in labor and checked her 3 times one day . Holding tail up but no other signs of labor . Have checked her twice a day for a week . She was in our big pasture and it’s a pain to catch one out of there . Found her this morning with feet showing. 16 degrees with a wind chill in the single digits . She cooperated and walked straight to the catch lot across 80 acres ! Son did an awesome job of getting chains on the head and then on the front legs . Hair already slipping on the calf . Big bull calf . Worst pull I’ve been in on all my years . I’ll be gun shy now on finding cows in labor . I’ll want to get them up at the first sign of labor . Loaded cow up with antibiotics and didn’t pinch her , so we’ll see if she makes it . Bad enough losing a calf but losing a cow would be a double whammy . On the positive side had a new calf out of a second calf cow . First calf out of my new bull . Put him in with the first calf heifers thinking they wouldn’t cycle back to quick after calving. This gal bred back a month after calving. Guess that means she was in good physical condition. Won’t do that one again !

 

[Rafter S]

I'm sorry to hear about that. Pulling a calf isn't fun under any circumstances, but it's especially disheartening when you know the calf is dead.

 

[Warren Allison]

Been watching a cow for a week or more . Thought she was in labor and checked her 3 times one day . Holding tail up but no other signs of labor . Have checked her twice a day for a week . She was in our big pasture and it’s a pain to catch one out of there . Found her this morning with feet showing. 16 degrees with a wind chill in the single digits . She cooperated and walked straight to the catch lot across 80 acres ! Son did an awesome job of getting chains on the head and then on the front legs . Hair already slipping on the calf . Big bull calf . Worst pull I’ve been in on all my years . I’ll be gun shy now on finding cows in labor . I’ll want to get them up at the first sign of labor . Loaded cow up with antibiotics and didn’t pinch her , so we’ll see if she makes it . Bad enough losing a calf but losing a cow would be a double whammy . On the positive side had a new calf out of a second calf cow . First calf out of my new bull . Put him in with the first calf heifers thinking they wouldn’t cycle back to quick after calving. This gal bred back a month after calving. Guess that means she was in good physical condition. Won’t do that one again !

Sucks that it had to be a day like today, too. I have't had to pull a calf from a cow of mine in over 30 years (because they have been Corrientes or other Criolo type) . But around here most people calved year round, and I remember the days of the cow-killer, pallet-headed Charolais and Simmental bulls, that people put on their little 800 lb Angus and Hereford cows 50+ years ago. Seems that any time there was a calving problem, was on cold winter nights with rain, or sleet, and high winds! I could just about count on getting a call from my granddaddy or a neighbor, on a night like we are having tonight! About the same time, late '60s, people also started using Brahma bulls around here, and I don't recall ever having to pull one of those. In the early 70's. Char and Simm cows started showing up around here, and people bred them to their Angus or Hereford bulls, (and one neighbor used his Brahma bull on them). I don't remember ever having to help pull any of those either. Man, I got a chill just thinking about having to go outside tonight!

 

[Brute 23]

So who is hitting the road? Bull or cow?

 

[Travlr]

Been watching a cow for a week or more . Thought she was in labor and checked her 3 times one day . Holding tail up but no other signs of labor . Have checked her twice a day for a week . She was in our big pasture and it’s a pain to catch one out of there . Found her this morning with feet showing. 16 degrees with a wind chill in the single digits . She cooperated and walked straight to the catch lot across 80 acres ! Son did an awesome job of getting chains on the head and then on the front legs . Hair already slipping on the calf . Big bull calf . Worst pull I’ve been in on all my years . I’ll be gun shy now on finding cows in labor . I’ll want to get them up at the first sign of labor . Loaded cow up with antibiotics and didn’t pinch her , so we’ll see if she makes it . Bad enough losing a calf but losing a cow would be a double whammy . On the positive side had a new calf out of a second calf cow . First calf out of my new bull . Put him in with the first calf heifers thinking they wouldn’t cycle back to quick after calving. This gal bred back a month after calving. Guess that means she was in good physical condition. Won’t do that one again !

If the hair is slipping the calf is already starting to swell up. Lucky you even got it out.

 

[coachg]

So who is hitting the road? Bull or cow?

If she lives , it’ll be her . Genetics must have just clicked for a big calf ? She’s had 3 from this bull with no issues.

 

[coachg]

If the hair is slipping the calf is already starting to swell up. Lucky you even got it out.

Head and front shoulders were not so bad but but the body and rear quarters were a trick . Son was patient with the pull . I’ve seen folks crank them out and the cow be paralyzed in the back hips . If infection doesn’t get her I think she’ll be ok .

 

[mwj]

The other problem is the lack of lubrication and dilation. That calf is dry and there is a lot of friction.

Patience pays dividends in those cases. I hope a round of antibiotics clears the cow up.

 

[Dave]

I had one 11 years ago. Had to pick up a friend and take him to the hospital for a hip replacement. Went out to feed in the dark. Something smelled. I shined the flashlight on a cow in the corral. I could see a head sticking out. Ran her into the chute and gloved up. The first big piece was followed by about 10 gallons of terrible smelling liquid which splashed all over me and the chute (my chute was brand new, first cow in it) I kept reaching in and pulling out pieces. Gave her a blast of antibiotics. Ran to the house for a quick shower and clean clothes. Drove like I was in the Daytona 500. Got my friend to the hospital in time. About a week later my friend and I both came down with pneumonia which I am sure we caught at the hospital. A very miserable Christmas that year. It was a young cow. I poured the corn to her for about 90 days and a couple of down and out friends ate her. They said it was good beef.

 

[coachg]

On her feet this morning eating hay and I gave her some feed . Had to bring a cooler of water from the house. She was drinking and eating so a night of not much sleep was not necessary. More optimistic about her recovery.

 

[Rafter S]

. . . Seems that any time there was a calving problem, was on cold winter nights with rain, or sleet, and high winds!

The same was true back when I had a rent pasture beside FM 362 about people running through the fence. I remember one time I had to patch the fence, and I reached out to the guy's insurance company about compensation.

The nice lady I talked to on the phone asked several questions that led me to believe people sometimes exaggerate the value of their fence in similar situations. I answered them as honestly as I could, and she asked me to send her an itemized list of my expenses.

I did that, with modest figures for posts and wire, but then put down a pretty good dollar amount for "fixing fence in drizzling rain on Christmas Eve."

I got a check for the full amount, with no more questions asked.

 

[coachg]

Here’s my freezing cold newborn on day two . Another reason my sleeping wasn’t the best last night ! Mom was on one side of the fence and he was on the other . Took me going back after church to get them together. But the reunion was worth it ! Don’t know how you northern and western folks do the cold . We don’t get it often but when we do there always seems to be one born or like yesterday; pulling a dead calf and a live one born unexpectedly.

 

[coachg]

Here’s the sire ; pic taken last summer.

 

[coachg]

Brangus calf ; son put out hay Saturday when it was so cold . Guess he didn’t count heads .