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First year results of summer calving

We have used the Sandhills Calving System for about 5yrs. I have only doctored a handful of calves since we started. I think the most important thing to do is to make sure that your babies mate up when riding pairs. Generally we only have to pair up the newest calves for a couple of days when we are riding, then when they see you momma and baby start looking for each other. It also makes your pairs easier to move as well as heavies easier to move away. The real advantage to doing this is in the fall when you wean. A calf's immune system is directly effected by the amount of clostrum and ability to build immunity within the first days of his life. If he sucks right away and continues to suck regularly he will be healthy for the rest of his life. We do not hardly doctor sick calves around weaning time either. Did not make a difference in April calvers, June calvers or August-Sept. calvers. If they are handled right you will get the same results. We retain calves now they do not doctor any at the backgrounding lot either.
 
I think we would be more likely to tag at birth if we calved in the winter, in a corral the way we used to. Now it is easier to just process calves in a couple of bunches and tag them at the same time. DNA in the fall will sort out any parentage we are interested in and writing down tags from calves we are interested in or that have problems and their mother from the back of the horse in June is pretty nice (actually I email the information to myself from my Blackberry).
In thinking about it, most of our heifers and young cows calve in a Sandhills system, but simply because they are on rotational grazing. I don't think we have treated a case of scours in several years that I can think of, although I remember some winter time wrecks. I guess when the slave labour goes off to school, an easier way is good to find. :lol:
 
It doesn't get any better than this. These discussion groups are great.
I got some answers to my concerns about summer calving, tagging, and scours and on the same page I find out where there is a source of Mice Killing Chickens. I did not even know there was such an animal. :roll:
Keep up the good work.
 
LaramieRiverWrangler said:
It doesn't get any better than this. These discussion groups are great.
I got some answers to my concerns about summer calving, tagging, and scours and on the same page I find out where there is a source of Mice Killing Chickens. I did not even know there was such an animal. :roll:
Keep up the good work.
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:lol: Told you it was good stuff!
 
Can't help you with the coyotes but I have seen our chickens kill both mice and sparrows. Kind of funny, I never thought my chickens would be mousers, much less a better ones than that worthless eunuch that hangs around, sheds, and eats cat food. The are mostly buffs and RI Reds that I have seen going after other small living creatures.
 
rancherfred said:
Kind of funny, I never thought my chickens would be mousers, much less a better ones than that worthless eunuch that hangs around, sheds, and eats cat food.
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:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
flyingS said:
I'm kind of a chicken and I like to kill coyotes. The only thing that stops me is I am a damn poor shot, had to try a shotgun to see if I could actually get one. :D
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Kind of like the concert violinist that was lost in New York City

He asked a guitar playing street bum how to get to Carnegie Hall.

The bum hit a note on his guitar and said, "PRACTICE MAN, PRACTICE." :D
 
I came across this thread from a couple years back and have a question for Justin. Did you ever move your bull turnout date later or are you still at July 15th? With the storms you can get in April up in your area it got me wondering.
 
If BS was music you boys would have a brass band .
As far as the scour thing goes I think if you constantly bring new cattle to your herd you will always fight the bugs . We scour guard the spring calving cows , But havent the fall bunch so far the fall calvers no problems .
One time the nieghbor had 2 orphan calves bought them over & I put them on cows , those 2 calves never were sick . but that deal killed a bunch of other calves .

& yes wolves will clean up your coyote problem for sure

Good reading , you guys .
 
I went and helped my son on the ranch he works on the last couple days. We gathered and shipped the calves. These are moderate black angus cows that start calving about April 15. Cows looked great and the calves did also. One string of steers weighed almost 700 pounds and another weighed almost 600. Sold like hotcakes. They have been feeding a few cubes the last month or so and have lots of grass left. Sure looks like they did a good deal. he usually keeps all calves over for yearlings but couldn't pass up these prices and is getting ready for the next drought that will be coming along.

I am thinking of turning in the b8uulss a bit later myself. We start about the same time but am thinking to drop back to 25 of April and see how it goes and maybe keep doing so until we end up about the first to mid May. Just kind of early fall calvers. :D
 

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