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help with a 1st calver

S

strawking

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
125
Location
Hemingford, NE
Just got in from nursing this calf for the tenth day now. 1st calf hfr dumped her calf and ran and still wont claim him. I have tried everything I know so if anyone has something else I could try please let me know. Locked them up together, aced her, even took my dog in there with me tonight and she still don't care, just kicks him off until I lock.her in the calving pen and stand there and watch.
:mad: :mad:
 
For this case it sounds like the party is over. For me to prevent these things from happening just let nature take its course at calving. The least human interaction works of me. Its pretty risky but I let want them to calve away from the buildings out in the woods with other cattle and calves near by. Reciently the only times I had a issue was when I was near by. I have had more problems cows claiming calves when they have been up or if I had pulled them. Something I hope I do not have to do very oftern. Keeping the calves from freezing can be a porblem. Once they suck they are pretty tough unless you are in a big blizzard that would be a different stroy.
 
I have had some that will eventually come around in a few days. I have had some that won't take them at all and I make the bi*ch keep feeding the calf until I need it on some other cow. Then I take the calf away and the heifer will stand at the shed door and bawl when her bag gets tight. :mad:


But she gets a ride to town and becomes hamburger.
Frustrating, but a life is too short to keep putting up with mothers that won't be mothers.

Howdy
 
I think about all you can do now is to try hobbling her, so she can't kick the calf and then leaving them together in a pen. He will be able to suck, she won't be able to kick him or run away.

With 10 days behind you, I think you're out of luck though. Find a foster mom or bottle him would be your best bet.
 
When I have the occasional heifer that won't claim her calf and refuses to have anything to do with it they earn a free ride to town. I will bottle feed the calf before I will fight a cow to try to make her take a calf she is actively trying to kill. Mothering ability is so important that anything that doesn't have it immediately gets sent to town.
 
Whenever we have to have contact with the cow/calf at calving and even think that a problem may be looming, we use O-NO-MO. This works for grafting too. If the trouble continues for any reason the calf gets to go in the bum pen where we have some good jerseys that are more than willing. The calfs mother gets sorted off into the cull pasture and gets a free ride to town.
 
Well don't wanna sell the calf cuz I know as soon as I do I will loose one. Tried the o no mo. She licks it off but still kicks off the calf. Dont have any hobbles and the set I borrowed and tried she kicks off I was told they are more for horses than cows. I mean the style of hobble I tried still looking for a good set. Was thinking bout loading her up with oxytocin. I just read an article about how its a hormone that is released when the calf passes thru the pelvis and triggers the mothering instinct. I always use 1 cc to make a cow drop her milk just wondering if more would make her be a mother.

Just paid 1325 for her so I would prefer she would raise her calf. But if I loose a calf im sure she will be on the first bus putts here.
 
I make hobbles outa half a dozen strands of square baler twine--you gotta tie a knot that won't tighten, like a bowline. the easiest way to do it is have her in a chute, get a loop tied around each leg--above the ankles--then tie them togethor and get rid of the excess twine. Make sure you can get a finger under the loop easilly and be damned sure they can't get tighter.

This type of 'mothering' I don't have much sympathy for---i tie them plenty close togethor--probably less than a foot--- the hairs usually wore off by the time they're cut off. You can usually just walk up to them and cut them off w/o getting kicked, by the time they're ready.

Most cows will fight it, fall down, kick, etc---takes a bit of practice to savvy the deal---we had one last yr that musta been hobbled in previous life---she came outa the chute at a lope, did immediate 180, took the lil' woman, who was just ketchin third gear herself----and also musta interacted with this sweetie in an alternate universe---Carol A. was in mid leap, headed for the top rail and lookin like it might be a little short, when miss personality's haid caught mrs congenialitys rear and gave her just that perfect little added impetous that wus required---i really gotta start packin a camera....
 
littlejoe said:
I make hobbles outa half a dozen strands of square baler twine--you gotta tie a knot that won't tighten, like a bowline. the easiest way to do it is have her in a chute, get a loop tied around each leg--above the ankles--then tie them togethor and get rid of the excess twine. Make sure you can get a finger under the loop easilly and be damned sure they can't get tighter.

This type of 'mothering' I don't have much sympathy for---i tie them plenty close togethor--probably less than a foot--- the hairs usually wore off by the time they're cut off. You can usually just walk up to them and cut them off w/o getting kicked, by the time they're ready.

Most cows will fight it, fall down, kick, etc---takes a bit of practice to savvy the deal---we had one last yr that musta been hobbled in previous life---she came outa the chute at a lope, did immediate 180, took the lil' woman, who was just ketchin third gear herself----and also musta interacted with this sweetie in an alternate universe---Carol A. was in mid leap, headed for the top rail and lookin like it might be a little short, when miss personality's haid caught mrs congenialitys rear and gave her just that perfect little added impetous that wus required---i really gotta start packin a camera....
Click to expand...

You and I would get along fine with the handling of poor mothers. :wink:

I use lengths of braided poly rope in the same manner. A bowline can be untied and the rope hung back in the barn until the next b!+ch comes along. I have no patience for lackadaisical mothers or cows that kick because their bag is a little sore. Even if they end up raising the calf it is a one way ticket out of here.
 
Carol A. was in mid leap, headed for the top rail and lookin like it might be a little short, when miss personality's haid caught mrs congenialitys rear and gave her just that perfect little added impetous that wus required---i really gotta start packin a camera....


......And thats when the fight started.
 
Hay string hobbles work. Everytime that ol' sister kicks, it HURTS! They usually dont fight it very long. Oxycotin can work but isnt a sure thing. Good luck whichever way you go.
 
SOunds like you shouild jusst hush up and fix another bottle and move on...

Everyone who has animals has to nurse one at one time or another.....
 
We had one we haltered and had her hobbled for a month. Three times a day I would go and hold the halter rope and she'd let the calf suck. Finally one day she looked at the calf and decided to be a mother. Hope yours does'nt take that long.
 
Have one that will be gone as soon as she dries up. First calf. I waited 24 hr before I gave up on her. Refused it 4 days now.

Next on list is a chute.
 
littlejoe said:
I make hobbles outa half a dozen strands of square baler twine--you gotta tie a knot that won't tighten, like a bowline. the easiest way to do it is have her in a chute, get a loop tied around each leg--above the ankles--then tie them togethor and get rid of the excess twine. Make sure you can get a finger under the loop easilly and be damned sure they can't get tighter.

This type of 'mothering' I don't have much sympathy for---i tie them plenty close togethor--probably less than a foot--- the hairs usually wore off by the time they're cut off. You can usually just walk up to them and cut them off w/o getting kicked, by the time they're ready.

Most cows will fight it, fall down, kick, etc---takes a bit of practice to savvy the deal---we had one last yr that musta been hobbled in previous life---she came outa the chute at a lope, did immediate 180, took the lil' woman, who was just ketchin third gear herself----and also musta interacted with this sweetie in an alternate universe---Carol A. was in mid leap, headed for the top rail and lookin like it might be a little short, when miss personality's haid caught mrs congenialitys rear and gave her just that perfect little added impetous that wus required---i really gotta start packin a camera....
Click to expand...

I laughed out loud at that description of the (inter)action. . .
 
We have hobbled them, and then found an easier way.
Rope a hind foot and tie that foot up tight to the corral. We were lucky
and had a little creek that ran by for drinking water, so we
didn't have to pack water, just hay. Wait til she gives up trying to kick
the rope off and put the calf up to her. It doesn't take long
for the calf to know he can suck the cow. As each day goes by,
(or 2) you can give her just a little more slack, til the calf
can suck her any time. Then you can turn her loose. But I'm
with everyone else, get rid of her this fall if she raises this
calf. If you do keep her, keep a good eye on her next year,
as she might try the same thing.

We have a friend that gives Rompum and Oxycotin together and
he swears by that.

Good luck!
 
I know it sounds really dumb, but when my folks ran out of O-NO-MO (make sure you rub it into her nose and into her nostils too, some people don't) they used some cheap vanilla bathroom spray....the kind that shoots up into the air. Spray it all over the calf and up the cows nose. Just a suggestion. It worked so well for 'em they don't even buy the other stuff anymore :lol:
 
I have tried the half-hitched to a good post trick, and it came highly recomended. Two posts and the other end of the rope later I deduced this particular heifer wasn't a candidate. The calf sold to a nurse cow operation, the failure pounded out just below hard-bone with numerous scars on both back legs. Not my finest hour, as she was carrying my niece and nephew's brand.
I have seen strawkings heifer, and her attitude is familiar, without the kill-you look.
The short-legged to a good post deal should work every time, I've seen 48 hours do wonders.
I emphasize the word should.
 

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