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Pulling a calf, March 8, 2009

Soapweed

Well-known member
Cuddlingcats.jpg

Cuddling cats
KosmoKidkoncentratingonkaptchuringa.jpg

Kosmo Kid koncentrating on kapturing a kalf
IfoundaSunflowerbloominginacoldcalv.jpg

Lucky me--I found a delightful Sunflower blooming in a cold calving barn.
Runningthecrank.jpg

Running the crank
HereIcomereadyornot.jpg

Here I come, ready or not
Ifeellikeafiremanslidingdownthepole.jpg

I feel like a fireman, sliding down the pole.
Onthegroundandrearintogo.jpg

On the ground and rearin' to go
Goingdownthehallwaytothenewmotelroo.jpg

Going down the hallway to the motel room
 

WyomingRancher

Well-known member
I like your calf puller... doesn't look like you can get your fingers and OB gloves pinched in it, and I'll bet you can always get it released :wink: .
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
WyomingRancher said:
I like your calf puller... doesn't look like you can get your fingers and OB gloves pinched in it, and I'll bet you can always get it released :wink: .

This calf puller isn't fancy, but it is the kind I like best to use. You control it from the far end and have some leverage to keep the cow lined out straight with the world. I prefer the cranking "boat winch" to a come-along style winch with a lever, because it is easier to obtain slack when you need it. I bought my original used calf puller for $25 at a farm sale years ago. We have one like it in each of our two main calving barns, but they are updated and modified by my welder son.
 

Soapweed

Well-known member
leanin' H said:
Looks like the calf was doing good after the assisted arrival. What did it weigh?

Not sure, but the young cow seemed to be taking too long to have it. We really have hardly pulled any calves this spring--probably four or five percent on the heifers, and this was the only cow. This does not count several backwards calves and a couple with their feet back.
 

gcreekrch

Well-known member
Our calf puller rarely gets taken off the wall. We use a braided poly rope about 25 ft long. Bowline at the chain, turn the cow into the alley of the barn, rope around a post and through the eye of the bowline. This way if the cow wants to lie down she can do so without dogfalling in the headgate. It releases way faster than a puller if you get in a bind. Lots of times the cow will pull her own calf. :D
 
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