What an F’ing day... the life of a part time rancher...

[unclebilly]

This morning while I was at physiotherapy for my knee (post ACL / MCL reconstruction), we had our first calf of the year... that went well without intervention.

I worked from home all morning and at lunch was out checking on the new calf and inspecting the harrowing job my 10 years old son did on our hayfield...

I didn’t notice that our lead cow had buggered off into the north 1/4...

I went to work in the afternoon to take care of some stuff that had to be face to face.

I was on a call when my wife texted me and said that the lead cow was missing... Then came the call that she had twins and both were dead... one was still warm but dead none the less.

Both looked ok, it’s unclear if they drowned in the amniotic sack, or needed their nose membrane poked, or if they were born dead (I don’t think so).

Before I left work, I already had a deal on a replacement calf (also born today) from a dairy that breeds their dairy cows to beef breeds. As I was driving home, my wife and son loaded the dead calves into the back of my truck and got the momma cow to follow them up to the yard. I got home, took the truck and headed off on the 75 minute drive to get this new calf. On little calves, I find it’s easy to hog tie them with duct tape and transport them home IN the cab of the truck wrapped in a tarp which is what I did tonight.

We got him home, gave him his shots and an ear tag. We rubbed him with the amniotic sack and stuff from the dead calves and put him in with momma. She is interested in him, has sniffed him a bunch and they are mooing back and forth at each other. Tomorrow we will see how things go, I’m hoping to NOT intervene but we will see.

I am presenting at a conference (virtual) in the morning and then have some ranch stuff to do...

Starting tomorrow, all the cows are locked in the calving pen... pretty sure this one shouldn’t have been due for another couple weeks.

The life of a part time rancher. Oh and I missed fire fighter practice tonight sorting this all out.

[Nostril Cheese]

Thats interesting. I didnt realize you could trick a cow like that. What are you plans for the calf?

[wdfifteen]

Reminds me of growing up on the farm. Seems there was no such thing as a normal day. I thought it was fun but my parents couldn’t hack it.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Thats interesting. I didnt realize you could trick a cow like that. What are you plans for the calf?

Some farmers skin the dead calf and tie the skin onto the orphan... too grisly for me.

We have had good luck forcing them together (mom in head gate and back legs chained so it can’t kick the baby) a couple times a day. After a few days, the baby takes on the mommas smell and they are hooked up. We have only once had it not work out, coincidentally with this cows mom.

Calf will get nutted and dehorned and be sold as a steer calf in Oct / Nov.

[oldE]

Sorry for the miserable start to calving. Glad you had an alternate for momma.
One day at a time is the best you can do.

Best
Les

[Baz]

RIP little dogies.....

[masraum]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Some farmers skin the dead calf and tie the skin onto the orphan... too grisly for me.

We have had good luck forcing them together (mom in head gate and back legs chained so it can’t kick the baby) a couple times a day. After a few days, the baby takes on the mommas smell and they are hooked up. We have only once had it not work out, coincidentally with this cows mom.

Calf will get nutted and dehorned and be sold as a steer calf in Oct / Nov.

That's nasty!

I like your method much more.

[Wetwork]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

This morning while I was at physiotherapy for my knee (post ACL / MCL reconstruction), we had our first calf of the year... that went well without intervention.

I worked from home all morning and at lunch was out checking on the new calf and inspecting the harrowing job my 10 years old son did on our hayfield...

I didn’t notice that our lead cow had buggered off into the north 1/4...

I went to work in the afternoon to take care of some stuff that had to be face to face.

I was on a call when my wife texted me and said that the lead cow was missing... Then came the call that she had twins and both were dead... one was still warm but dead none the less.

Both looked ok, it’s unclear if they drowned in the amniotic sack, or needed their nose membrane poked, or if they were born dead (I don’t think so).

Before I left work, I already had a deal on a replacement calf (also born today) from a dairy that breeds their dairy cows to beef breeds. As I was driving home, my wife and son loaded the dead calves into the back of my truck and got the momma cow to follow them up to the yard. I got home, took the truck and headed off on the 75 minute drive to get this new calf. On little calves, I find it’s easy to hog tie them with duct tape and transport them home IN the cab of the truck wrapped in a tarp which is what I did tonight.

We got him home, gave him his shots and an ear tag. We rubbed him with the amniotic sack and stuff from the dead calves and put him in with momma. She is interested in him, has sniffed him a bunch and they are mooing back and forth at each other. Tomorrow we will see how things go, I’m hoping to NOT intervene but we will see.

I am presenting at a conference (virtual) in the morning and then have some ranch stuff to do...

Starting tomorrow, all the cows are locked in the calving pen... pretty sure this one shouldn’t have been due for another couple weeks.

The life of a part time rancher. Oh and I missed fire fighter practice tonight sorting this all out.

Another trick of the trade...WD-40. We put the cow in a stall, hose her face with WD40, then hose down the calf, especially head and rear and use that as a scent bond. If she's still not going for it get her tranq'd on ACE and give it another try. This method also works on new mom's (first calf heifer's) who kick and butt the new borns. ACE is the ticket, get'em stoned and they'd happily let a bear nurse.-WW
ps. Twins for a cattleman is the worst, wouldn't wish that on anyone. Super time consuming, always runty, if boy and girl, the girl will 99% of the time be sterile. Often you have to tie them together for weeks until mom figures out there's actually two. I'm dealing with twins right now...uggh.

[unclebilly]

Our little trick worked. This morning he orphan was nursing off its new momma.

We had another last night, one of our heifers calved. We probably need to put her in the head gate to get her calf going.

[GH85Carrera]

It is convenient that cows a re stupid, and not very pretty to look at. Makes is easier to eat em.

It was a different order of magnitude of scale for us when we had a dog that had just one puppy. Our vet at the time had 5 pointer puppies, and the momma had some breast issue and could not produce milk. We put those pointers with the bulldog puppy and took care of them all as if there were hers. It was a funny looking litter but they all were fine.

[unclebilly]

Momma and ‘her’ baby...

[LakeCleElum]

Total respect for what you do Uncle William......I grew up on a small farm. My father had a full time job, so guess who got most of the duties being the only boy of 5 kids.........Left home at 17 and never looked back.......

[recycled sixtie]

This thread reminds me of the amount of work to do on a farm. Farming has come a long way since I farmed back in the 1960's but I see there is still a ton of work to do.
Probably a good environment to raise kids in.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

This thread reminds me of the amount of work to do on a farm. Farming has come a long way since I farmed back in the 1960's but I see there is still a ton of work to do.
Probably a good environment to raise kids in.

Absolutely, keep them busy (less time to find trouble) and teach them work ethics and what hard work really is.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by masraum

Absolutely, keep them busy (less time to find trouble) and teach them work ethics and what hard work really is.

That is why we do this. I’m glad others see the logic in my ways.

[tfg50]

Appreciate what you're doing.
We are probably about a month ahead of you. There were 10 more to go now only 3 for 25 total
We have tried all of the above methods, except the WD40, to graft a calf. Sometimes the grafted Holstein calf with a Angus mother is a little funny looking.

I need to train my 14 year old grandson to harrow the fields, but I really enjoy that tractor time at 66 years old.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by tfg50

I need to train my 14 year old grandson to harrow the fields, but I really enjoy that tractor time at 66 years old.

I do my best thinking while on the tractor.

[Dantilla]

No such thing as a part-time rancher.

Farming of any size is a full-time commitment.

[bmcuscgr94]

Yep, you can get a lot of clear thinking done.

[pwd72s]

Glad to hear the surgery recovery is going nicely....