One of them nights - Calving

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 17, 2017

• #1

So have a nice British Blue Bull Calf born around 21:00 Yesterday - all good - but means up at midnight getting it to drink...

Have a 2nd cow in the ready to calf pen being watched by CCTV - she is getting going around 04:30 - notice blooming rear legs out at 05:00, so grab the calving aid and hook it up, only to find first pull the damn handle snaps clean off at the ratchet mechanism....

Is it just me who has impeccable timing with these things! (Obviously wanted to get the backwards calf out swiftly!)

 

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 17, 2017

• #2

Made a new temp handle All good again

 

Friesianfan

Member

Location

Cornwall

• Jan 17, 2017

• #3

Impressive! Are you sure you're a dairy farmer with those engineering skills?

 

A

applejack

Member

Location

just south of middle england

• Jan 17, 2017

• #4

Did you manage to get the calf out alive?

 

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 17, 2017

• #5

Got it out - think it was trying to die, but I wasn't going to let it.... Here is the CCTV - note the other calf in the middle of the pen, apologies for the video quality, had to downgrade it to upload it over my slow internet connection!

 

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 17, 2017

• #6

P.s. it's obviously the Black Cow on the Left at the start, now calving - you can just about make out the other ones calf sat in the middle of the pen, you'll see me hook the ropes, calving aid up then look a bit stunned when the handle snaps! NOT ideal when backwards!

 

Nearly

Member

Location

North of York

• Jan 17, 2017

• #7

Calving aids that aren't 100% can be expensive.

 

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 17, 2017

• #8

Friesianfan said:

Impressive! Are you sure you're a dairy farmer with those engineering skills?

Click to expand...

LoL, should that have a smiley face at the end of it.... was a bit rushed with the welder (another cow bagged up looking uncomfortable ;-) ) That's my excuse anyway!

 

Holsteinfriesian90

Member

Location

Cornwall

• Jan 17, 2017

• #9

We were lucky a couple of nights ago first Kirkby premier calf was coming backwards.

 

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 17, 2017

• #10

Out of interest an anyone else see the video - a friend just txt and said I needed to make it Public but pretty sure it is already!

 

Jfp

Member

• Jan 17, 2017

• #11

Can see it ok!

 

Henarar

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Somerset

• Jan 17, 2017

• #12

what did you pull the calf with ?
it looked a fare size

 

D

DrWazzock

Member

Arable Farmer

Location

Lincolnshire

• Jan 17, 2017

• #13

It's surprising how an urgent situation can bring on a bit of lateral thinking and ingenuity. Well done.

 

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 18, 2017

• #14

Henarar said:

what did you pull the calf with ?
it looked a fare size

Click to expand...

A very small hand ratchet hooked on a kinetic tow rope (to give it some elasticity). Tied the two ends of the leg ropes and hooked it on to them... Its very small really...

 

L

lazy farmer

Member

Location

som/dor border

• Jan 18, 2017

• #15

wouldn't a vink be better? easier to use and basically unbreakable? brilliant innovation in getting the calf out though

 

multi power

Member

Location

pembrokeshire

• Jan 18, 2017

• #16

Einstien said:

A very small hand ratchet hooked on a kinetic tow rope (to give it some elasticity). Tied the two ends of the leg ropes and hooked it on to them... Its very small really...

Click to expand...

That's a very good way to do it, gentle on the cow too
In NZ we used rope tied to quad bike, the suspension does the work

 

L

lazy farmer

Member

Location

som/dor border

• Jan 18, 2017

• #17

multi power said:

That's a very good way to do it, gentle on the cow too
In NZ we used rope tied to quad bike, the suspension does the work

Click to expand...

 

E

Einstien

Member

• Jan 18, 2017

• #18

lazy farmer said:

wouldn't a vink be better? easier to use and basically unbreakable? brilliant innovation in getting the calf out though

Click to expand...

Ummm poor Dairy Farmer here!

I'll paint the new handle John Deere Green then it will be way better than a VINK...