Best way to lift a downer cow?

[multi power]

none of you use grain bucket ,put good layer straw in roll cow in ,move her to bedded area and roll out

my boss hates hip clamps so we have to avoid them here, if just splits then roll her in bucket n out to field or loose box

 

[jimmer]

Looks like all you have done with that strap is lift the cow. If you let her down enough to encourage her to take weight on her legs and she does, I would imagine the whole lot goes slack and falls off, unlike the hip lift, which will catch her if she sags and allow her to get the weight back on her legs again. Perhaps I am wrong?

my camera memory was full so only short film
i can leave them suspended for as long as needed and walk them around fine letting them take a little weight on their legs , if the strap goes too loose then yes it will slip , but usually it only goes loose when she is able to take the weight herself

 

[Angus]

I had a cow down on Wednesday afternoon post calving. I found this thread and tried Jimmers way, didn't fancy using neighbours hip clamp. It worked very well. The cow could take her weight on the front legs but was extremely wobbly on the back legs, one in particular. She had been down for a day at this point. It took me two or three times to get her to stand still, balanced and bearing her weight, but after an hour I had to leave her to it. I left her lying down with the good leg under her. I was amazed to find her stood up two hours later. She still needs some help to get up if laid on her bad leg ,to stop her falling over, but would seem to be making a recovery. Sorry for the long post, it is just so good to have a success with a downer cow. If your ever in my neck of the woods @jimmer, pop in for a pint, your more than welcome, Angus.

 

[jimmer]

I had a cow down on Wednesday afternoon post calving. I found this thread and tried Jimmers way, didn't fancy using neighbours hip clamp. It worked very well. The cow could take her weight on the front legs but was extremely wobbly on the back legs, one in particular. She had been down for a day at this point. It took me two or three times to get her to stand still, balanced and bearing her weight, but after an hour I had to leave her to it. I left her lying down with the good leg under her. I was amazed to find her stood up two hours later. She still needs some help to get up if laid on her bad leg ,to stop her falling over, but would seem to be making a recovery. Sorry for the long post, it is just so good to have a success with a downer cow. If your ever in my neck of the woods @jimmer, pop in for a pint, your more than welcome, Angus.

i was in chudleigh last weekend !!!!!

glad it worked for you , you have made my day with a compliment like that

 

[hubbahubba]

I have one of the canvas cow lifters from www.apfarmsupplies.co.uk at 160 od pound. Looks decent although never used it, and hope not to. I have a clamp too but it's a bit harsh on heavy in calf cows.

 

[Turboman]

So how many people use a grain bucket as first port of call to move cow off concrete and onto straw/ grass field before attempting to actually lift the cow for rehabilitation? I find it takes 2 to three people to roll a big holstein into a bucket. Could have a better alternative than a bucket but I want people's answers on how many people use a loader bucket as first port of call?

 

[multi power]

So how many people use a grain bucket as first port of call to move cow off concrete and onto straw/ grass field before attempting to actually lift the cow for rehabilitation? I find it takes 2 to three people to roll a big holstein into a bucket. Could have a better alternative than a bucket but I want people's answers on how many people use a loader bucket as first port of call?

We use bucket, but hip clamp is miles better

 

[Turboman]

Yes but take a milk fever case for example. Cow isnt going to get up straight away and getting up on concrete isnt ideal so perhaps better to move cow to a more comfortable surface with grip first. So bucket needed first.

 

[jimmer]

Yes but take a milk fever case for example. Cow isnt going to get up straight away and getting up on concrete isnt ideal so perhaps better to move cow to a more comfortable surface with grip first. So bucket needed first.

bucket is a two man job
i have done it on my own a few times in desperation but it is a cuss

strap every time

 

[rc mx110]

So how many people use a grain bucket as first port of call to move cow off concrete and onto straw/ grass field before attempting to actually lift the cow for rehabilitation? I find it takes 2 to three people to roll a big holstein into a bucket. Could have a better alternative than a bucket but I want people's answers on how many people use a loader bucket as first port of call?

Yep bucket is always the first thing to come out best way to move a downer any distance

 

[rc mx110]

bucket is a two man job
i have done it on my own a few times in desperation but it is a cuss

strap every time

I often thought about mounting a hyd motor on top of bucket and use it as a winch to roll the cow into the scoop?????

 

[lazy farmer]

nope we use a hip clamp its quick and less stressful for staff and cow alike. we haven't had use ours for quite a while now. smaller cows seem to recover quicker and have a better attitude to challenges.

 

[Angus]

i was in chudleigh last weekend !!!!!

glad it worked for you , you have made my day with a compliment like that

I 've just come in so have missed these posts, next time your down Chudleigh way let me know and I'll get you that pint, Angus.

 

[rc mx110]

How do you move the cow with the clamp?
Lift her completely off the floor with it??

 

[jimmer]

I 've just come in so have missed these posts, next time your down Chudleigh way let me know and I'll get you that pint, Angus.

Mum got a lodge at Finlake

We want to get down again before calving in june
OH found a load of geocaches in the area to find so she is looking forward to it

 

[Turboman]

I often thought about mounting a hyd motor on top of bucket and use it as a winch to roll the cow into the scoop?????

thats exactly what I did and after abit of tweaking I have it reasonably perfected. I have applied for patents. Question is though is there a market for such a tool? And how much would someone be prepared to pay to be able to get a cow in a bucket single handed?

 

[Angus]

Mum got a lodge at Finlake

We want to get down again before calving in june
OH found a load of geocaches in the area to find so she is looking forward to it

I believe there is/was a geocache hidden on some land we rent. Finlake would be about 15 minutes away from us.

 

[Splitpin]

I believe there is/was a geocache hidden on some land we rent. Finlake would be about 15 minutes away from us.

Whats a geocache?

 

[Angus]

Whats a geocache?

If I'm correct, it is somewhere that has a hidden letterbox type thing, that geocachers have to locate and find the box and retrieve something,or leave something, Angus.

 

[Splitpin]

If I'm correct, it is somewhere that has a hidden letterbox type thing, that geocachers have to locate and find the box and retrieve something,or leave something, Angus.

Ahh, bit like the ink stamps things you used to collect that were hidden on the tors on Dartmoor.? Vaguely remember doing that years ago

Yes @Turboman I will always get them off the concrete with the bucket if I can