Securing heifer from kicking out

[sjewart]

Think i need to strip out a heifer but only have my calving gate to secure her.

Any tips on what to use to secure her back legs to stop her kicking out and potentially breaking my arm? She's quite sore.

Ropes, shackles? Where to place them etc.

 

[Cowcalf]

strap round base of leg near foot and lift it with loader cannot kick so well , do not be affraid to lift well up

 

[Cornish bob]

Put a rope right around the cow just in front of the udder to the pins, have a loop in one end put the orther end through it ,then put it over the top bar of the gate and pull it tight as you can,tie it off she can't kick it was what was used before kick bars were invented

 

[puppet]

Put her in the crush plug the calf on and let it get the kick. Bucket of food to distract her and a stick to hit something loud every time she tries to raise a foot.

 

[johnspeehs]

If you have any help someone to hold her tail up over her back will take the power off her or the rope round her middle is a good job if you're on your own.

 

[Henarar]

Think i need to strip out a heifer but only have my calving gate to secure her.

Any tips on what to use to secure her back legs to stop her kicking out and potentially breaking my arm? She's quite sore.

Ropes, shackles? Where to place them etc.

If you only need to strip her out and don't need to catch the milk and her udder is well up in place as it should be with a heifer then just keep your legs/feet well back lean in and hold on to the calving gate with your free hand put the other hand down just in front of her leg and start stripping her if she kicks just keep going she will probably soon get fed up with it and stop when she realises you are not going to stop, this is not for the faint hearted but it does work.
If she is very fresh calved the sucking action of a calf or you stripping her will make the womb contract with hurts (or so I am told) so I have every sympathy with a fresh heifer kicking a bit.

 

[Henarar]

If she was in a crush I would say tie a rope on one side of the crush about half way up her body and put it up over her back about half way along her back and down to the other side of the crush and pull it down as tight as you can, you could use a ratchet strap,
Not sure if you could do it with your calving gate though,
Some people just put a heavy timber chain over their back but I have never done that

 

[Henarar]

If you only need to strip her out and don't need to catch the milk and her udder is well up in place as it should be with a heifer then just keep your legs/feet well back lean in and hold on to the calving gate with your free hand put the other hand down just in front of her leg and start stripping her if she kicks just keep going she will probably soon get fed up with it and stop when she realises you are not going to stop, this is not for the faint hearted but it does work.
If she is very fresh calved the sucking action of a calf or you stripping her will make the womb contract with hurts (or so I am told) so I have every sympathy with a fresh heifer kicking a bit.

Must add, your calving gate may not allow you to do this as you need your arm up as high as you can and tight to the heifers leg and the gate bars may be in the way but it would be ok if you can remove the bar or fold them up enough depending on the style of gate, don't put your hand between the bars

 

[crofteress]

It the calf isn't drinking the back teats don't touch them or you will give yourself more work and risk germs getting in.

 

[matthew]

If she's sore, put plenty of udder cream on, to lubricate and ease the pain. also check where the udder touches the inside of the back leg as that often gets chafed.

 

[puppet]

It the calf isn't drinking the back teats don't touch them or you will give yourself more work and risk germs getting in.

Agree. Often the calf will start on 1 quarter then take a week to get round the rest once the udder is more comfortable. Milking her out will just result in more milk tomorrow. As above, let a hungry calf do most of the work.

 

[sjewart]

Thanks everyone. Succeded with the rope tied tight. Front left teat is bigger than the rest and she was kicking calf off when it tried to suck but drew a tiny bit of milk off it to rule out mastitis and got some vaseline slapped on all teats as she's a bit tender. Calf was taking from all four teats she just wouldn't tolerate this front one well.