Shackles

[Joeblue]

Cow slipped in parlor last week, I think back bar came down on her back, put her in paddock and was up next day but kept slipping on concrete usually getting up herself, back to the paddock put shackles on sat 3days ago and she is back on concrete and straw seems fine , how long will I leave shackles on ?

 

[it's not over]

Cow slipped in parlor last week, I think back bar came down on her back, put her in paddock and was up next day but kept slipping on concrete usually getting up herself, back to the paddock put shackles on sat 3days ago and she is back on concrete and straw seems fine , how long will I leave shackles on ?

Sometimes the shackles can be a hindrance If the chain gets caught between her toes but if shes able to manage with them on ,id say at least a week or longer,certainly wouldnt put her into cows with out the shackles at night. Put her in with the cows during daytime so you can see her several times. Wouldnt want to be back to square one
They are a life saver

 

[Sparkymark]

I just leave them on. Is she incalf? If not, she could go down again when shes bulling

 

[BELOWAVERAGE]

Probably get shouted down for this but, I don't like proper shackles, instead use about eight thickness's of that thick baler twin off big bales, by using that much it doesn't rub their legs sore, and has a bit more give in it, keep cutting one thickness from between their legs when they come through the parlour, until their down to one, then that normally breaks by itself after a few weeks, always worked here, and its a gradual change not like one minute their there next their not.

 

[LouD]

Cow slipped in parlor last week, I think back bar came down on her back, put her in paddock and was up next day but kept slipping on concrete usually getting up herself, back to the paddock put shackles on sat 3days ago and she is back on concrete and straw seems fine , how long will I leave shackles on ?

Minimum of a week, ideally longer. There’s been damage done to tendons etc., which will take time to recover properly and every time she goes down, it sets back her recovery. I agree with @zsnotdead that shackles are the greatest thing. Ours (which we haven’t used in several years thankfully) are heavy duty woven nylon cuffs which doesn’t cause any rubbing.

 

[Sid]

We had a dry cow do the splits last week.
No shackles but scraped area has scattering out of kids sandpit over it. JIC

 

[Nearly]

Keep making them a bit longer every few days until they're not doing anything.
Stick an extra D link in the chain.

 

[vantage]

Had them on a nervous cow that went down on TB test day. Left them on and the chain wears out eventually , cow fine and remaining chain gives person on the TB yoke a forewarning!

 

[Water Wheel]

Probably get shouted down for this but, I don't like proper shackles, instead use about eight thickness's of that thick baler twin off big bales, by using that much it doesn't rub their legs sore, and has a bit more give in it, keep cutting one thickness from between their legs when they come through the parlour, until their down to one, then that normally breaks by itself after a few weeks, always worked here, and its a gradual change not like one minute their there next their not.

The shackles we use look like these-

Cow Shackles

Heavy duty hobbles with 3 inch adjustable nylon straps and swivel in the chain. These Cow Shackles are ideal for using on cows following injuries sustained by calving or slipping

www.farmsense.com

Always have one good set on the shelf ready. They are well padded and don't rub. As said above if chain get between claws, shorten it.
As for how long? A few days to a few months.
We keep a bag of coarse concreating sand handy all the time so if a cow is slipping can increase grip on concrete easily and quickly

 

[som farmer]

we have had more trouble with fresh calvers, cannot really see a reason, cows condition fine, easy calvings, mentioned it to the vet, 'that's funny, we seem to be seeing a lot like that', didn't have anything cure ideas. But, following our earlier hassle during the summer, i'm afraid it's 48 hours, vet discussion, if not seriously improving, in another 60 hrs, shot. Waste of some cows, but the risk, for us, is never worth it, at 48 hours, if looking iffy, the vet doesn't get consulted.
I repeat the warning, you have no idea who is prowling around your farm, your definition of 'normal' doesn't mean it's the same for a vegan/veggie/, or just somebody out for a stroll. Following on from our clash, the advice was, 'if it coughs, shoot it'.

 

[Slow Learner]

The shackles we use look like these-

Cow Shackles

Heavy duty hobbles with 3 inch adjustable nylon straps and swivel in the chain. These Cow Shackles are ideal for using on cows following injuries sustained by calving or slipping

www.farmsense.com

Always have one good set on the shelf ready. They are well padded and don't rub. As said above if chain get between claws, shorten it.
As for how long? A few days to a few months.
We keep a bag of coarse concreating sand handy all the time so if a cow is slipping can increase grip on concrete easily and quickly

When cows go down they generally damage ligaments which can be very slow to heal. Use shackles made from the 4 inch webbing and they won't damage the skin. Don't be tempted to remove them too soon

 

[Suckndiesel]

The last red tractor inspection we had it was mentioned about shackles, there is a time limit on how long they can be on for. Can’t remember exactly how long but it wasn’t long

 

[Sid]

The last red tractor inspection we had it was mentioned about shackles, there is a time limit on how long they can be on for. Can’t remember exactly how long but it wasn’t long

Nothing worse than taking them off too early!

 

[Suckndiesel]

Nothing worse than taking them off too early!

Lucky enough I have had little experience with them over the years. It was the vet section of the red tractor that it was mentioned , you need to have a protocol in place for using them.