When is it to cold to knife cut bull calves?

[greybeard]

Don't overlook the California Bander if you are banding. works as good as any and is much quicker once you have done a few.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK7TGUxg_wg
If you can do youtube this shows how simple it is. se anouther short vid on the sidebar with a bull. Takes about 5 seconds once you get the sac in your hand. I find it much easier than the ones with the jack and just as effective.

[SADIE]

Allfarmer--

I have memories working with the Lakevolds. Calvin & Gerald. The late 70s the Osburne Lakevold ranch was the first time I saw and diagnosed ITEME (Sleeper) on a large scale in beef practice.

The comment about "lossing your vet"---it has been a problem now for over 20 years. It is not going away. There are 0 I repeat 0 farm/ranch rural background applicants even appyling for admission into Vet Schools.

I memtioned this earlier also the new Veterinary College in Calgary will follow the same path. Once anyone receives their DVM--(Large animal) obtain your license they will (Jump ship) and go companion animal. They have to because of economics and again the huge problem of "no diability coverage available".

This is why CFIA is having trouble. The H of A. used to acquire the Large animal veterinarians that could meet and talk to producers after their 20 year stint in large animal practice. They are basically gone now. Ask new qraduates about working for CFIA.---the stronger ones---with good communication skills comment---NEver lower themselves to that standard.

Just comments Allfarmer---work hard to keep your vet as long as you can. Haven't you married her off to a farmer/rancher in the area--then she has to work to keep the farm going.

[charliep]

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/CanadianWheatBoard"]cwb[/URL]

[Ruken]

Greybeard, this seems so simple. Does the band get tight enough though? How many animals have you done with this tool?

[greybeard]

It says in the instructions the band needs to be tight enough you cant slip your finger inside. Like all banders most of us only use them once a year so it takes a few before you get good at it.
I use it on some tail ender calves that are born late, I think about a couple of dozen last year. Same results as the Calacrate I had been using but much easier to get the band on and no doubt about having both nuts below the band as you never take your hand off them.

[ALLFARMER]

I had alway figured there was lots of vets in school. I was thinking back to when I toured the Lethbridge college and University...that was about about 1990 or 91 so around 20 years ago. One of the schools at the time said on the tour that people sleep overnight in the hallway to be first in line to apply and if your grades were not near perfect you were not accepted. Need to run my new cows are arriving!!