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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 3:26:31 GMT
Anyone have thoughts about the best age to steer a bull calf?
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Post by Muller's Lane Farm on Apr 13, 2015 3:29:26 GMT
We've done it from a few months old to 6 months old. Cooler weather with minimum flies is best
Do you plan on cutting, banding or crushing?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 5:31:18 GMT
Good strong calf, 3 days, get it over with. Hardly bothers them when small. Out on pasture, better catch them young, even day they are born, give shots and ear tag. Good to go....James
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 15:02:56 GMT
I prefer to band. No blood, minimal pain, and less fly strike.
And Emily can do it for me. I'm not a wuss, I'm just squeamish with certain procedures.
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Post by Awnry Abe on Apr 14, 2015 1:37:30 GMT
I opt for day 1 or 2, since I am usually a one-man show for doing castration and ear tags. The biggest challenge with getting them so young is that it is easy to miss one of the pair and end up with an intact bull that hides it well. Beyond a week, and I need the help of another. Another few on top of that, and I need the help of a catch pen, head gate, or other structure.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2015 3:31:26 GMT
Well, it'll have to be at two and a half weeks, I guess, because that's when Ozark Jewels is coming over. Between the three of us, I figure we can get it done. <cringe>
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Post by Awnry Abe on Apr 14, 2015 10:30:17 GMT
Well, it'll have to be at two and a half weeks, I guess, because that's when Ozark Jewels is coming over. Between the three of us, I figure we can get it done. <cringe> ETD: (Edited to delete). Oh my!! Way to early to post. |
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Post by Awnry Abe on Apr 14, 2015 10:42:37 GMT
I told my wife what I had just done (responded to a post about castration that for some reason I woke up thinking was about butchering). Insert coffee here. We were laughing so hard at how my post was worded I could barely delete the post above. She wanted me to keep it.
"D-I-Y?? Awesome. I've not got the nerve to try something so large. I have a mere little 90 lb lamb staring me down that I procrastinate over to slaughter because of lack of butcher skills. With a steer, I would fear having a freezer full of hack steaks, chunk roasts, and suet burger. And the beast would just continue to grow..."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2015 15:28:00 GMT
LOL, @awnry Abe!
We do our own butchering, but I'm not sure about the steer. Might do it just because I don't necessarily trust the butcher = ANY butcher - to return MY cow to me.
There is a local fella, though, who will come out, kill, gut, and quarter for about $50. That might be worth it.
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Post by junaleefarm on Apr 24, 2015 13:34:17 GMT
Good strong calf, 3 days, get it over with. Hardly bothers them when small. Out on pasture, better catch them young, even day they are born, give shots and ear tag. Good to go....James Same here- just make sure if you get them young that both "ahem" testicles have descended. Or you will end up with half a bull. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 0:26:38 GMT
So, we're a week back from Chicago and Emily farmsitting, and I shoot her a text, asking when we're disbudding and steering the calf.
She already steered him - by herself - when we were in Ill-annoy. I didn't notice the band around his sac. :rolleyes;
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mary
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Post by mary on May 4, 2015 20:04:02 GMT
LOL, @awnry Abe! We do our own butchering, but I'm not sure about the steer. Might do it just because I don't necessarily trust the butcher = ANY butcher - to return MY cow to me. There is a local fella, though, who will come out, kill, gut, and quarter for about $50. That might be worth it. That is so worth it! I'm pretty sure the kill fee alone at our butcher was $50 last time. |
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