How do you prepare calves for sale?

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shufly

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Joined
Feb 8, 2010
Messages
374
Location
Colorado
After looking at all the online sales that are going on right now and how good all the calves look, I realize I need to change some things in my routine with my calves.  I am finally getting enough good calves on the ground to justifying having several people come look at them.  Can some of you who have sales in Sept/Oct please give me some pointers.  I would like to know your complete routines and times of the year you do things like: cut, vaccinate, wean, creep, halter break, start working hair, etc.  My calves look good but aren't fat,  haired up and looking like the calves I am seeing online. I calve in Mar/Apr if that helps.  Any advice would be much appreciated.
 

vet tech

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Joined
May 8, 2008
Messages
1,157
I like this thread...and look forward to some experienced people answering.
 

CMAHerefords

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Joined
Mar 1, 2010
Messages
142
We start creep feeding about a month after they are born but don't really do much with them til after state fair once the fats are gone. All we really do is deworm, tattoo, tag and use pour on. Now we are starting to bring calves in to put under fans and rinse. We have a problem getting our cattle that fat at this stage in the game as well.
 

box6rranch

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Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
604
Location
Larkspur, CO
This is really our first year selling club calves. My daughter's last 4-H year was this year. I got the biggest compliment ever last weekend when a family came to look at our calves. They said that they were the nicest ones they have seen!!!!
We have our hands on our calves from day one! We rub their legs, bellies, neck and kind of drape ourselves over then and love then up. Before we ever put a halter on them we bring them in our breezeway or corral to feed a mixture of grain and creep twice a day. While they eat we comb and brush them and rub their legs etc. We do this for 45-60 days probably. Finally when we go to put a halter on them they know and trust us and don't go crazy. Halter breaking is a breeze. The pretty much walk with you immediately.
Once they've had a halter on a few times they get their first bath. All of ours are so good this year. They stand and let you wash and blow them dry. Not one of them have tried to kick.
We've haven't had any trouble keeping weight on them. When they are weaned they have been on grain and creep for so long other then a couple days of bawling you'd never know.
 
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