Steering a bull calf...

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insjockey

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Joined
Nov 14, 2012
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24
I have a Simbrah bull calf that initially looked like he might develop into a keeper bull, but now at 6 months he is not developing like I wish. I could just run him thru the sale barn but I am tempted to steer him and stick him on a different place (that is bottom land and cows seem to grow big there) and butcher him later.

At this point what is the best way to do this..? Have never done this before.
 

faycopa

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Apr 26, 2012
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73
Have the vet come and cut him
Hopefully flies aren't a problem...
 

CAB

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Mar 5, 2007
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Location
Corning,Iowa
If you do band him, after you have the band on, take a scalpel and make a 2 in slit in the bottom of the bag. Let's the bag drain and lets the "gases" out instead of keeping them in. The calf will heal much better and much faster if you do this.
 

lightnin4

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Apr 5, 2010
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560
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West Tennessee
We cut a 6 month old calf two days ago with no issues.  He walked like he was a little sore yesterday, but today he is back to normal.  Just be sure to spray the area for flies if they are a problem.
 

flacowman

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Jun 25, 2010
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673
we've never had issues cutting them at that age, even up to 800 pounds, and they heal in a week as opposed to a month with a bander.  They also bleed less if you can throw him rather than cut him standing in a chute.  I'm not sure why but in the thousands of calves we've worked that is the trend
 

Doc

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Apr 13, 2007
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Cottontown, Tennessee
CAB said:
If you do band him, after you have the band on, take a scalpel and make a 2 in slit in the bottom of the bag. Let's the bag drain and lets the "gases" out instead of keeping them in. The calf will heal much better and much faster if you do this.

I use the callicrate bander , but never have tried this. May try it next time.
The biggest bull I have used it on is about a 1500 lber.
 

insjockey

Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2012
Messages
24
Thanks for the advice, I have a call into the vet to see if he can come out this weekend.
 
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