when to band for a show steer

[jrod]

what is a good age to band a calf for a show steer

 

[MOClubbyGuy]

We already have. It took about 2-3 wks for it to fall off.

 

[flacowman]

Never...we blade castrate at 3 months.  All banding has gotten us was worry and problems so we just cut them and it's done

 

[Bulldaddy]

We band when we know that the calf is to be a steer.  That can be anytime really but usually around 4 to 6 months.  We also give a tetanus shot two weeks  prior to banding and then again at banding.  One week after banding we cut the sack off below just below the band. 

 

[rackranch]

Bringing the calves up three time for castration seems like alot of work...

We band when we know that the calf is to be a steer.  That can be anytime really but usually around 4 to 6 months.  We also give a tetanus shot two weeks  prior to banding and then again at banding.  One week after banding we cut the sack off below just below the band. 

 

[beefmasterboy24]

As stated above about 4-6 months unless theyre born super stout. We use to "knife cut" but we banded this year and it works great. (thumbsup) Also, make sure to give a tetanus shot before you band them.

 

[BadgerFan]

I knife cut some late March/early April born calves last night.  10cc of Penicillin just to be on the safe side, and out they go with mama again.  Calves don't miss a beat.

I leave them intact until they start to show the first signs of a crest.  Heavier muscled calves will crest up before the lighter muscled ones.

Not sure it's the right way for club calves, but has worked for me for years.  I do not band ever, though I can see the industry possibly going that way in the future due to animal welfare concerns.

 

[CAB]

I band them the same time that I ear tag them. If you want to have them fall off a bit quicker and protect yourself somewhat from Tetnus, make a small slit in the bag to let the gases out instead of having them have to go through the body so to speak. Been banding calves this way for @ least 3 decades.

 

[Till-Hill]

Buddy cuts them at birth but I am not confident enough to do that so I wait untill I ultrasound cows when calves are 100 days old or so and have vet cut them then. I would much rather cut a baby or a 200 pounder than an 800 lb one!