Brother I can’t thank you enough! I’m building my own squeeze chute right now and I have always wondered why they always have a metal floor attached to them. Since my supporting framework for the squeeze portion is buried 4’ in the ground and cemented in, why would I need a floor? Your squeeze is just about exactly what I’m building. Was very happy to see it’ll work!
First time viewer. Will check out your feeding protocols and grazing management style. 50+ years dairy farm life. Most of family's dairy cattle sold in Sept 2022. 18 years CAFO. Shipped a tanker of milk every 23 hours. Stopped milking on the farm in April 2023. Dad retired. Now 75 mostly Angus cow/calf pairs.
Welcome and thank you for watching! With your experience I’m sure I can learn a few things from you. So any feedback you have please share. Thank you again for watching!
Lots of ideas came to mind as i watched this video...In case info would help newer cattle persons...Tail painting is an easy way to know breeding dates with natural breeding or when to call the ai tech for ai breeding. Keeping tail heads painted til 45 days after last breeding helps to indicate a likely pregnancy. Most can be trained to draw an underside of the tail blood sample, which can be tested. Our clinic did the preg test on site, a cheaper option than having a vet out to palpate or ultrasound. Calves can be bumped on the right side, low on the belly, above and forward a little from the udder. Often did it while milking as i leaned my head into the cows as i prepped for milk machine. Calf needs to be far enough along (3rd trimester) that the cow will soon be dried off... Left side under the back rib is where one can palpate or stethoscope the rumen for gut fill. Feel for a doughy fullness, not an air cap. Press stethoscope's bell in firmly toward the front and listen for a grinding kind of sound, about 3 per minute. This is where a Left DA can be confirmed when a cow is off feed and her stomach twists. LDA's are common in high production dairy cattle, rare in beefers. The soft, jiggly vulva is an excellent indicator of delivery is near. Free choice of individual minerals may give better results than a mixed mineral. Bag (udder) development begins with pregnancy. No bagging up can be worrysome. It is difficult to see unless at a good angle. Palpating a bag can get a body kicked! Always be careful around livestock and machinery. Have a blessed day!
Most cattle have estrus cycles between 17 and 22 days. A compromised pregnancy usually dumps soon after implantaion or near when detection is possible. Rarer to loose as time goes on. We had palpation done weekly (milking 750 head) between 36-42, 95-102, and 186-192. We tail painted and seldom had open cows at those checks. Some ai techs were superb at detecting and breeding. They were paid by the pregnancy, not by the straws used.
When a cow is within a day of calving, her bag & vulva will be obvious like he said, but on either side of her tail will be sunken in some. Making a little extra room for the calf to pass. He made a good point about watching a cow that's off by herself. If she keeps laying down and getting up and maybe licking the side of her belly, she is in the process.
The ligaments soften up to allow the calf through. That is why it is imperative to cautiously move any female NEAR calving, to avoid splitting and down cattle.
Brother I can’t thank you enough! I’m building my own squeeze chute right now and I have always wondered why they always have a metal floor attached to them. Since my supporting framework for the squeeze portion is buried 4’ in the ground and cemented in, why would I need a floor? Your squeeze is just about exactly what I’m building. Was very happy to see it’ll work!
Good stuff. Glad it helped!
I have five here I'm watching close. supposed to get bad weather tomorrow and was hoping these would have already calved. so goes the life of a farmer
Absolutely. Just got to roll with it sometimes!
First time viewer. Will check out your feeding protocols and grazing management style. 50+ years dairy farm life. Most of family's dairy cattle sold in Sept 2022. 18 years CAFO. Shipped a tanker of milk every 23 hours. Stopped milking on the farm in April 2023. Dad retired. Now 75 mostly Angus cow/calf pairs.
Welcome and thank you for watching! With your experience I’m sure I can learn a few things from you. So any feedback you have please share. Thank you again for watching!
Great squeeze shoot setup!
Thank you!
Lots of ideas came to mind as i watched this video...In case info would help newer cattle persons...Tail painting is an easy way to know breeding dates with natural breeding or when to call the ai tech for ai breeding. Keeping tail heads painted til 45 days after last breeding helps to indicate a likely pregnancy. Most can be trained to draw an underside of the tail blood sample, which can be tested. Our clinic did the preg test on site, a cheaper option than having a vet out to palpate or ultrasound. Calves can be bumped on the right side, low on the belly, above and forward a little from the udder. Often did it while milking as i leaned my head into the cows as i prepped for milk machine. Calf needs to be far enough along (3rd trimester) that the cow will soon be dried off... Left side under the back rib is where one can palpate or stethoscope the rumen for gut fill. Feel for a doughy fullness, not an air cap. Press stethoscope's bell in firmly toward the front and listen for a grinding kind of sound, about 3 per minute. This is where a Left DA can be confirmed when a cow is off feed and her stomach twists. LDA's are common in high production dairy cattle, rare in beefers. The soft, jiggly vulva is an excellent indicator of delivery is near. Free choice of individual minerals may give better results than a mixed mineral. Bag (udder) development begins with pregnancy. No bagging up can be worrysome. It is difficult to see unless at a good angle. Palpating a bag can get a body kicked! Always be careful around livestock and machinery. Have a blessed day!
Slightly soft vulva can also indicate estrus or miscarriage.
Most cattle have estrus cycles between 17 and 22 days. A compromised pregnancy usually dumps soon after implantaion or near when detection is possible. Rarer to loose as time goes on. We had palpation done weekly (milking 750 head) between 36-42, 95-102, and 186-192. We tail painted and seldom had open cows at those checks. Some ai techs were superb at detecting and breeding. They were paid by the pregnancy, not by the straws used.
When a cow is within a day of calving, her bag & vulva will be obvious like he said, but on either side of her tail will be sunken in some. Making a little extra room for the calf to pass. He made a good point about watching a cow that's off by herself. If she keeps laying down and getting up and maybe licking the side of her belly, she is in the process.
Really good information! Thank you!
The ligaments soften up to allow the calf through. That is why it is imperative to cautiously move any female NEAR calving, to avoid splitting and down cattle.
Where are you located?
We are south of Tyler
You only put out one bag?
That time yes sir. That’s all I had. We got her filled up more the next day.
I bet they all calve. I guess we’ll see.
53 looks pregnant
I sure hope so. I’m praying she is. Appreciate you watching!