Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Bruce]

Sorry about RJ's scur, sure sounds like a big PITA.

Nice looking Anatolian, nearby and only $1!!! I wonder how much they actually want for her.

 

[Baymule]

Joe did you call on the Anatolian? The post has been taken down. Not surprised, that is one nice dog!

 

[Latestarter]

Well, just ordered the OB handles and saw wire from ValleyVet. Went to JeffersPet first but their handles were on back order.

No, I didn't contact them about the dog. Yes, she was a beautiful animal. There was no # provided (that I saw) so would have had to contact through CL message. I can't imagine they were giving her away and I don't have $$ right now to get another dog. I still haven't gotten Elf settled in as he continues to charge at the goats through the fence, growling, barking, and snapping at them. My son will be coming in ~3 weeks with his 2 dogs, both of which also have high prey drives and I just don't need the potential issues and hassles right now.

Mel is now out in the pasture 24/7, but he doesn't stay with the goats full time. For the most part he just goes off by himself and finds a shady/favorite spot and hangs out. If he starts barking though, they all make a bee line for the holding/night pen.

I'm sitting here typing and I listen to music while doing so. I listen to whole albums using Windows media player. I just started humming a tune and looked up and realized I've finished one album and am 1/2 through the next It's amazing how fast time goes by and I don't recall hearing virtually any of the songs between starting and when I noticed just now.

 

[greybeard]

Greybeard -- obviously you have done this What has been your overall experience with it? Does the horn regrow? Is there an age when this works best? i.e youngsters vs adult, etc.

I've read some reports and most are positive for results but trust your input vs an unknown on utube.

I've seen cattle with horns cut and assume this is taking off above blood line...I am sure you would have info.

Regarding banding horns;
I've done the banding both above the bloodline (blunting the ends off) and done it down at the hair line to completely dehorn adult cattle and calves. In neither case, have I ever seen any bleeding like you would see with mechanical (saw wire, saw, Barnes, Keystone, guillitine, convex cutter.. ) dehorning of the whole horn.

Saw wire, you will see bleeding if you get below the dead area but from my expereince, not nearly as bad if using one of the early methods...the odor is the worst part. On a large horn, that saw wire will wear your arms out on an older animal. Mine are well used. Blood is pretty corrosive, as you can see.

I helped with dehorning goats and a few rams at the place I worked part time in West Texas & we first saw wired a little groove for the band to sit it. It doesn't take a deep groove, or even have to go all the way around..just stay out of the more sensitive material.
We taped the bands as well, even with the groove. I wasn't there when they did this part but it's my understanding, some of the goats oozed blood when the horn did come off and they had to pull a bleeder out( blood vessel) and if they did not, scurs would grow.

The younger, the better when it comes to dehorning any animal IMO.

Of all the things I've had to do to any animal, I hate dehorning the most and I'm not 100% convinced that dehorning by banding is completely painless.

I just sold my last horned cow. She was a sweetheart, docile as a puppy, a great momma, fantastic udder, good feet and legs, and never gave me one bit of trouble, but at my age, I just didn't want a horned cow around any more, and to be honest, I didn't have the heart to put her thru dehorning. Other than horns, she was among the best cows I've ever had, never even gave me a bad look, but she would use them horns on the others at the feed bunk.

 

[Bruce]

Mel is now out in the pasture 24/7, but he doesn't stay with the goats full time. For the most part he just goes off by himself and finds a shady/favorite spot and hangs out. If he starts barking though, they all make a bee line for the holding/night pen.

He may be off in the shade but he is watching, even if his eyes are closed. Sounds like the goats know what to do when the alarm sounds though. That is good, don't want Mel having to figure out where to go to protect the goats.

 

[Baymule]

When the time is right, the right dog will come along. Mel sounds like he is stepping up to being a good guardian. He may not bond to the goats, but he will still protect them as part of HIS territory.

 

[Latestarter]

So I heard (felt?) the storm approaching a little after 4am. Went out and let Mel up from the pasture to come in the house. He and Elf joined me snoozing in the bedroom until just now. They are both normally outside overnight. The rain started shortly after I let them in. The thunder is continuous right now... I mean just that, non stop. No idea how much rain, but it doesn't seem like a "lot". There are some small puddles outside but nothing serious and none of the typical "flooding" I see when it rains hard and long. It's not pouring, but steady. I'll take it and be happy! Seems like the plants are sucking it up as it comes down. I see lighter sky approaching from the NW, so the goats should be a lot happier soon... They'll be able to (willing to) come out of the shelter and I'll be able to go down and feed them their morning pellets. Mel has exactly zero interest in going out of the house right now. Elf wanted out (and is out) but I think that's only because he normally gets his breakfast now when I get up to do morning animal chores.

 

[RollingAcres]

No idea how much rain, but it doesn't seem like a "lot". There are some small puddles outside but nothing serious and none of the typical "flooding" I see when it rains hard and long. It's not pouring, but steady. I'll take it and be happy!

Not sure if Bay has gotten any rain lately. But if she hasn't, she'd be SO jealous of your rain!

 

[Baymule]

I could see it on the radar.......the drops we got were so few and far between that it was a drop splatter in the dust here, one over there, another one over yonder......glad somebody got rain, but it sure wasn't us!

 

[Latestarter]

Only turned out to be about 1/2 inch total... not much but at least it was over a period of time so it had a chance to sink in and not just run off. My ground cover looks much greener as of late today.