ReluctantFarmer Journal

[ReluctantFarmer]

Took my third load of cattle to the market on Saturday, five 1-1/2yo heifers. Also put one of our oldest cows down and had her hauled off. Vet came out on Friday and we gave wormer, lepto and blackleg shots to the five cows we are keeping. My little bull also lost his manhood. Bought some hay, so we should have enough to get through winter. Starting to feel like I’ve got a handle on some stuff but still don’t know what I don’t know... to be continued

 

[Rammy]

You have come to the right place. Lots of very knowledgeable, experienced members on here. Glad to see you here! Welcome!

 

[greybeard]

Took my third load of cattle to the market on Saturday, five 1-1/2yo heifers. Also put one of our oldest cows down and had her hauled off. Vet came out on Friday and we gave wormer, lepto and blackleg shots to the five cows we are keeping. My little bull also lost his manhood. Bought some hay, so we should have enough to get through winter. Starting to feel like I’ve got a handle on some stuff but still don’t know what I don’t know... to be continued

I always hate to hear of one having to be put down, as it is usually a waste of beef and breeding animal, not to mention the financial loss.
Was your oldest cow not worth or able to be hauled to market as well?

but still don’t know what I don’t know...

That, more often than not, is the hardest part, but understanding that there are things we don't know is a giant step forward. Experience is the hardest and cruelest teacher but learning doesn't always have to be thru experience nowadays.
Worse than not knowing, is thinking we know but do not.
You can give the lepto/blackleg shots and do the worming yourself and save on the vet bill, but it is always good to develop a relationship with your vet too...they are usually more apt to come out in an emergency if it is an established client.
What breed cattle do you have?

 

[Latestarter]

Sorry you had to lose the one cow. Hope you did OK with the sales.

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Glad to have you aboard! You will find a lot of knowledgeable folks here (except me, of course). Regarding cattle, Mr. @greybeard, Miss @farmerjan, and Miss @Wehner Homestead (and probably lots more) know a lot about cattle. And don't be afraid of asking dumb questions -- after all, I am an expert at that!

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[ReluctantFarmer]

I always hate to hear of one having to be put down, as it is usually a waste of beef and breeding animal, not to mention the financial loss.
Was your oldest cow not worth or able to be hauled to market as well?


That, more often than not, is the hardest part, but understanding that there are things we don't know is a giant step forward. Experience is the hardest and cruelest teacher but learning doesn't always have to be thru experience nowadays.
Worse than not knowing, is thinking we know but do not.
You can give the lepto/blackleg shots and do the worming yourself and save on the vet bill, but it is always good to develop a relationship with your vet too...they are usually more apt to come out in an emergency if it is an established client.
What breed cattle do you have?

I’ve go black angus AFAIK. My dad said black cattle always brought more at the sale.

The oldest was pretty broken down. The sale barn has a big sign that non-abalatory animals are not to be unloaded. She moves so slow that I thought it’d be cruel to make her go through the chutes at the sale barn. She probably would’ve only brought $80 at the sale. So got my 22 mag out and it was quick. I’d rather her not suffer. Had a feller haul her off to the dog food plant.

I did specifically call the vet out to establish a working relationship and get some lessons. He was real patient with me and helped me pick which animals to keep. My Dad used to use the same vet office, but the vet passed away from cancer last year. I decided to give the new guy a try and was satisfied, even slipped him and his helper a $20 each for all the “free” advice. Turns out I’m gonna have 3 calves in February, so hopefully he remembers me if I need help then.

 

[RollingAcres]

@ReluctantFarmer this is definitely the right place to be. A lot of helpful and knowledgeable folks here. Sorry to hear that you had to put down your oldest cow. Glad that you started a journal to help you "keep track" of your journey and share your stories with us.

And don't be afraid of asking dumb questions -- after all, I am an expert at that!

I've asked some of those questions myself.

 

[greybeard]

She moves so slow that I thought it’d be cruel to make her go through the chutes at the sale barn.

You probably did the right thing, prices are down and there's lots of them running thru the ring already so you wouldn't have gotten much at all for her. Some of those sale barn boys can be pretty rough on cattle getting them in and out of the ring and the barns I go to won't take downers either.....it's against the law most places.

 

[farmerjan]

Have to agree with @greybeard on you doing the right thing for the old cow. I just buried my oldest milk/nurse cow. She got to acting real slow back in late june and had the vet out because I was afraid she had twisted. (DA). Turns out she was full of tumors and they were causing some problems along her spine. We decided to try Dex to shrink them a bit and she responded real well. Her "calves" were right at 6-7 weeks old ( she had 3 on her) and the worst time to have to put them on a bottle etc. She did real good and got through the summer, ate good and the calves were getting along well; recently I noticed she was starting to get around slower and told my son it was time. Cull cows are in the cellar price wise, and I would not put her through it. I went up one morning and she had died on her own the night before. The calves have been coming in good for feed so it worked out. Still is a loss of income, but it is what it is.

Glad you got the vet out, and the whole process went well. Once you get a little practical experience then you can maybe keep a few replacements or something, but I think you did the very best thing for you and the animals by getting their advice and help. It is always a good thing to develop the relationship with the vet before you "NEED" them.

And yes, around here, black cattle bring the best money. Go north into Canada and herefords and reds do well, go south into the texas and hot weather areas and cattle with some brahma influence do well. Unless you are into purebred or registered, it only makes sense to raise what will give you the most return for the money, so your dad probably was well educated on that for your area.
Good luck with them.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Hello and ! You’ve joined a wonderful support group for your cattle obsession. We are known to be supportive jokesters that have your back and are here to help each other with a little enabler (or a lot) mixed in. You’ll find lots of information in the forums here. We will all try to help as we can. I’ve made lifelong friends on this page!

I’m in Southern Indiana and we raise Show Cattle, dairy goats, chickens, an occasional pig or two, a slew of barn cats, and 3 Aussies. I’ll try to answer cattle questions as I can.

You did the right thing with your older cow. It was the humane choice that kept her from suffering.