PROCESSING CALVES

Spring time brings a lot of work. One of the big jobs we have is processing all of our calves.  Processing calves involves vaccinating, ear marking and castrating.  We actually don't brand ours, except for the heifers that we keep as replacements.  They will get branded in the fall or winter.

Yesterday we corralled the cows and calves that we were going to process today.   

This morning we were up before the sun to feed and saddle the horses and get an early start.

Jewell wasn't too sure she was ready to go to work so early.

It was dusty putting the cows and calves in the pen to separate them.  

Clay used his horse to help separate.  Dave watched the gate and only allowed the cows to go out.

Once they were all separated it was time to get to work.  This bunch of calves we processed using a calf table.  We don't do all of the calves this way.  We also rope them.  The table is a very efficient  way to get the calves done with only four people.  Roping requires several people.  

The calf is pushed down a little chute and into the table.

The calf's head gets caught and the table is squeezed to hold the calf in place. Then it is tipped on it's side.

While the calf is on it's side the processing can be done.  It is given two shots, ear marked and if it is a bull calf, it is castrated.  We use a bander to castrate instead of cutting them with a knife.  All of this is done in a minute to two.

I forgot to mention that each calf also gets a fly tag.  This is supposed to help repel flies throughout the summer.

Some calves have scours, (the poops),  so they need a few pills which are put into the back of their mouth and pushed down with a balling gun.  

It is hard to see the calves go through this process,  but it is necessary to keep them healthy and the ear mark identifies them as ours.
  They are put right back out with their mommas and seem to recover quickly.