Just built a life saver

rrlund · Apr 7, 2013

Maybe. I bought this old tank cage at an auction yesterday for $10. I put some pins on it so I can put it on the 3pt and back it over a newborn calf to get away from an ugly cow while I tag and vaccinate it.
Time will tell. I'm not as fast as I used to be and I've lost my nerve with some of those old bats.

Roger in Iowa · Apr 7, 2013

Good idea, I just hope it is strong enough.

May want to cut out some of the vertical bars to make "steps" so it is easier to climb into/out of. May do it on the tractor side.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 7, 2013

Should work if your lucky enuff to sneak up on the calf when its sleeping.... :shock: :shock:
Your probably going to be playing ring around the rosy on that little tractor thoo.. :wink: :wink:

rrlund · Apr 7, 2013

Ya,that thought has gone through my mind. At least a big piece of angle iron half way up the front to get a toe hold. I might have to get out of there in a hurry if one of those old gals decides to try to get in there with me.

rrlund · Apr 7, 2013

If I can catch'em while they're wet I've got a chance. Might have to rework it to fit the loader so I can get more speed and maneuverability on'em.

Janicholson · Apr 7, 2013

Add a canvas curtain on the sides. What they cant see is far less demanding than what they can! Jim

rrlund · Apr 7, 2013

That might work! I've got several old heat housers around here. Maybe the snap off engine sides and some zip ties.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 7, 2013

Not a lot of protection there. I've seen it when you'd have to bail off the tractor seat of a row crop tractor, because the old cow was climbing the fenders.

rrlund · Apr 7, 2013

Ya,I had a few last year that I had to drive a tractor over the top of a calf with the front end right up against a fence,then work fast on one side before the cow figured out she could go around behind and get to me.

Not a perfect setup,but it'll give me a little peace of mind with most of them.

waltdavies · Apr 7, 2013

I won't have a mean cow on the farm. i have never had trouble weighing and tagging any of my Limousin cattle.
walt

rrlund · Apr 7, 2013

If I got rid of all the mean ones,I wouldn't have a cow left around here and that's not much of an exageration. I don't know if the coyotes have'em on edge or what,but they scare the daylights out of me anymore.

M w J · Apr 7, 2013

It should work if ya can back up fast enough to catch the calf. I use a bale feeder in the loader scoop for about 90 percent of mine. I don't keep mean cows but I'm not as fast as I once was .

Dick · Apr 7, 2013

A great topic RR. I need to come up with something too. I"m still suffering from a broken arm when I cow with a new calf knocked me down. She did a real number on my arm and had to have surgery with a steel plate, screws and lots of rehab. time. I never used to have problems with mean cows after calving but it seems they"re getting worse. I"m like you, if I got rid of the mean ones I wouldn"t have any left. They are a bunch of pets until they have a calf, then look out. Some great ideas discussed here.
Thanks,
Dick

rrlund · Apr 7, 2013

Yep,I had a friend who got some ribs broke a few years ago. Said he had to sleep sitting up in his recliner for six weeks.
They only have to hit you once to get you to loose your nerve. First calf heifers even scare me anymore. If they stand their ground,I back up and walk away and make another plan.

fixerupper · Apr 7, 2013

About five years ago or maybe a little more a neighbor was attacked by a cow with a new calf and ended up with all the ribs broken on the right side, a punctured lung and broken knee. Was on life support for two weeks then recoup for the rest of the summer. They didn't even wash the manure out of his hair for the first three days he was in ICU. If he wasn't a tough old cowboy he wouldn't have made it. His son, who's strong as an ox and weighs 240 or so, tackled the cow and ended up under the cow hanging onto her neck before she calmed down. He had a cracked rib. When they weaned the calf the cow went to the sale barn with orders to be sold for slaughter only and the sale barn staff was warned to stay clear of her. The cow was calm as can be until she calved. Jim

Mike (WA) · Apr 7, 2013

I only had one take me when I had cattle, and I got lucky- she just pinned me to the ground with her face, didn't dance on me or anything, then seemed to think better of it and walked away when she saw that her calf was safe. I had Shorthorns (polled, fortunately), and they were pretty docile for the most part.

I did work for a guy who bought a herd of about 50 mostly horned Hereford cows who were never handled much. All of his registered Angus had been handled all their lives, and he wasn't aware of how rank the range cattle could be. We went out to look at them, they all stuck their heads up in the air and started after us at a dead run- we were lucky to make it to the truck. He said "This isn't gonna work out"- sure enough, the next weekend, he asked me to come over and help load them out. Got there, wondering how we were going to get them up (maybe let 'em chase us into the pen? What could possibly go wrong?), but he had hired about a half dozen cowboys on horseback to do the round up, and I just worked the chutes. Sure wasn't sorry to see that wild-eyed bunch head down the cut, and was thankful for his sturdy corral set up.

It was also the first and only time I had seen cowboys work rank cattle, and I made a mental note that perhaps this was a line of work to stay away from. . .

Elmers Grassman · Apr 7, 2013

There is one available on the market very similar not sure who makes it. Good idea.

PJH · Apr 7, 2013

A guy I worked with always said. "Pay no attention to them thundering hooves". I did ok when I was young, then an old hissy pitched me into a multiflora rose bush. Ticked me off and I was stupid enough to try again. Second time she knocked me down and ran the length of me. Lotsa thoughts went thru my mind in those few seconds, but I remember worrying the most that she was gonna cr*p all over me.

Looks like a good idea. Better than letting her hurt you. Let us know after you try it out. Like you said, there ain't room for all three of you in there, ha.

Mike (WA) · Apr 7, 2013

We had dairy cows, and they would calve out on a 150 acre parcel we rented. Dad had a 3 point carrier on the back of the 8N- we'd go out, police up the calf, and me or my sister or both would ride with it in the open carrier behind the tractor, holding the calf, with the cow following along. If she got too close, we waved our arms. Of course, that was my alternate position on the tractor- primary position was leaning against the right fender, right hand holding the loader valve pipe and left hand holding the tail light. Looking back, I wonder how we all made it to adult-hood.

armand tatro · Apr 7, 2013

I would not trust that wire frame without a frame of heavy duty square tubing top, middle, and bottom horzintal and verticle and uprights on all four cornors. Make that puppy cow proof and stay safe! Armand

GLB in KS · Apr 7, 2013

Good idea, I've only been hit once by a upset momma, and it sure makes you leery. Am told a border collie is the best solution, but mine is too timid yet. I've never used one of those cages, so I don't know how a cow would react. It looks like the wire would be strong enough if she butted it, but if she decided to rear up and then crushed the sides, it could get real serious real fast. I believe I'd add a couple of pipes or tubes to the top to make sure she doesn't try to jump in over the top. Best wishes.

randallinMo · Apr 8, 2013

That's exactly what I was thinking...put that thing on a front end loader. Much more manuverable and you can see what you're doing...plus you can "chase" better with it on the front.
I like to tag the calves as soon after birth as possible because mine are angus and many times you can't tell if it's a "newborn" or not, so you really don't know if you've had a new cow to freshen or not. My brother doesn't worry about it...says he isn't going to fight those cows. He waits until he vaccinates the calves then puts numbers in them and matches everything up thereafter. 'Not a bad idea.

GregCO · Apr 9, 2013

Only cow and calf experience I had almost turned out bad. Older guy down the road had a calf stuck during birth and called and asked if I would help pull the calf. He was not as strong as he used to be and could not get the calf in the right position to pull out. No problem. Headed over and sorted out the calf and pulled him out. He then told me to drag the calf off to the shed. I instead picked up the calf and started to walk off with it with my back to the cow. Next thing I heard was hooves and snorting and the old guy yelling "Drop That Calf". She was gong to have her way with me. Seems some are touchy about that.

Greg

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