Weaning Calves

We weaned the rest of our calves at ESF this week.  We had already weaned a group of 22 of the older calves back in May. This week we weaned the rest of the calves that were still on the cow. There were 78 head of these calves. As they came through the chute they got weighed, dewormed, fly tags cut out, and the steers got implanted. As a group they averaged #450 lbs.




Here are some of the mommas wondering where their babies went.

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We had good help which made the work go smoothly. Myself, Becky, and Brandy as well as Dave came from the office and Ron Shrout (a KBN Facilitator) was there to help us with the head chute. As usual Greg had the chore of keeping the tub full so we could keep working. We had just the right number of people to make everything run efficiently.

We also pregnancy checked all the cows that day by pulling blood from the tail. This was the second time that I have pulled blood from the tail, and it was so much easier after getting experience with 80 head last year. Dave helped pull blood on some of them and it was nice to get a break after doing several in a row.

We send the blood to Gold Standard Labs in Bowling Green to get tested and we usually have results the next day. This year we had 10 head open. This is a really easy and efficient way to pregnancy check your cows. It only cost a couple of bucks a head to have the test run and it is highly accurate.


Afterwards, the calves were less worried about their mommas and more worried about the feed truck that just pulled up.

It didn't take long and they were all at the trough eating.

It was another good day at Eden Shale Farm.