What farm task do kids today know nothing about.

[aczlan]

Anybody else ever have to pull a calf?

Had to run my arm up in a cow one time to pull out a calf's leg. An uncle had the other leg in his hand but could only get one. So I had to pull my coat off and roll up my sleeve and dig in. Don't think I was sixteen yet. Probably the grossest thing I have ever had to do but we saved the calf and the cow.

So yes, I have been up past my elbow in a cow's................

That was another time Mom had to hose me off outside before I could go in to the basement shower.

The same year we had to pull another one and three of us couldn't pull it out. So I had to get the tractor and we tied a rope around the protruding legs and tied the cow to the stables. I put the tractor in low/first and idled forward. We were afraid we would pull the legs off the calf but it came out.

Mentioned that to the doctors in the delivery room while they were doing a Cesarean on my wife. Doctors had to stop and laugh but it really ticked my wife off.

I doubt very many teenagers have had experiences like that today.

RSKY

My kids will probbaly have that experience someday, we are starting to raise beef cows and are 2 for 3 on having to pull calves (big heads and stuck feet).

Aaron Z

 

[goeduck]

We always tried to keep a bull known for throwing small calves for breeding the heifers. Called them a heifer bull. A lot less calf pulling that way.

 

[Ken]

My kids will probbaly have that experience someday, we are starting to raise beef cows and are 2 for 3 on having to pull calves (big heads and stuck feet).

Aaron Z

Remember the old joke of this young boy watching his Father helping to pull a calf. afterwards in car asked Dad how fast was that calf running when it hit the cow.

If the owners would study what there raising and allow a yearling to grow to full size then have them bread
to a bull that produce a smaller calf very much lessens the problem.
2of 3 needing pulling expecting to much from the cow.
Maybe use A/I and forget a bull.

 

[Streetcar]

Remember the old joke of this young boy watching his Father helping to pull a calf. afterwards in car asked Dad how fast was that calf running when it hit the cow.

If the owners would study what there raising and allow a yearling to grow to full size then have them bread
to a bull that produce a smaller calf very much lessens the problem.
2of 3 needing pulling expecting to much from the cow.
Maybe use A/I and forget a bull.

My tractor pull was a large heifer that had a giant calf. That was the only calf pulled from that bull, angus short horn cross

 

[Mace Canute]

We always tried to keep a bull known for throwing small calves for breeding the heifers. Called them a heifer bull. A lot less calf pulling that way.

Back in the 60's the stepdad and his brother ran a small cow herd, mostly Herefords and the odd Red Angus, and they decided to get a Charolais bull for bigger calves for market. Well, they were bigger calves alright and several cows had trouble calving them. I made the comment we should have Charolais cows and a Hereford bull which for some reason they didn't like. They went back to a Hereford bull soon after though.

 

[aczlan]

If the owners would study what there raising and allow a yearling to grow to full size then have them bread
to a bull that produce a smaller calf very much lessens the problem.
2of 3 needing pulling expecting to much from the cow.
Maybe use A/I and forget a bull.

They were over a year old when they were bred and the bull was said to be a "calve ease" bull, but we still ended up with a very big head for one of the three. The other one that we had to pull had its feet stuck. It probably would have been ok without pulling after the feet got straightened out, but we were already there, and the chains were on, so she pulled gently and out it came.
We have a smaller bull lined up for this year, we will see how they turn out.

Aaron Z

 

[Norm W]

When I got to college I was amazed that at least half of the students didn't know how to operate the washers and driers. It was suds all over or shrunken tee shirts in hot driers. The folks from the South that had no cue how to drive in snow. One even left his car in gear while pushing it out from the parking space. He then had to chase it down the street. The only sewing machine was in the girls dorm. You could use it if you checked in at the main desk. I had to explain that I learned to sew, sewing sails in a boat yard. I met many gals that needed sewing done. Ironing dress shirts took me less time than any of the gals could do it. I though it was a lot easier than taking dents out of sheet metal. Car problems, I'd get a call. I didn't think this was too bad for a music major. This was better than 50 years ago, I don't think it has improved much

 

[2LaneCruzer]

When I got to college I was amazed that at least half of the students didn't know how to operate the washers and driers. It was suds all over or shrunken tee shirts in hot driers. The folks from the South that had no cue how to drive in snow. One even left his car in gear while pushing it out from the parking space. He then had to chase it down the street. The only sewing machine was in the girls dorm. You could use it if you checked in at the main desk. I had to explain that I learned to sew, sewing sails in a boat yard. I met many gals that needed sewing done. Ironing dress shirts took me less time than any of the gals could do it. I though it was a lot easier than taking dents out of sheet metal. Car problems, I'd get a call. I didn't think this was too bad for a music major. This was better than 50 years ago, I don't think it has improved much

Well Norm, for someone from New Yawk, you have impressed me with your self reliance and countrified independence.

 

[/pine]

operating one of these:

 

[bunyip]

What is it?
Looks a bit like a rake hoe for firefighting but too small.