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Post by franklinridgefarms on Sept 28, 2019 9:05:53 GMT -6
We have had almost two years of exceptionally wet weather, and then about 2 months or so ago it cut off like a faucet. We have had a lot of 90* days since and everything is just dried up. We have waterers in some fields, but not where our largest group of cows and calves are. I knew their pond and branch were drying up so have been running tanks of city water for them. We have been buying some cows at the stockyards, and all but one have integrated in with the others, that one has stayed hidden much of the time in the back of the farm. Last night found her stuck up to her back in the pond mud. It was in a rough place to pull one out, but we were able to get our utv down the bank of the pond. I got out in the mud and literally got on her back like a horse to keep me from sinking down while I got a strap around her to pull her out. We got her out and she got up afterwards and is eating and drinking, but looks pretty rough.
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Post by greybeard on Sept 28, 2019 12:17:16 GMT -6
Had a Char bull get off in a finger of my pond a couple winters ago. Got him out but he'd been in there for hrs with most of his hind qtr down in the cold mud. Pulled him out with neighbor's 1 ton dually. It was going to be 15*F that night so all I could do that late was dry him off, feed him good, cover him with blankets and built a fire close by and wife and I stayed with him all night till I could do more the next morning. I could get him up and walking with help from the FEL and straps and he would stay up for several hrs walking and eating, but once he layed down, he never could get back up on his own. We went thru the lift, walk him and feed for a couple of weeks and one morning found him dead. All I wanted to do was get him on his feet enough to get him to sale but just wasn't to be. 
He wasn't the kind of bull even in hot weather to spend any time at all standing in water. I figured he walked down in there a bit to get a drink and when he went to turn around and come out, his rear legs slipped out from under him and he never could get them back under him. His rear legs were stiff as a board when I got him up on dry land and in straps. I got a black bull now that I really didn't want but gave almost nothing for just to get some calves and that sucker stays in the pond all the time and will swim all the way across the big part of it. Took this last week just as he was getting ready to get out.  |
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Post by franklinridgefarms on Sept 28, 2019 13:26:52 GMT -6
Had a Char bull get off in a finger of my pond a couple winters ago. Got him out but he'd been in there for hrs with most of his hind qtr down in the cold mud. Pulled him out with neighbor's 1 ton dually. It was going to be 15*F that night so all I could do that late was dry him off, feed him good, cover him with blankets and built a fire close by and wife and I stayed with him all night till I could do more the next morning. I could get him up and walking with help from the FEL and straps and he would stay up for several hrs walking and eating, but once he layed down, he never could get back up on his own. We went thru the lift, walk him and feed for a couple of weeks and one morning found him dead. All I wanted to do was get him on his feet enough to get him to sale but just wasn't to be.
He wasn't the kind of bull even in hot weather to spend any time at all standing in water. I figured he walked down in there a bit to get a drink and when he went to turn around and come out, his rear legs slipped out from under him and he never could get them back under him. His rear legs were stiff as a board when I got him up on dry land and in straps. I got a black bull now that I really didn't want but gave almost nothing for just to get some calves and that sucker stays in the pond all the time and will swim all the way across the big part of it. Took this last week just as he was getting ready to get out. We have had similar experience with them like that before. That cow last night, must not have been stuck for long, and it's hot weather too, had it been winter she probably wouldn't have been able to got up. It doesn't take long in cold weather in the mud to take a lot out of them. We have lost a couple that way too. Like you were we are hoping to keep this cow going until we can get her in shape to get to market. |
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Post by tcranch on Sept 28, 2019 15:21:02 GMT -6
Greybeard, that picture is heartbreaking. You do everything you can but unfortunately can't save 'em all.
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Post by bootjackbulls on Sept 30, 2019 8:05:24 GMT -6
We finally fenced the lake on our property so nothing can access it. We never had one get stuck in the mud, but did have several cows go through the ice during winter (the horses never went on the ice). Between that and the geese, ducks and swans making the water dangerous to consume part of each spring and fall, it's just better we keep it fenced out.
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