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maryjane
7074 Posts
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 Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 06:40:11 AM
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I received a letter this week from a woman who swears by banding for horns and castration as more humane. And here's a short video about the bander she recommends:
http://www.callicratebanders.com/
Looks like it's for sale at Valley Vet:
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07737-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5&gas=callicrate bander
"I have had cattle, milk and beef, for most of my 75 years. I milked a dozen cows every day for many years after Dad got his hand hurt.
Since moving to Missouri from Idaho in 1962, I have had mostly beef cattle. Making steers from the bull calves was always a problem. In fact, we lost one big calf. He was cut and promptly bled to death. Good meat--not what I wanted then.
I heard about this Callicrate Bander and invested in one. We usually don't castrate our bull calves until 10 or so months. I like the testosterone for growth and taste. Since banding them, we haven't lost any, not even any weight as they are back out eating in 30 minutes or so. Always give a tetanus shot at the time the band is applied. The scrotum dries up and falls off in 6-8 weeks. Sometimes there is an odor for a few days after banding as the dead tissue decays.
We've also used the bands on several animals with horns. We don't keep horned animals. There was no bleeding, no flies, and no pain. These animals continued in their daily routines.
Thoroughly enjoying your Milk Cow Kitchen book, especially the cheese recipes. Just wanted to let you now there is a bloodless and very humane way of steering those bulls."
Sincerely,
Virginia Toole
I might add to Virginia's letter that coincidently when I had Maizy with the vet this past week, I touched her scurs and reminded them that they'd removed her horns years ago (they were already big). She said "We've recently started banding for horns and it sure does work better. If they have large horns like Maizy did, we also wrap criss-cross across their forehead with duct tape after the bands are in place like you would a roping steer. But if you put the bands on when they first get horns, the nubs just fall off.
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MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 06:53:36 AM
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| I will have to read up on this. Not sure I like the idea of the scrotum rotting off. I still can't believe that having a band tightly around the scrotum for several weeks isn't painful and for a longer period of time. But I will read up on it and see what folks are saying about it. May be just the thing. But will definitely read up on it. Thank you for the information. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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maryjane
7074 Posts
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Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 06:59:39 AM
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| I'm especially interested in it for horns. Let us know what you find out. |
MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~ |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 07:07:39 AM
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| From what I've been reading, I think it would be great for de-horning. Nellie has a horn stub that would look nicer if it was off, but it doesn't bother me that much. Her little frock of hair on her head covers it. I'm still out on fence with the castration. The question and answer section of their web site answers many questions, and I want to read a bit more from others who have used it for castration. Will let you know. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
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Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 07:17:41 AM
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We always banded shortly after birth. No problems with it. Could work for horns. The old way really sucks. When I am going to keep an animal for here I just let it be horned. There is a dairy where the owner swears horns make better milk. Lol..swears they act like antenna to bring in the cosmic forces into the cow.
Must have been a throwback from Woodstock. 😀 |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
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Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 07:58:23 AM
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| Yes! That's the place. Or one of them. I had no intention of dehorning Betsy if She stays here. |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 08:08:25 AM
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| Ron, you said above that you banded shortly after birth. I thought the testes had to drop before you could castrate, whether it be banding or cutting or what method. Don't they have to be a few weeks old before the testes drop? Don't know that's why I'm asking. |
To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown |
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Ron
4666 Posts
Ronnie
Peever
SD
USA
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Posted - Jan 17 2015 : 08:52:20 AM
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| Usually about one week seems to be the rule of thumb here. Always had one of the ranch boys stopped nod just popped on the rubber band and it never seemed to bother the calf. |
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. |
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NellieBelle
11217 Posts
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![[flourish]](/images/flourish-txt_mobius.png)
Banders for Horns and Castration
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