Dexter Cattle For Sale Discussion Board

Has anyone ever been on or does anyone know of any courses in calving cows/problem calvings etc? We have just had a cow calve today whose calf was trying to be born nose first with the legs tucked back along its body so no chance of calving naturally. Our landlord who used to be a dairy farmer delivered the calf which unfortunately was dead. I felt useless, not knowing what to do and wish I could go on a course to at least find out the basics. I realise that in calving problems the best thing to do is phone the vet but mine wasn't answering his phone today! Any thoughts? Best to leave well alone and call the vet in every case?

Natasha

No, but you might be able to find a lambing course or even help out on a farm at lambing time. A calf is just a big lamb in most respects and with lambs you'll get practical experience of things (backwards, breach, leg back) that you will get far more rarely in cattle. Just a thought.

Thanks Clive, good idea. We have some friends who have sheep and although they won't be lambing again until next February I shall ask them for some practical experience at that time. In the short term I shall look out for some lambing courses.

Natasha

Also maybe a book, a long time ago when I was in my early teens I bought the TV VET SHEEP BOOK. It is a little naff in some ways - the nice man likes to take his shirt off when working - but the illustrations on malpresentations and explanations on what to do are pretty useful if you are new to it, it may be worth looking on ebay, or there could be another book out by now that is better, may even a cattle book.

Stephanie

Have a look at LANTRA website, they took over the old Agricultural Training Board, and should be able to point you in the right direction.

In the old ATB days we as a vet practice used to run a lot of short courses, lambing, lamb hypothermia, abortion in sheep, castrating calves, dehorning calves, calf rearing, heifer rearing, and of course calving cows. Sadly it became ATB_Landbase, went all posh and la de da, and small providers like ourselves were blocked out by all the formalities and I have not run a course for over 20 years. And no one else is in this area as far as I know. But they may well be able to point you at suitable courses in your area. G
Just google Agricultural Training Board or Lantra.

I don't quite understand your vet not answering his phone. Any vet providing services direct to the public should make provision for service 24/7. Is your vet not doing this?


Duncan

natmadaboutdexters wrote:Thanks Clive, good idea. We have some friends who have sheep and although they won't be lambing again until next February I shall ask them for some practical experience at that time. In the short term I shall look out for some lambing courses.

Natasha

Not sure they do it any more Natasha, but the Prison Service used to run courses at their farm prisons, which is where we did ours (Frankly or something like that on the M5 near Kidderminster). I've got an idea they sold all the farms, maybe not though?

Hi Natasha. Look for the book CALVING THE COW &CARE OF THE CALF by Eddie Straiton,available from amazon ISBN 0-85236-257-9, used 4th copy 1996 at £1-76p, used 5th copy 2002 at £52-12p yes £52-12p

Blimey £52.12p, I couldn't resist checking as I have that exact copy!!! It is a good book Gee Tee I would agree. The sheep book I mentioned is on there from only 3p second hand, both written by the same man actually. Good old Amazon

Stephanie

P.S. Is the cow OK Natasha?

Or from the Smallholder Bookshop @ £18.99 http://www.sdmicro.ukf.net/smallholder/page04.htm