|
NW Iowa | I'm relatively new to the cow calf side, this will be my 20th year. Was raised 2000 head farrow to finish, but wanted to do something different. I like calving early and the only thing that I really deal with is a chilled calf, when not caught right away. I've had hot boxes and used nipco's before. I decided last year to spend money on a Val-6. I bought the big one with a fuel heater and the small portable one. The Val 6 will have them steaming in seconds, and thawed out in 5 to 10 min depending on severity. I always take a rectal temp and turn them back out when warmed up. No need to wipe them down. I set them about 4 ft from the heater and rotate them while sitting on a small square bale of hay. The ears and tails with thaw right out with them, no special treatment.
Before everyone jumps in say to calve later when its nice. I don't like to be calving when planting or doing field work or when Iowa gets muddy. I have facilities, lots of cement, and am set up for cold weather calving. I like to have them calve outside or in a open front shed, then move them in. I don't like having all the calving fluid and mess in my barns. I check cows every 4-6hrs depending.
Another great thing about the Val 6 is you can run it off of an inverter hooked to the battery on your pickup. Even the big one. A Nipco you can't. I have thawed out waxed up tractors in my feed bunk runway and tractors on semis when grid power is not available. Also you guys that calve with no facilities in the sticks could put one in the back of the pickup with a box that can be set up to put a calf in. Thaw or warm him up right in the field without bringing him in.
This has been as effective as a hot water tub warm up. Heats the calf not the air. This year looks to stay on the cold side through spring. This is information only, if someone is looking for effective option for warming calves.
Edited by Massey1155 2/6/2019 10:33
(KIMG0465 (full).JPG)
(KIMG0466 (full).JPG)
(KIMG0467 (full).JPG)
(KIMG0468 (full).JPG)
(008 (full).JPG)
Attachments ---------------- KIMG0465 (full).JPG (76KB - 79 downloads) KIMG0466 (full).JPG (61KB - 75 downloads) KIMG0467 (full).JPG (58KB - 77 downloads) KIMG0468 (full).JPG (58KB - 74 downloads) 008 (full).JPG (122KB - 74 downloads)
| |
|