Calf Slings...

[bluffcountrycattle]

Can anyone suggest a calf sling for weighing newborn calves?  Need something that is quick and easy, and works well.  Better yet, what ones didn't work like you hoped?  My uncle needs one...used to use twine, and half hitch the front legs and rear legs together, and hang them upside down.  Seems like they fight too much, and he isn't as strong to hold them legs together to get the twine on!  Thanks...

 

[red]

we use a canvas one w/ heavy loops. Use a pole w/ a set of hanging scales. The boys can lift the calf & place pole on gate. Biggest problem is reading scale w/ 1 person.

Red

 

[GLZ]

we have the scale and the sling.  I have a nylon rope that I call my weighing rope.  I throw it over barn beams, or tree limbs.  Tie the scale off of it then weigh the calf.

Our sling is real similar to the one Sullivan's sells.

http://www.sullivansupply.com/Iowa/detail.aspx?ID=12810

 

[bluffcountrycattle]

Thanks...those are the ones I found online as well.  My only concern is if the calves will tend to tip forward or backward much, without any support there.  Thoughts?

 

[red]

we don't have much problem once they're in sling. Hardest part is getting them down in the 1st place so you can lift it.

Red

 

[GLZ]

Thanks...those are the ones I found online as well.  My only concern is if the calves will tend to tip forward or backward much, without any support there.  Thoughts?

It does a pretty good job of supporting the calf and lifting them up.  When you keep the rings together and if is directly over their mid section it is pretty hard for them to slip out.

As red said the hardest thing is lifting it, especially if it a big boy.  Dead lifting a 100 pounds using your forearms up to the hook on the scale can be a little difficult.

 

[red]

thats why we use a pole. It helps w/ the lifting. Scale is attached pre-lift too.

Red

 

[GLZ]

thats why we use a pole. It helps w/ the lifting. Scale is attached pre-lift too.

Red

Is the pole you have hinged or do you have it hinged?  So that it has a lever affect?

 

[red]

no, it a long metal pole, the scale is attached to pole w/ hook & then the straps hook onto the scale. LOL- they've lifted 150# calves w/ it. A two man job for that though.

Red

 

[bluffcountrycattle]

Sounds like it will work fine!  Thanks!  As for the lifting part, he has that figured out...had a custom swing out arm built that attaches behind the cab of the polaris ranger.  There is a cable winch mounted on the side, so once the calf is caught and tied, he pulls the cable down and attaches to the calf, and then cranks the winch up with the scale in between.  Works dang good and sure beats the lifting.  Only problem is now with a few heifers moved up in their calving dates, he can't just drive the Ranger in the lot or barn to use it exactly right.  Worked the best for calving on the pasture, but still a workable idea.

 

[Okie Boy]

back in the day when I di we used a hay net we had for the horses. I would put the calf in the net, put the net on the hanging scales and put the scale on the bale spike to do the lifting. It worked well