SWEAT COLLARS

[kobo_ranch]

I wanted to ask some of you what you think about using sweat collars.  And how much help you think they do?  We used alot last year and not sure if helped much or not.
We have a heifer that is really nice but pretty loose fronted and just don't know if it will do much good or not.  She's a Chi (ORB) so not sure if its worth the trouble.
I ordered the Sullivans purple one last year but pretty much wore it out.  Rubbing against the liveoaks.  Trying to decide if its worth the money to order a new one!! 
Really just want everyones thoughts on them.  Thanks!  <cowboy>

 

[OLD WORLD SHORTIE]

im sure they work, just not as much as people think. grab the skin on the profile, for a tighter look in the neck.

 

[KCK]

For a quick fix, try acupuncture. Sounds off the wall, but the horse people do it and I have seen the difference it makes in heifers. We had some sort of concoction we sprayed on their necks under the sweat collar, then wrapped it in Saran wrap, then topped with the collar (but that was just on some ranch.) Couldn't even tell ya what was in the concoction- recipe came from a Texan.

 

[kobo_ranch]

I'm bumping... would like a little more input if you please.  <cowboy>

 

[The Show]

I've used them for a while. I don't think they make a calf cleaner fronted, but I do think they keep them from getting worse if you use them daily. They look the best right after you take it off(hint hint)

 

[Silver]

If you get one, get a leather one with the neoprene lining. The fleece lined leather ones don't do a whole lot. The purple sweat works, but they wear out. I ended up having a saddle shop make me one, it works a lot better than the ones you'll find at sullivans.

 

[KCK]

I just remembered. We made them wear the purple ones with the leather one over it. But, it was in Colorado and it wasn't too hot. Not sure what it would do in a hot, hot environment.

 

[Steve123]

Cut a section out of a truck innertube, put it on at weaning for about a month. Monitor the skin underneath, if it is hot they can get some sores from the sweating. The skin will stay tight for the rest of their life.

 

[Trails End Ranch]

It does work pretty well to use a leather sweat over the purple sweat. We had heifers ripping the purple ones to shreds also and since we started putting the leather one over it we have had no troubles.

 

[chambero]

They absolutely work.  Like someone else said, put a leather one over the neoprene one to protect.

Some calves skin are more sensitive than others, but we'll leave them on a few days then off a couple.  You can tell if you are chaffing them too much

 

[herfluvr]

Being from a horse show world' sweating necks DOES work.  If you can find a halter horse person, they might just give you some tips.  My friend uses a concoction with glycerine in it.  A lot of them can be purchased in liquid or gels.  Look at Jeffers Equine.  Would work well with several layers.  She puts a sweat solution on, puts on  a plastic garbage bag-the bag keeps the sweats in better shape longer-2 neck sweats, lunges her mare until she sweats  and then lets her cool down with it on(about an hour) and rinses all residue off.  She is careful about skin irritation.  I would think the same priciples could be applied with walking the calf with a neck sweat on and then letting it stand while it cools down and then rinsing.  She uses a fleece throatlatch when the mare is stalled.  A fleece one looks like this site
http://www.sporthorseproducts.com/Fleece-Neck-Sweat.html?zenid=5752d9e871ca720625b0cfd1b29abebf

A halter horse trainer will do this 6 days a week so you have to be religious with it.  Also if the animal's temperature is not "hot" from working a bit, after it has cooled down any necksweat doesn't do much good.
Here is a good article from the AQHA Journal
http://www.aqha.com/magazines/aqhj/content/2008content/08aug/No%20Sweat.pdf