Banding at 4 weeks

MollyK · #1 03/29/10, 11:57 PM

Is 4 weeks too old to band a calf?

I should have done it the day I got him at 2 weeks, but you know how that goes sometimes.

Both of my brother-in-laws are cattle farmers and one of them has a worker that castrates their cattle. He said if I decided not to band him that they would come up and castrate him for me before it got hot. So... that means within the next two weeks, or whenever the next cold spell is. It was freezing today and tomorrow it's supposed to be 75!

Thank ya much!

sammyd · #2 03/30/10, 12:55 AM

If you can get the band on it's not too late.
4 weeks should be fine.

Ronney · #3 03/30/10, 06:01 AM

[QUOTE=MollyK;4360104]but you know how that goes sometimes.[QUOTE]

I certainly do! which is why mine sometimes don't get done until they are knocking on the door of 12 weeks. Most get done around the 5-6 week old mark and 4 weeks will be fine. Stay away from castration, unneccessary stress for you and calf, and not needed at that age.

Cheers,
Ronnie

topside1 · #4 03/30/10, 07:57 AM

Molly, band away. Four week old is a fine age to band...The sooner the better, not because of age or size, but the heat.....Topside

MollyK · #5 03/30/10, 08:01 AM

Thanks y'all! I'll get that done... hopefully today!

Onthebit · #6 03/30/10, 09:19 PM

No tetanus? Nothing?

ericnovak · #7 03/31/10, 03:24 PM

Did mine around 12 weeks and it worked out fine. I didn't shoot up tetanus or anything because I didn't have access to it but thankfully nothing went wrong. Just make sure the band is really tight and snug. If everything goes fine you should notice them shriveling in about a month or so.

kclementsdvm · #8 04/01/10, 03:40 PM

Four weeks is definitely not too old to band a calf. I band calves at seven to eight months of age still - would far prefer to do it earlier, but when people wait a long time, that's what happens. Do vaccinate for tetanus when you do it, though. I've seen a calf die of tetanus - it's not pretty.

MollyK · #9 04/07/10, 03:13 PM

To Update all of you...

One of my cattle farming brother in laws came into town for easter and he said he would cut him for me! So we cut him on Friday and he is doing great!

Still running and jumping around like a baby cow should.

Thanks for all your help guys!