Think It'll Hold A Cow??

admin

Have a cow that got wire wrapped around one of her hind legs.  Couldn't get her on the trailer to get her to the vet.  The leg is lame, and she can't put weight on it to jump up to the trailer deck.So this..........Reinforcement tabs at the transition from flat portion of ramp to the lip.Tabs welded in with flux core (1/8" diamond plate, so the flux core).  Then joint gouged to receive the weld to marry the tabs.Tabs joined with 7018I run the little pocket mig cranked to the max all the time mostly.  You can see the difference between a stick weld, and the flux core weld on the diamond plate/angle.  The main angle to angle weld is again 7018Worked as hoped, and she's up in the trailer for a trip to the vet this morning"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I don't like these rush jobs.  Usually I forget something, but this time it's all ok.Gonna be nice to see this crap off of her.  That's a potential $7000 loss.  Cost of a replacement heifer, and all the calves lost from this one if she goes lame, and dies.Change a tire on the trailer, and it's off in the next half hour or so.  She's been on the trailer all night, and need to get this done"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice job on the ramp Sam!It did what you needed to do right now and probably will be useful in the future for loading and unloading inanimate stuff with a two wheeler.  Might think abour adding some sort of attachment point to the front of the trailer above the tongue and just making it a ride along accessory.Hopefully the circulation is still good to the hoof.RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:She must have worked pretty hard to get that twisted up.Hope she comes out as nice as the quick ramp project.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Good job and good luck with her.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:That's terrible sam ...not the ramp that's goodPoor bossyBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Man, I was hoping for a homemade crane with one of these on the end:http://www.cowcradle.com/default.aspxThe ramp is nice though and could probably be used for lots of other stuff.
Reply:She should be fine .  Generally we just snub them up to a post  and clip the wire off with sidecutters . A shot of antibiotic  and then get them out of the corral and back to  " clean "  pasture .   Nice looking ramp that will be handy to have around though .
Reply:Since I've never worked with cows, but seen them before, my expert opinion is next time ask her to patiently hold still while you clip off the wire Nice ramp - I especially liked the side-by-side of the mig to stick comparison. Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:It's probably hold my old one but not if she brought the jewelry and, especially, the cancelled checks I wrote the bovine.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Hope it turns out well.
Reply:Thanks for the well wishes, I really mean it.It went well sortaI switched out the tire, and off down the highway.Get there and the vet and his assistant lady come out to unload her.  Now she won't get off the trailer.  Took 2 days to get her ON THE TRAILER, now she doesn't want to get offFinally she decides to get down, and away we go............They got her into the squeeze chute allright, but it was all downhill from there.This place has a hydraulic squeeze chute that rotates 180 degrees.  So she's in there, and the headgate closes (all's well), then the squeeze panels close (things are getting a bit iffy now), they tie her head to the side with a rope (her eyes are starting to get a bit wide now), then they rotate the whole thing (all bets are off)So now she's on her side, eyes wide, nostrils flared, and spraying snot everywhere when she snorts.  And the sh#t starts flying....I mean good old scared [email protected] seen a cow on her side with her legs moving like she wants to run.  It's sort of funny in a sad way.Anyhow, the guy opens the bottom of the chute and about gets kicked in the noggin. The actual work only took about maybe 1 minute.So he turns the chute back upright, and SHE DECIDES TO LAY DOWN INSIDE, AND NOT MOVE A MUSCLE.  I think she's had enough by now.  A little shock to the azz, and she decides maybe it's better off outside.She literally flew back on the trailer after all this  (Not lame by the way, the wire off and all's well)So we get back home AND SHE WON'T GET OFF THE STINKIN TRAILER!!!!!!!!!!!!I left her there for about 15 minutes, came back, and she was still on the trailer.  Henry got up in there with her, and off she went (she hates that dog)She almost did a face plant jumping off the trailer, and her back legs went sideways, but all landed ok.By now I'VE just about had enough.  I take a 2 hour nap.Get up, and treat myself to a Hostess Cupcake.......K'kins bought these the other day, she knows I like them (wonderful girl she is), but she had no idea they had gone bad.  At least the symptoms indicate they've gone bad  And they were sorta chalky looking on top, and had a funny taste.  But I ate the stupid thing.So now I got a minor bout of the crudAnd the cow????????  Went out and looked at her a bit ago.  You might think all of this never happened.  Has her nose buried in the hay with the rest of them"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice job, seems to have worked out good enough in the end! But, since we all care alot about metal here, what happened to the wire?
Reply:Nice story...and nice emergency project. Poor thing...POVERTY...is the Mother of InventionMillermatic 211Millermatic 140Miller Thunderbolt XLArcOne 100STS inverter w/TIGThermal Dynamics 38XL Victor Oxy/AcetyleneJancy Slugger Holemaker IIJet 5x6 BandsawNever enough time & sleep.
Reply:Now Samm....I really REALLY mean this...You get all the fun jobs....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Very happy it all worked out Samm, Jeesh man it's Friday and after all that you deserve to sh!t your pants instead of having a beer, Sour cupcakes! Are you kiddin me!  good job bro! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Nice story, great idea.
Reply:Sounds like the vet gets all the crappy jobs.Gotta switch to Twinkies Samm.  They never go bad and with all the preservatives you'll live forever. Glad she's doing well and hope you do too soon!MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I'm surprised you don't have a squeeze chute or even a lockup for their heads?  Don't you ever have to do ear tagging, vaccinations, dehorning, breeding, preg checks, etc....?  I can't imagine having cows without at least something.  Headlocks wouldn't be hard to build for you.http://www.hatfieldmfg.com/pages/tra...tanchions.html
Reply:at the end of the day livestock is way more resilient than we give them credit for.     good solution, good fix, and good endingwe usually just sedate them right there, then trim the wire.    well in horses atleastVantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:If you have quite a few head of live stock a squeeze chute could potentially save you 7000.00 . Maybe keeping a hypodermic needle of powerful sedative would be cheaper and easier. But with your talents a custom made squeeze might be alot of fun for you and us.
Reply:Originally Posted by StonagegraniteMaybe keeping a hypodermic needle of powerful sedative would be cheaper and easier.
Reply:Have you considered a vet that makes farm calls? Good job, I'm glad that all is well.
Reply:Well Samm, now you have another job to consider, building a squeeze chute.  Not that you don't have enough on your plate!  Good story and ending.  Best  Bob
Reply:Good to have a good outcome. funny how some things that should be reasonably straight forward can take so many twists and turns as to turn into an ordeal.Originally Posted by AcemanI'm surprised you don't have a squeeze chute or even a lockup for their heads?  Don't you ever have to do ear tagging, vaccinations, dehorning, breeding, preg checks, etc....?  I can't imagine having cows without at least something.  Headlocks wouldn't be hard to build for you.http://www.hatfieldmfg.com/pages/tra...tanchions.html
Reply:It's been a loooooooong time since we've had any cattle but I have to say I think you've got some really sound reasoning all around there Samm. MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Snapped a couple of pics of the project pileThese are full sticks (20') stacked single deep on sleepers, probably about 12' from the close end to the far end of the stack.  Had to brush the dead Johnson Grass off the top of the stack to even see the stuffAnd another stack of 12', and 8', pieces.All of it is earmarked for the "one day sometime soon" project.  Been sitting there about four years like I said.  The upside is that it was bought very much cheaper than what I could buy it for today.Come to think of it.......there's probably more than a ton sitting out there.  Been a while since I've seen the invoice."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice rush job. It sure helps to have material on hand. Hope she's doing fine. I got loading dock aluminum ramp that works perfect for my livestock trailer. I just use it for my hogs.
Reply:Great work on the ramp. I had a lame heifer in our pasture who would not step up into our trailer. I didn't think to build a ramp at the time, instead I dug a ditch and backed the trailer into the ditch and the heifer could step down into the trailer. I'm sure your ramp will be more useful in the future. My ditch, well, just filled it in.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:We've had that problem twice.  The first time was bad, the wire had cut into the flesh.  We had the vet come out and put the steer asleep to remove the wire.  Amazingly, he made a full recovery in just a couple weeks.  We couldn't hardly believe it.  The second time the wire wasn't nearly as tight.  Dad slipped a couple pieces of 1/2" emt conduit ove the handles of a pair of side cuts to give us some distance from the cow.  One well execuited clip of the wire and the job was over.Miller 250x & Lincoln V205-TSmith Oxy-Prop torch
Reply:Quite the story!  Good all turned out well.Back to the welding --- that MIG tack looks cold, not enough amps.  You said the machine was turned up ll the way.  What machine, and whats the max rating?- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Waaay off topic which I apologize for....do you use an intensive rotation grazing system? Seems I remember a comment you made a while ago about brushwacking and how the fields often end up full of weeds.  I know a lot of guys have a lot of success using a system like that and the cows end up with better forage. Yeah much more labor intensive moving them but keeps the fields better too as the weeds can't get a foothold.  Glad the cow is better....cows is not always the brightest animals. ha! I remember trying to get a milker who was "stuck". She stuck her head through the bars to feed (as she did EVERY DAY!) but for some reason this time didn't realize she just needed to back up. Kept pushing forward and bawling her eyes out. I was trying to push her back, slipping and sliding in the mud. Finally another guy came up and gave her a jab in the neck with the hot shot. Problem solved. LOL  I always enjoy your posts! Making do with what you have! Thanks for posting them.