The process of tagging calves begins with securing the calf and cleaning the ears with wipes. We have found cleaning the ears before tagging reduces the chance for infection at the tagging site.
Tagging calves is typically accomplished with two people. Pictured is Judy Moyers with her trusty RTV and Bill Howard with his Grizzly. The calf's concerned mother looks on. Our goal is to produce attentive dams with strong maternal instincts that do not behave aggressively toward the handlers.
This calf represents one of Sedgewood Plantation's registered angus bull calves that will be for sale, ready for breeding in the spring of 2016.
We weigh our calves using a scale attached to the front hitch of the RTV. The scale has electronic load bars that connect to the "scale head" that is more visible in the next picture.
Pictured is a calf trying to escape being weighed while it's mother watches carefully. Also pictured is the scale head just to the right of Bill's right shoulder. This digitally records the weights of all of our calves. The weights are transferred to a paper registry at the end of the day to protect against electronic failure.
The calf is through with the weighing and tagging process and escapes to more entertaining grounds.
V30 is a very maternal, deep bodied 22 month old heifer doing a great job with her first baby.
X203 is out of the V30 first calf heifer. He had a 65# birth weight and represents one of Sedgewood Plantation's registered bulls that will be ready for breeding and sale in the spring of 2016.
This calf represents one of Sedgewood Plantation's registered bull calves that will be for sale, ready for breeding in the spring of 2016.
This calf represents one of Sedgewood Plantation's registered bull calves that will be for sale, ready for breeding in the spring of 2016.
On the farm is a pecan orchard that Bill's father planted in the 1930's.
A Sedgewood Plantation Registered Angus first calf heifer.
Judy bottle feeds a calf that is in need of a little help.
Some of our commercial angus cattle at pasture.
One of Sedgewood Plantation's registered Angus heifer calves on the scale ready to be weighed. Shown is our tagging layout: X-1 is calf's number, V-6 is the Dam.
The tag in the right ear of the calf display's relevant calf information. From top to bottom is the calf's number (X-1), BIZ (SAV Bismarck) is the sire, then the calf's birthday, with the Dam's number listed at the bottom.
The newborn heifer calf is on the electronic scale with her attentive 2 year old dam watching over. X1 heifer calf born 10/4/14 and mom V6 born 10/9/12.
The electronic scale is on clear display in this photograph, with the attentive Dam watching over.
The electronic scale is on clear display in this photograph, with the attentive Dam watching over.
Judy and Bill weighing one of Sedgewood Plantation's new registered angus heifer calves.
Judy and Bill prepare to release a tagged calf back to it's impatient mother.
Judy and Bill prepare to release a tagged calf back to it's impatient mother. One of our goals is to produce very attentive dams with strong maternal instincts that are not overly aggressive or dangerous to the handlers.
Judy and Bill prepare to release a tagged calf back to it's impatient mother. One of our goals is to produce very attentive dams with strong maternal instincts that are not overly aggressive or dangerous to the handlers.
Ol' Blue Eyes patrols the grounds near the squeeze chute.
Millie and our Barn cat, Frank Sinatra, share a moment on our Yamaha Grizzly 700 ATV.
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that is currently for sale (as of 11/07/14). The bull is pictured in one of our working pens. Bull # is V254
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that is currently for sale (as of 11/07/14). The bull is pictured in one of our working pens. Bull # is V254
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that is currently for sale (as of 11/07/14). The bull is pictured in one of our working pens. Bull # is V254
Millie as a puppy, circa 2001.
A picture of the girls with the puppies, circa 2001. The girls have grown up ...but the puppies are still our puppies!
The Millie and Belle taking a break from farm work.
Millie & Belle were featured in Nell Dickerson's hardcover book, "Porch Dogs". http://www.amazon.com/Porch-Dogs-Nell-Dickerson/dp/0895875977#
Nancy and Millie deliver feed to the cows in colder weather.
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that was for sale last spring. Bull # is V247
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that was for sale last spring. Bull # is V247
Pictured are three of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus Embryo donors. Cow numbers are F45, J10, & L27
F45 has done an amazing job for Sedgewood and is still going strong at 15 years of age. She and two of her daughters have been "flushed" for donor eggs for use in our embryo transfer program.
L27 is another fantastic registered angus embryo donor for Sedgewood Plantation.
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that was for sale last spring. Bull # is V253
A few of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bulls that were for sale last spring. Bull in front is # V303, an embryo transfer calf from Sedgewood's F45 as the donor Dam.
A few of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bulls that were for sale last spring. Bull in front is # V303, an embryo transfer calf from Sedgewood's F45 as the donor Dam.
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that was for sale last spring. Bull # is V230
One of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bull that was for sale last spring. Bull # is V221
A few of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bulls that were for sale last spring.
A few of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bulls that were for sale last spring.
A few of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bulls that were for sale last spring.
A few of Sedgewood Plantation's Registered Angus bulls that were for sale last spring.
Ann riding Sport, our retired quarter horse.
Tagging Calves and Farm Life