Rancher quiz--what do you do in a situation like this?

[Soapweed]

While checking pastures this morning, I came upon this problem. The calf had gotten his head through the angle iron cribbing around the windmill, and was really, really stuck. Possible even, his head had grown overnight--at least it seemed like it. Anyway, the head seemed much bigger than the hole in which it was stuck. At least he could breathe, and was not choking.

Keep in mind, I am eight miles from town one way, and eight miles from our home ranch the other. All I have with me are a few simple tools and a cell phone. Are there any suggestions on what to do in a situation like this? My solution will be posted later tonight.

[Big Muddy rancher]

I will be the first to do it the hard way then let you tell me the easy way to do it. I have had calves with head stuck thru the leg on a panel and have had to cut with a hacksaw the panel apart and I have also tipped their head enough as they pull back . Sometimes it seems that it will never come out the at the right angle out it come.

[Shelly]

Use the cell phone to call someone for a saw?

[BRG]

One time we had it happen but we had a little more space than you have here. We took a little hydrolic jack and widened it enough to pop it out.

[CarlB]

I hate to say it but, the hacksaw is the option we used once. This will allow you to reweld the space later or leave the hole if it's not critical to your fence there.

[Kato]

He got in. He must be able to get out. Before cutting anything, I would try getting both of his ears back, and getting his head good and wet with water from the trough. It's the ears that usually block things on the way out. If that didn't work, then it's probably hacksaw time.

Bonus, you now have a halter broke calf!

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I'd slick him up with either dish washin soap or some kinda oil...usually a quart or two in the ranch truck. Git him good'n slick n turn him where ears are in the corners since that'd be the widest spot..pin his ears back n push....or cattle prod to the nose.

I thought on this....n am thinkin this is a trick question..hehe
(answers prolly real simple)

Also I'm not seein a weld on the post behind the panel???? possibly pull it outta the ground if not welded and wallahhh.????

[jigs]

well, here in Kansas we always hear stories about the stump broke cattle up in Nebraska.....but I never heard tell of a critter being taught to stand like those pictures show! guess a lonesome cowboy knows no limits!

[pknoeber]

Pull the post if possible. If not, bend it over.

Phil

PS: Had to laugh, short on tools (glad that happens to people besides me ), long on electronics (camera, cell phone, or they might be 1 and the same now!).

[feeder]

I think jersey lilly and pknoeber have it right. It looks like a steel post wedged between the bars. It took a few looks to see the bottom of the post.

[rancher]

I would call onstar since you have a phone. If they couldn't help I would use the pick-up jack to widen it enough.

[Soapweed]

This wasn't a trick question. All the welds were solid and the angle iron was good stuff. I tried to get in front of the calf and push him backwards, but he didn't cooperate. There just didn't seem to be any slack to be had, and he kept lunging forward. Next, I pulled the pickup around behind him and caught both hind feet with a rope that happened to be behind the seat. He kept kicking out, and I was afraid if I pulled tight that he might start to choke. Nothing was working, and frustration was setting in.

I called my son's welding shop, hoping maybe he would be on hand to bring out a cutting torch. No one answered the phone, as he was off on a field job. Then I left a message on his house phone, hoping he might be eating an early dinner. No luck.

After scratching my head a bit, I thought, "why not just catch one hind foot and then he would not go down?" This I did, and then tied the very far end of the thirty-foot rope onto the pickup bumper. I got in the pickup and drove it ahead until the rope was just a bit past snug, and shut it off in gear. That put tension backwards on the calf, and I was able to push him on through from the front. Both the calf and the windmill are fine. It was not too hard to get the rope off, and he didn't even try to take me when we parted ways. All is well that ends well.