One option for guys that run yearlings, is to spay the heifers. This keeps the bulls away from them and it's also claimed that they gain more by not going in and out of heat. Not uncommon tactic but not as common to find a vet trained to do the operation.
We wanted to spay our black heifer, so we can run her with the main herd and she won’t get bred. With the local veterinarians not schooled in the new spaying procedures, the neighbor had a traveling vet coming through to do their big bunch. So we hauled our little girl up there to throw in with them.
With the dual alley system, they can really move the cattle through.
Not much to see here, but the doc feels his way around with his right arm in the rectum. Then, with his left arm he inserts a tool into the uterus and is able to remove the ovaries through the uterine wall.
It is a delicate procedure. One real caution can be nipping some of the intestines while removing the ovaries. So, once they are removed, they examine both ovaries to make sure no intestine came with them. This vet is pretty quick. Takes him less than two minutes a cow. Time means a lot when you’re working with 300 head or more.
Back home, safe and sound.
Interesting morning. We might do more spaying in the future with heifer calves we want to fatten. This was a good test case for the procedure. The rest of the summer will also be a good opportunity to see how well she grows. It’s good to try new things. Open minded ranching.
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