Dixon Feeds

20/03/2024

I am going to try to do a little crash course on men’s hand gestures. I know this is something many of us have struggled with, so I hope you find this helpful.

First, let’s talk about gestures while horseback.

Gesture: He puts one arm in the air with the pointer finger rotating in a circle. If you are stopped, it means get started. If you are moving, it means move faster. If the whole arm is rotating rapidly in a circle with the pointer finger in the air, it means you are already in trouble and should take off at a lope, even if you have no idea which direction you are supposed to be going. I do not suggest trying to get more clarification on direction.

Gesture: One hand held in the stopping motion to the side of the body. If it is still, stop. If it is bobbing, slow down. If it looks like the person is repeatedly hitting an imaginary wall with their hand, you really need to stop before you are in trouble. When both arms go up in the air and cross, then uncross rapidly, you are already in trouble. You should have stopped awhile ago.

Gesture: Elbow rotating from a 90 degree angle to a 180 degree angle with pointer finger extended. This could mean several things. Maybe go get the gate. Maybe get up ahead of the herd. Maybe check the creek. You’re really on your own with this one.

Gesture: Both arms go quickly in the air and down, then he rides off shaking his head. You’re too far away to hear, but based on his body movement, you’re pretty sure he is cussing. You’re really in trouble now. He has given up on communicating with you. You are now expected to read his mind.

Next, let’s talk about hand gestures when he is in the tractor.

Gesture: Both arms are moving and fingers are pointing, head is nodding, and eyebrows have raised and eyeballs are a little wider. Sometimes even a shoulder shrug. This is a really tough one. If you’ve studied sign language, you know this man definitely has not. You look at him in utter confusion, still trying to piece it all together. He shuts the tractor off, opens the door, and yells his instructions at you. If you’re an obedient woman, you do as he instructs. If you’re me, you walk away until he gets a better attitude.

Last, let’s talk about hand gestures when you are in the tractor.

Gesture: The hand makes a C shape. If it tips up, this means rotate the bucket back towards you. If it tips down, this means rotate the bucket down. This might be the only gesture you will ever master, so soak this up.

Gesture: He points up or down. If he points up, the loader needs to move up. If he points down, the loader needs to move down. If his finger starts aggressively and dramatically pointing up or down, he thinks he doesn’t have all day and you need to move the loader faster in whichever direction. This is usually followed by an extremely dramatic “stop” gesture where he is annoyed that you were going too fast and didn’t stop in time. He thinks it would be better for him to be in the tractor and you on the ground, but he knows better than to suggest that.

Okay, you have officially attended Men’s Hand Gestures 101. Piece of cake, right? Bless. 🤦‍♀️

29/11/2023

15/10/2023

Time to celebrate! 🎉

03/08/2023

I think we should get a pass for this one.

16/05/2023

How neat is this old by-products poster from 1949. 🐮


Source : National Agricultural Institute

16/03/2023

It’s peak calving season for many producers across the Midwest. The long hours trying to save every calf can be exhausting and incredibly frustrating. For some newborns that simply struggle to nurse or appear to have little will to live, consider trying the “Madigan Squeeze.”

This technique was first developed in horses, for what is often called “Dummy Foal Syndrome.” The logic behind the method is to reset the brain’s natural function at birth by mirroring the pressure felt during the birthing process. The method can also be effective for calves described as having “Weak Calf Syndrome.”

To implement the Madigan Squeeze follow these simple steps:
1️⃣ Wrap a soft rope in 3-4 concentric loops around the calf’s chest and rib cage. A rope halter works great.
2️⃣ Gently pull and tighten the rope to create pressure around the ribs. The calf should lie down and enter a relaxed, sleep-like state with slowed breathing.
3️⃣ Maintain this position for 20-30 minutes.
4️⃣ Remove the rope and assist the calf in standing.

How and why the technique is effective is not totally understood, but sources of trauma or deficiency at birth seem to be when it is most effective (dystocia, leptospirosis, selenium, hypothermia, etc.). The method can be tried more than once, and there’s no harm to the calf, even if the treatment is unsuccessful. Better yet, no needles, drugs, esophageal tubes, or hand-nursing a cow is involved. For more information regarding the Madigan Squeeze, read the following article: https://www.olddominionvets.com/post/weak-calf-syndrome-and-the-madigan-squeeze

18/11/2022

Five calves, they say one in 1 billion

25/10/2022

Calving is just around the corner.

Per Dr. Clint,
Calf boxes are good for chilled calf, but terrible for one with frozen extremities. You need a quick thaw so frozen body fluids go from solid directly to liquid. Heated air causes frozen fluid to go through a slushy stage which ruptures cells and causes ice embolisms to block off arterioles and cause more damage.

For a quick thaw calves should be placed in almost unbearably hot water for approximately 20 minutes. After that, you can use calf warmer to dry and maintain their heat. They also will benefit from anti-inflammatory medications such as banamine or meloxicam.

Calves with a temperature under 100 but above 98 and still standing or sitting up need interventions like being put in a warm barn, heater, calf box, dryer.

Calves with a temperature under 98 need a hot water bath ASAP. When in the bath, if a calf is acting dizzy, or like it doesn’t know what way is up, needs sugar! Lots of calves get hypoglycemic and need some maple syrup or honey rubbed on their gums.

NEVER EVER feed a cold calf!! Hot milk WILL NOT warm them from the inside out. Make sure you take your calf’s temperature before feeding. Do not feed a calf who is below 101. A great way to give them some pep, is to rub some maple syrup or honey on the calf's gums.

Calves with a temperature OVER 102.5 need antibiotics.