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SAVE ME EARS
ARE YOU CALVING IN COLD WEATHER?
How many times have you dried a newborn calve off, right after it was born during cold weather, only to have the ears freeze anyway? "Mother Nature" probably is your problem.
Cows by nature are good mothers. We cattlemen bred them for
their mothering abilities. For at least the first 24 hours of a newborns life,
"Mom" by instinct just keeps proudly washing her new baby. Especially around
the easy to reach ears. So even though you did your best to save them, the ears
get wet again....thanks to "Mom" and then they freeze! With all
your efforts to get that healthy calf on the ground, warm and dry, your efforts
could suddenly become meaningless without the help of SAVE ME EARS
ABOUT "SAVE ME EARS"
In the early stages, SAVE ME EARS started out unsatisfactory as
a mitten type cover for each ear. Many cows find those type of ear covers great to chew on too! Most cattlemen should know that having your
gloves off for a spell in sub-zero temps while repairing something, then
putting ones cold nearly froze hands back in the gloves, that often times the
hands just don't warm up. But inside the pockets next to the body, hands will
warm up pretty quick. SAVE ME EARS works along the same principal, using the
calves own body heat!
SAVE ME EARS was designed so that the calves ears are held in a natural birthing position, comfortably in a specially designed air pocket next to the calves own neck for that much needed extra body warmth. Adjustment is done with only three velcro like hook tape straps, of which one is attached to a special patented neck strap that holds SAVE ME EARS in proper position. These straps can be fastened anywhere needed on the special made tough nylon outer surface. When properly fitted, it does not interfere with the natural ability of the calf to nurse on a cow.
SAVE ME EARS is sewn together with a quality, tough, 69 weight
nylon thread, the type used to sew boot tops. Insulation is durable, machine
washable, American made neoprene, originally developed for deep water divers,
to keep them warm and protected. The neoprene is the thicker type, to help fight cows from chewing it to pieces or tearing it up. Unlike many other materials, neoprene resists
soaking up lots of water, and is reusable over and over. This material has a
reputation of remaining flexible without cracking to -40 degrees F.
SAVE ME EARS is put to best use the first 24 to 36 hours of a newborn calves life, then the newborns circulation is also a little lower, during that period the cow does the most licking too. In most cases the covering can be used on the next newborn after that amount of time, as usually cows get back to the job of eating to feed their calf.
Just saving two sets of ears could possibly cover the cost of one SAVE ME EARS, and extra ears saved could mean that badly needed profit for your extra hard work and efforts.
Note on sizes: Some breeders having calves with smaller size heads, perfer the small size of Save Me Ears. Many Angus breeders will place an order that is half of the regular size and half of the small size. Example of a recent Angus breeders order on 4 is: 2 Regular size and 2 Small size.
Questions, Answers & Tips about Save Me Ears
Sale! Also Check our "slightly irregular" sale below
A very rough estimate of shipping/insurance/packaging/handling cost on this item would be about $8.70 insured USPS Priority Mail for 1 Save Me Ears and about $2.00 for each additional Save Me Ears with same order. However, this rough estimate will vary according to zip code/zone location of buyer. Please use "Estimate Shipping" calculator in the shopping cart after you click "Buy Now", to get a better Shipping calculation to your location.
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your questions about SAVE ME EARS.
Questions, Answers & Tips
Q: Do I need to dry the calve off or will Save
Me Ears do that?
A: Save Me Ears is not a calf dryer. In cold weather
you should always dry the calf off. Especially if the temperature is 20 degrees
F or colder where the newborn calf is located. Save Me Ears closed cell
neoprene does not absorb nor wick away moisture. But Save Me Ears can help
protect the newborn calves ears from freezing by helping to repel from the
ears: cow saliva, snow and sleet. While it holds the ears next to the calves
neck in an air pocket that is warmed by the calves own natural body heat.
Q: How long can I keep Save Me Ears
on?
A: After the first 24 to 36 hours of a newborn calves life, the
risk of ears freezing is normally much less. Once the initial higher risk frost
bite period of the first 24 hours has past, then it's better for the calf to
discontinue use of Save Me Ears. It's best for the calf to have freedom of ear
movement and natural air circulation around it's head and ears as soon as
possible after 24 hours. After this time, the cow will also normally be less
attentive to her newborn, licking the ears much less, and more interested in
eating so she can provide milk for her new calf. The calves own heart rate and
circulation is normally a little slower the first 24 hours, so that should also
be at a more normal rate after 24 hours, which will help the calf ears stay
warmer.
Q: Can I put Save Me Ears on before putting
calf in the drying/warmer box?
A: Save Me Ears will not help dry the
calves ears. You should allow the ears to dry thoroughly while in the
drying/warmer box. When you take the dried calf out, then put Save Me Ears on
the calf to protect the ears from becoming wet again from cow saliva, snow
& sleet.
Q: I just tried Save Me Ears on a newborn calf
and the hood fell off, why?
A: Save Me Ears special neck strap is
what holds the hood on and in proper position. If the neck strap is not in
proper placement nor adjusted snug against the calves neck, similar to a dog
collar, the hood will come off. Just as a loose fitting dog collar will go off
over a dog's head. If the neck strap is properly placed and properly snug, Save
Me Ears should stay in it's proper position. Be sure to read the directions
that came with Save Me Ears for proper placement. If you have lost your copy,
e-mail us, and we will e-mail you back a .pdf copy.
Q: I have 100 cows to calve out during cold
weather. Do I need one for each calf?
A: Save Me Ears is only meant
to be used for the first 24 to 36 hours of a newborn calves life, after that it
should be removed, or passed on to the next calf. We recommend having one Save
Me Ears for the most cows you have had, that normally calve in one day. If the
most you have calved in a day is 4 cows, then 4 hoods would normally be enough
to have. After 24 to 36 hours the hood should be removed or can be passed on to
the next calf.
Q: My cows are calving in the barn during cold
weather but some are scared or upset of Save Me Ears. What should I
do?
A: Each cow is different, some couldn't care less, others less
tame need time to inspect, or a little rancher trickery maybe needed to help
the cow accept. We know cows react to scent. The more the hood smells like the
normal environment of the cow, the better. The hood will take on the barns odor
when hung in the barn for several days, or already used on another calf. Many
find it helpful to simply wrap the hood on corral panels bars or boards within
easy reach for the cow to stiff and inspect well she is in labor. Some will
even rub the outside of the hood on the wet newborn calf so the hood takes on
some of the newborns scent. Others have rubbed a little of the cows own manure
across the top area of the hood.
Q: Do I have to wash Save Me Ears after every
use?
A: Often times not, you'll have to be the judge of that. If it's
not that dirty, just pass it on to the next calf. If Save Me Ears feels a
little damp from condensation after removing from a calf, you may want it to
dry out before placing on another calf. Often we find touchy cows will accept
the hood more readily when it smells like the barn or their own
environment.
Q: I didn't get out to my newborn calf fast
enough to dry it before the ears froze at least an inch in. Will Save Me Ears
save the ear tips for me?
A: Sorry, once the ears are froze already,
the damage is done. However, by drying the calve and putting Save Me Ears on
for 24 hours, it could be helpful to keep some sections of the ears from
receiving further damage.
Q: How do I clean Save Me Ears.
A:
Some just rinse off with a garden hose and hang to dry. Save Me Ears can be
washed in the wash machine with regular soap (no Bleach nor fabric softeners),
with warm water settings. Save Me Ears could be put in the washer with the
dirty coveralls. Then hang dry. Save Me Ears will dry in a few hours at normal
room temperatures. Do not dry Save Me Ears in a clothes dryer, as the
high heat will shorten the use of Save Me Ears, by breaking down the neoprene
and the glues that hold the outside layers of fabric on.
Q: The little Velcro like tabs are full of
bits of hay and straw and do not fasten to the cover well anymore. It doesn't
come out in the washer either. What should I do?
A:Just use a common
black hair comb and comb the debris out of the little loops on the straps. Once
the little hook loops are cleaned the straps will fasten properly again.
TIPS:
For quicker drying time of your newborn calf during extremely cold weather, use a horse
sweat scraper to remove excess amniotic fluid that the cow has not removed.
For calves about the same size, it's not necessary to unhook the front
nose strap. Just unhook the neck strap and the strap closest to the chest to
put on and take off.
Another helpful product to get there in time to dry your calf and put Save Me Ears on before the calf starts to freeze, is a BarnCam. We use this product ourselves. Click the banner below for more information.
your questions about SAVE ME EARS.
SAVE ME PRODUCTS, INC.
5555 40th St SE
Medina
ND 58467-9515
Phone or Fax: 701-486-3354