Baby Calf Blanket

Baby Calf Blanket LIVESTOCK Beef 8-2-3 "It's the greatest thing since football," says South Dakota rancher James Anderson of the special blanket his wife Dorothy designed and made for bringing in baby beef or dairy calves. "We've used sleds and other devices but nothing we've tried works as slick as this new-style blanket," says James. His wife Dorothy has applied for a patent on her unique calf blanket and is busy manufacturing them right on the ranch, using a special sewing machine. The 4 by 6 ft. blankets are made from an extra tough vinyl-type material called Herculite. "The material handles like silk and wears like steel," explains Dorothy. You simply roll the calf on the blanket and wrap a rope or calf-pulling chain around its back or front legs. The rope (or chain) is threaded through loops in the blanket. "You have complete control of the calf ù it can't slide off the blanket, which often happens with other sled-type transports," Dorothy points out. "It doesn't seem to make any difference if you pull the calf from the front or the back legs. The mother cow can see and smell the calf, which makes transporting much easier. Area ranchers have used the blankets to move calves several miles by hand, horse, pickup, and even with 3-wheelers ù with no adverse effects on the calves, and no sign of wear onthe blankets, even where they were drug over sagebrush. The material slides easily over all surfaces and isn't adversely affected by extreme hot or cold temperatures," Dorothy points out. Individual blankets weigh 3 1/2 lbs. and fold up to fit under your arm, or in the cubbyhole of your car or pickup. They retail for $35, including shipping. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dorothy Anderson, Rt. 1, Box 26, Highmore, S. Dak. 57345 (ph 605 852-2440).

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