How to Build a Cow Sling

Cows, like other animals, are susceptible to a wide range of medical problems. Some of these problems make the cow immobile, which poses a certain challenge due to a cow's large size; you can't simply pick it up and carry it to the veterinary clinic like you can a house pet. Instead, you must fashion a sling large enough to fit around the cow and strong enough to lift its weight to move it for treatment.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 king-sized flat bedsheets
  • Packing tape
  • 8 sisal ropes, at least 6 feet long
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fold each bed sheet in half so that each is about 1 foot wide when folded. Secure the edges of the folded sheet using the packing tape to maintain the fold.

    • 2

      Tie each sisal rope to a corner of each of bed sheets and wrap the knot liberally with packing tape to maintain the knot.

    • 3

      Slide one of the sheets under the cow behind its forelimbs and the other under the cow just in front of its utters.

    • 4

      Pull the ropes attached to each bed sheet outward toward a fence post on the cow's pen, to pull the cow upward. Secure the ropes to the fence post by tying them and reinforce with packing tape, if desired.

    • 5

      Push the raised cow forward by its hips to cause it to lift its own body weight and stand, so that it can walk or be lifted to treatment.