Going to clip backs of store cattle and stirks for the first time this year before housing. Any advice:How wide on the back? Any precautions? Best clippers for the job etc.

We clip a good 6" strip right down the back to tail. Also clip out tail if its going to be inside for a long period. We have Galloways and this strip has really stopped them sweating on those still winters days. We use Oster Shearmaster clippers bought from Euroclip. www.euroclip.co.uk Also use this company for new blades and sharpening etc, they are very helpful and can return your clippers very quickly. Only precaution i can advise is never reach through side of the crush if your arm can be crushed/broken by a startled beast! Happy clipping!

Usually about two widths of the clippers each side of the back bone from about 6 inches n front of the shoulder to the tail. Little bit out each side of the tail down onto the rump. Try to stand fairly high to stop your clip being over to one side. I do the heads as well. They look well and it seems to keep some of the coughs and bugs at bay. Just use the lister sheep clippers with a normal wool clipping comb (wide combs can be a bit tricky with the pointy out teeth) but the make a good job. Hair clippiong blades seem bad for loosing their sharpness. Use lots of oil, some between every beast. gee

I'd agree with that. Cattle clipping comb's are a complete waste of time and forever needing replaced.

Yes I would agree with that too. We used to clip about 400 head of cattle each Autumn and found the Sheep 'header' (as we called it) always the best. Our's were mainly dairy cattle so EXTRA EXTRA care must be taken when going near ears or udders. We use contractors for the dairy cows now and only do the young stock ourselves. They get away with the fine cattle header as long as the cows are clean. We always found the continental beef cattle were always 'steamed up' by the time they got into the crush and would never cut with the fine header.

 Here's a video on Clipping cattle

 

http://www.24-7agtv.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=1&task=videodirectlink&id=52