25 pound calf?

[mikecoen]

I was surprised when I couldn't get Cindy to come in season with the prostaglandin when the other cow did. I waited to catch her next time for AI but she never did come into heat. Later when the vet did a preg check we found she was pregnant, bred by her bull calf or the bull calf of her daughter. The other cow is her daughter, both cows were sired by the same bull. Both their last calves were bulls, so it could have been either of them. Cindy had her calf this morning and it is very small, nursing and walking but only about 25 pounds. Previous calves have been more like 80 pounds. These are purebred belted galloways.

 

[jhm47]

You're lucky that the prostaglandin didn't cause her to abort. When did you give it? It's very possible that it was the cause of the very small calf. Good luck!

 

[mikecoen]

You're lucky that the prostaglandin didn't cause her to abort. When did you give it? It's very possible that it was the cause of the very small calf. Good luck!

Lucky or blessed as I like to think; things mostly go surprisingly well for me.
The prostaglandin was given at the wrong time in the cycle for that cow while it was just right for the other one. BTW, the other calf was born on its due date, TODAY! This little one is weak, not nursing well and has me a little worried. I tried a bottle with milk replacer but the calf was not interested. I dribbled a lot on his muzzle and thought he might lick it and it did encourage mom to wash his face which stimulated him. He looked a little spunky once but he also looked dehydrated and very hot at another time. The two cows and their calves are enjoying a cool Colorado evening in nice pasture as it has now gotten dark here.
Thanks for the good wishes and as always, the concern and seasoned advice.

 

[mikecoen]

At 4 days old, he seems like he lacks the ability to suck/nurse, but he is surviving and I only have given him milk replacer about once a day, 12 ounces at a time. I have to dribble it down his open mouth because he can't seem to get anything going with the nipple, though I've enlarged the hole in it. Tonight at dark he showed some frisky behavior but he sure looked lethargic at other times today. I don't see him nursing long or frequently, but them I'm busy building a better containment for our dozen chickens who have about worn out their welcome to freely range about and tear up our place.

 

[mikecoen]

update on Junior
The little 25 pound bull calf is nursing, cavorting around and I have stopped supplementary feedings of about 12 ounces a day. All clear for now, thank the Lord. What do you all think about his future size; will he make a breeder for someone who is breeding for smaller calves or will he just make sliders instead of quarter pounders?

 

[Bossroo]

If it was mine , I would send this calf to freezer camp at the earliest opportunity. No telling at this point if the birth size as well as the inability to nurse at first is from being premature/ difficult birth or genetic . Now that it is nursing, chances are that due to it's small birth size, it may grow slowly and / or never reach normal size. Good luck and enjoy the sliders !

 

[greybeard]

I was surprised when I couldn't get Cindy to come in season with the prostaglandin when the other cow did. I waited to catch her next time for AI but she never did come into heat. Later when the vet did a preg check we found she was pregnant, bred by her bull calf or the bull calf of her daughter. The other cow is her daughter, both cows were sired by the same bull. Both their last calves were bulls, so it could have been either of them. Cindy had her calf this morning and it is very small, nursing and walking but only about 25 pounds. Previous calves have been more like 80 pounds. These are purebred belted galloways.

How long (in days) do you think gestation was? IOW, how much time passed between you administering the prostaglandin and the vet announcing she was preg?

we found she was pregnant, bred by her bull calf or the bull calf of her daughter. The other cow is her daughter, both cows were sired by the same bull. Both their last calves were bulls, so it could have been either of them.

Can't get much more inbred than that.
Neither of those possible pairings are one I would want the progeny of going on to breed.
Band (or not) and eat him.