Any hope for a 'downed calf'?

[chickensducks&agoose]

There's an ad on my local craigslist, that includes a free, downed 6 month old calf. What causes this, and is it something that can be fixed, corrected or cured?
http://burlington.craigslist.org/grd/1450382813.html

 

[ksalvagno]

Unless you have a lot of time and money, I don't think I would touch something like that. I don't have cow experience but I can tell you that taking on a sick animal is A LOT of work and you can make your vet pretty rich. I looked at the ad and I'm sure the people want the best for her but I'm not sure they are doing her any favors.

 

[Imissmygirls]

That downed heifer should be mercifully put to sleep. I doubt if even the New Bolton Center at Univ of Penn would know where to begin with her. it's a shame but, from the picture, she is much too far gone. I'd wonder if it was cancer or other metabolic disease, because it is rare for a 6 month old to go down. I've had them die from bloat, or break a leg.
Actually... just thinking... she could have a case of hardware disease that just drains her. That's when she eats something metal that pierces her stomach somewhere and quickly... or slowly... kills her. Hard to tell and generally no cure.

The heifer calf for 250 is a deal IF she comes with papers. Family cow with heifer calf isn't bad deal either, depending upon breeding quality.

 

[jhm47]

Good advice from everyone. 99% sure that no matter how many $ would be spent on that calf, it will do no good, except to pay for a nice winter vacation for a veterinarian.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

That's so sad. I wondered if it was just a time commitment thing that the farmer couldn't make. Poor cow.