This Stinks

[herfrds]

Had a 4yo cow have a nice bull calf 5 days ago. She loved on the calf, but would just not stand still for him to nurse. Thought she was just upset because we were there. Left her alone. Calf was up and walking around. Looked like the calf had nursed so the pair were turned out.
2 days later DH finds the calf laid out flat. Brings the pair back into the barn.

Calf is dehydrated and chilled. Get some electrolytes in him. He perks up some.
cow will not stand still for him to nurse. Put her in the head catch and get the calf to nurse her. She's trying to get out and switching her tail.

Yesterday got 2.5 pints of whole milk into the calf. He really perks up. Try to get him on the dam again. Still won't stand still.
Kick her out and bring in my milk cow. She stands still for him. Going to get him on her.

I want to try the dam one more time. Big mistake. Cow kicked him several times and broke his neck. Found it out this morning when the vet examined him. Thought he had developed pnuemonia.

Calf was put down and cow gets a one way trip to the sale barn.

 

[Rebbetzin]

That is a sad story! We had a goat, that was fine with her kids, but just refused to be milked! She got sold as a "lawnmower" on a 1200 acre ranch. So sorry about your new calf!

 

[Royd Wood]

So sorry to hear that Herfrds

 

[goodhors]

"Cow kicked him several times and broke his neck. Found it out this morning when the vet examined him. Thought he had developed pnuemonia.

Calf was put down and cow gets a one way trip to the sale barn."

And thus the herd is culled for better minded cattle. Culling has improved ALL the breeds we are using today, much easier to work with.

So sorry about your losing the calf.

 

[jhm47]

Last evening, when I went out to check my cows, I found a 7 year old cow that had had twins. One of them was trying to stand, but the other was down in wet, muddy slop. I knew that I needed to get them all inside. I went and got my calf sled, and threw both calves in it and started to pull the sled toward the barn. There is nothing but mud in our yard now, and it was extremely hard pulling. Took me 15 minutes to go about 100 yards. My 95 year old father wanted to help, but I was afraid he'd overexert himself and not be able to get out of the pasture.

Finally got the cow and calves into the barn and put the weak one under a heat lamp. Kept him there for several hours till he got dry and warm, but he wouldn't stand. The other calf was standing and sucking just fine. I tried to milk the cow so I could feed the down calf, but she kicked too much. Finally, I just put the calf into the pen with the cow and the other calf and gave up. Got out there this AM, and the weak calf had gotten up and sucked all by himself. Miracles do happen!

 

[herfrds]

What is really weird about this cow is she lost her calf last year, we got a graft calf and she took to it right away. Calf weaned over 500 pounds.

We were really concerned that the calf didn't have the suck reflex. I was so happy when the calf did suck.

Know what you mean about the mud and cold calves jhm47. Have had a few of them.