Toby L.
Well-known member
12 years old, due to calve any time now, really skinny, she just had her last supper.
She's had diarrhea for a couple of day's now, I went to check on them this morning and she didn't get up like she usually does. So I got a pen ready for her so she could have her calf in privacy. I went up to get her, hoping that she could get up, but no luck. She can pull herself up with her front legs, but when she gets her back legs under her and starts to push up they slip out and behind her, then she just sits there like a dog for a while and goes down again. She crawled about 20 feet today like that, with me tempting her with corn, or just yelling at her. I took her temp. it was 99 degree's, and her anus was so swollen that I could hardly get the thermometer in her. I called the vet, and he said that she slipped and spread her legs, which he really couldn't do anything about. Being that she has diarrhea, he thinks she has a virus that's been going around, or johnes. I don't remember what virus he said. She was " on the skinny side" when I bought her last fall. And it seemed like there was nothing I could do to put weight on her, I didn't want to grain her very much, because of calving issues. I guess I don't have to worry about that now, the calf could be 150 pounds and still come out just as good. The guy I bought her from said she's always been skinny like that. I guess it's how that old saying goes " a fool and his money are soon parted" I've made some foolish purchases this winter.
So anyway, I was going to wait until Monday, but I think tomorrow's my best bet to shoot her. The vet said that I had 90 seconds to get the calf out. He said to shoot her in the forehead twice with a .22 and make a 2 foot long cut on her left side 6 inches behind the ribs. He said the uterus should be right there and I can pull the calf out. How do I know the calf is far enough along to make it? I called the guy I bought her from, and he said that she's about a week away. How early can you pull a calf like that? Then what? I know to use clean towels and start to rub it down, tickle it's nose with some straw. What if that doesn't do it? I'm really nervous, I don't want to loose this calf, I feel it's the only kind of redemption I can get for buying this problem cow. What about the colostrum? I'm going to pick some up tonight, but how much, and how long should I wait until I give the calf any. I figured a half hour, if it lives that long.
After I care for the calf, I wanted to dress out the cow and make what little meat she has into hamburger. I called my vet and left a message with him, still waiting for the callback, but is it safe to eat the meat if she has johnes or some other virus?
I read all these posts from people that have had 1 or 2 posts on here saying "help my cow/calf is down and won't get up" it just irritates me because after it suffers and dies they never come back. I probably shouldn't let the sun set on her tonight, but I would like to more prepared, so tomorrow is her day. If I tried to keep her alive for any amount of time, she could die some night and I would lose the both of them. The vet also said that if I felt like spending a lot of money I could have him come out there and run blood work and wait 2 weeks for the results, and whatever else he had to do. I was like no thanks, I know what I need to do, the cow isn't worth that to me.... The vet just called back and said that's it's safe to eat the meat, as long as she isn't running a fever... I'm just really nervous, I hope I don't screw this one up.
She's had diarrhea for a couple of day's now, I went to check on them this morning and she didn't get up like she usually does. So I got a pen ready for her so she could have her calf in privacy. I went up to get her, hoping that she could get up, but no luck. She can pull herself up with her front legs, but when she gets her back legs under her and starts to push up they slip out and behind her, then she just sits there like a dog for a while and goes down again. She crawled about 20 feet today like that, with me tempting her with corn, or just yelling at her. I took her temp. it was 99 degree's, and her anus was so swollen that I could hardly get the thermometer in her. I called the vet, and he said that she slipped and spread her legs, which he really couldn't do anything about. Being that she has diarrhea, he thinks she has a virus that's been going around, or johnes. I don't remember what virus he said. She was " on the skinny side" when I bought her last fall. And it seemed like there was nothing I could do to put weight on her, I didn't want to grain her very much, because of calving issues. I guess I don't have to worry about that now, the calf could be 150 pounds and still come out just as good. The guy I bought her from said she's always been skinny like that. I guess it's how that old saying goes " a fool and his money are soon parted" I've made some foolish purchases this winter.
So anyway, I was going to wait until Monday, but I think tomorrow's my best bet to shoot her. The vet said that I had 90 seconds to get the calf out. He said to shoot her in the forehead twice with a .22 and make a 2 foot long cut on her left side 6 inches behind the ribs. He said the uterus should be right there and I can pull the calf out. How do I know the calf is far enough along to make it? I called the guy I bought her from, and he said that she's about a week away. How early can you pull a calf like that? Then what? I know to use clean towels and start to rub it down, tickle it's nose with some straw. What if that doesn't do it? I'm really nervous, I don't want to loose this calf, I feel it's the only kind of redemption I can get for buying this problem cow. What about the colostrum? I'm going to pick some up tonight, but how much, and how long should I wait until I give the calf any. I figured a half hour, if it lives that long.
After I care for the calf, I wanted to dress out the cow and make what little meat she has into hamburger. I called my vet and left a message with him, still waiting for the callback, but is it safe to eat the meat if she has johnes or some other virus?
I read all these posts from people that have had 1 or 2 posts on here saying "help my cow/calf is down and won't get up" it just irritates me because after it suffers and dies they never come back. I probably shouldn't let the sun set on her tonight, but I would like to more prepared, so tomorrow is her day. If I tried to keep her alive for any amount of time, she could die some night and I would lose the both of them. The vet also said that if I felt like spending a lot of money I could have him come out there and run blood work and wait 2 weeks for the results, and whatever else he had to do. I was like no thanks, I know what I need to do, the cow isn't worth that to me.... The vet just called back and said that's it's safe to eat the meat, as long as she isn't running a fever... I'm just really nervous, I hope I don't screw this one up.