Bought my first calf yesterday

[Cheyenne]

Forgive me if this gets a little long. Finally bought our first calf yesterday (4-H bottle calf project). After loading him up, he just didn't look right and I am thinking I got a dummy calf. I ended up taking him to the vet before taking him home, as there was no information given to the sale barn on him. He was brought in 1/2 hour after sale started. Vet estimated him at 2 days. Suck reflex was there but not strong, he was mildly dehydrated, lethargic and didn't want to walk or stand well. Vet thought from the looks of his front legs that he would probably be "crippled". He gave him shots of B Complex, Bo-Se, and an anti-inflamatory. He thought I might have to tube him for a couple of days. I am thinking great nothing like baptizim by fire. haha

Now for the good news. After a bottle of colostrum, some electrolytes and a little standing and help walking this little guy is a 100% better this morning. He got up drank his milk replacer good, once he gets going it is hard to stop him. He walked on his own, followed our son around, had his ears up and was wagging his tail. He is still a little wobbly, but he seems to be getting some good strenth.

By the way he is a Red Angus bull calf and he weighed 88 lbs, when I weighed him last night.

I know this story is nothing new and nothing you all haven't been through before, but for a newbie this is a good accomplishment I think. Please correct me if I am wrong. Also this story is a testament to you all here on th boards. If I hadn't found this board and read everything I could I would not have know near what I needed to know yesterday. Like the colostrum for what it was worth, electrolytes ect. Thank you all for posting your advise and helping all of us newbies.

Thanks again.

Cheyenne

P.S. By the way I got this calf for a steal at $195.00. We have discussed calf prices before and I thought this was a darn good price.

 

[la4angus]

P.S. By the way I got this calf for a steal at $195.00. We have discussed calf prices before and I thought this was a darn good price.

After paying the $195.00 for the calf, how much did you have to pay the vet for his services.

 

[cowgal]

Good work on getting him perked up!

 

[Cheyenne]

Thank you Cowgal, but like I said you all had a lot to do with that also.

la4Angus- I paid the vet 39.09 for 3 shots an exam and meds for the ulcer on his eye I forgot to mention. So the calf really cost me $234.09 yesterday. Still not bad when calves are going for $350.00/+ here.

Cheyenne

 

[sidney411]

I would have to say I am impressed that you took the little guy strait to the vet for a check-up. That right there says a lot! Most people that don't know any better would have just taken it home and dumped it out in a pen or stall. I think you've got it down and I sure hope the little guy does well for you! I for one, would love to see a pic if you have the time and equipment.

 

[la4angus]

la4Angus- I paid the vet 39.09 for 3 shots an exam and meds for the ulcer on his eye I forgot to mention. So the calf really cost me $234.09 yesterday. Still not bad when calves are going for $350.00/+ here.

Cheyenne

Good luck with the baby. Just keep it clean, healthy and full.

 

[Cheyenne]

Thank you all for the words of encouragement. I am going to the best we can for the little guy. I will post a pic as soon as I am able.

Thanks again for all the help and patience you all give to the newbies.

Cheyenne

 

[shorty]

Just a suggestion but you might want to get him a buddy , cattle often seem to do better when they're not alone

 

[NM CowBelle]

I would agree to the buddy thing. We have a bottle calf and she wouldn't take nothing but the bottle until we got some others in there with her. Now she'll take hay and a little bit of grain.

 

[Cheyenne]

We are probably going to get him a "buddy". He just happened to be the only bottle calf at the sale I was at yesterday. If we can get another one in a week or two I'm sure it will be good for him. He was "adopted" rather quickly last night by one of our cats, but that just isn't the same.

Thanks for the great advice. Got a call from my husband before he went to work this afternoon and got an updated report. Calf got up on his own and walked good for a little bit. This was the first time he got up without any prompting. Things are looking good.

Cheyenne

 

[Victoria]

Glad you got him going Cheyenne. Sidney mentioned that it was good you called the vet and I have to say I agree. Sadly, too many people don't call the vet in time. They don't want to spend the money and end up losing the animal which costs more in the long run. I hope he continues doing well for you and that you can find him a bovine friend.

 

[eric]

$39.09 for 3 shots / exam / medicine for eye and no doubt good advice on raising the little bugger! How in the heck do these vets stay in business?
I took 3 bred cows I bought from a guy in another town directly to the local vet a few Saturdays ago, and he preg checked them / dewormed them / gave them all the necessary vaccinations / even ear tagged them for me for less than $50 for all 3!!! Heck, you take a dog or a cat in and it's an automatic $85 office charge just for the exam, then big $$ for any meds the vet gives! We are down to one older gentleman veternarian within 25 miles of me, and he is semi-retired, as you need to make an appointment for regular visits to his clinic, but he will still come out to your place if needed. But we have a yellow pages full of small animal vets and there seem to be more and more equine vets popping up everyday.

 

[sidney411]

Eric, I've noticed this too. There are small animal vets around every corner. Heck in the small town I live in there are 3 small animal vets and none of them will even give advice for cattle/horses much less see them. There are a couple of large animal vets where we have the farm but there are less then there were just a few years back.

 

[Cheyenne]

Well the little guy just keeps improving. He now gets up on his own when we go into the barn, knows what the bottle is for and lets you know when you don't give it to him fast enough.

He is still having problems with his front legs though. He was back to standing with his front "knees" bent this morning. Didn't seem to want to walk as much as yesterday. I checked and there is no swelling, they aren't hot and don't seem to be painful to him when I touch them. I am pretty sure this is a tendon issue, but was wondering what you guys might think. Should I consider bracing him or give him a little more time.

I was thinking of taking him to the vet again just for another once over to make sure he is doing alright. He did have a little navel swelling the first time, but nothing too serious and no fever. The vet wasn't too sure what was up with his legs then, so maybe he could tell more now. I would like to hear what your opinions are too please.

Thanks

Cheyenne

 

[la4angus]

I would like to hear what your opinions are too please.

Thanks

Cheyenne

My opinion on buying baby calves at the sale barn is for people that are mad at their money.

 

[Chuckie]

Cheyenne, The best way to learn is to get in there and try. Each time you have a new experience, it might cost you a bit more. I always found by paying attention to what the vet says, it teaches you what to look the next time, and most likely you will know what to do without him. There are a few here that do give really good advice. So don't get discouraged by spending a few extra dollars in the beginning. It is a learning tool and it will get easier. Don't give up and good luck with your calf!

 

[Farmhand]

Glad to hear your calf is doing better. Raise a lot of bottle calves here and am of the opinion that your calf's legs will come out of this. We've had some take 2 weeks to get normal. You could try to put his legs in a normal position a few times a day and let him stand for as long as he will. We usually position the legs before we give the bottle and then 1-2 times between morning and night feedings. Good Luck.

 

[cowpunk'd]

For that money ($350.00 is about $430.00 Canadian) you could buy a nice pair here. I've never seen a red angus bottle calf, here the bottle calves are holstein, but you can pick them up for $15.00, even $5.00. Up until a couple years back, they were worth $50.00 - $115.00. It's still good to hear your prices are so high though.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

If you think its tight tendons, I would pick his feet up & make him stand on them as often as you are with him. They just need to be stretched out. Make him follow you around to get the bottle, forcing him to use his legs.

Thank you for keeping us posted. So irratating to have someone cry for help, than never let us know what's happening. Keep up the good work.

 

[Cheyenne]

Thank you all for your help. I was told last night that he appears to be normal. He just had a slow start in life. We have been standing/walking him since we got him home. He does follow us around for the bottle and he will get up on his own now. I do position his legs if he starts to bend his knees too much while standing. He mostly does this when he is getting tired so I let him lay down then. We get him up at least 3-4 times a day, more if he will tolerate. I also know that he gets up on his own when we aren't with him as he will be in a different spot than when we left him.

I am not at all dissapointed that I had to spend some extra money or spending the money that I have. I would much rather spend everything I have and have a healthy animal, not a perfect one, but healthy. If that makes me "MAD" at my money, then - to my money - I apologize for being mad at you. So far I am very please with our experience over the last 4 days.

I appreciate all your replies, help and advice. I am going to try and relax now and not worry so much about him now.

Thanks again for the help and encouragement.

Cheyenne