1/3rd of our cows decided to calve during the snowmaggeddon. We had our share of problems, most with twins. We had 3 sets, and with the confusion of the cold, only one cow excepted both. Unfortunately for one of her twins, she died of pneumonia. I did not know this cow had twins until i saw another calf nursing her a few days later....
Once grass started growing, the cows ventured out from the hay bales and this is when i noticed the 2 abandoned twin calves. They started to struggle since they couldnt steal milk from cows crowded around the hay bales... I spent days trying to figure out who wasnt giving enough milk.. Came up with nothing, matched all cows with their calves so these 2 were twins left behind....Anywhoot, one is doing well and one wont nurse a bottle. He's over a month old and we dont know how he survived. He eats grain and hay, and i force a bottle down him till he drinks at least one full bottle each day..
Then, there is a calf who never nursed. I did not catch this calf not nursing because we went out of town and had family checking cows. I notice the calf a few days after we returned. We have cow and calf at the house. I know the calf did not get colostrum, so i was prepared for a uphill struggle. Calf nursed and was on the upswing. Spent a week in the corrals under observation. Then, a couple days ago, he started going downhill. Long story short, we're keeping him alive via tube. He appears to be blind now. He was not blind when we brought him to the corral, this started about a day ago. He's still strong. What he's doing is walking to the corral fence and ends up with his head stuck through with him forcing himself against it like a zombie for brains. I can get him away from the fence and he just goes in the direction hes pointed till he dead ends into a fence and just keeps pushing. He doesnt seem aware anything is around him. I suspect that since he never nursed for his first few days, he probably has organ damage although he didnt seem dehydrated and we tubed electrolytes in him the first day, then he nursed the cow on his own. What organ damage will cause blindness and empty brain? Its just so weird. I think he'd live if we keep tube feeding him, but, his brain doesnt seem to be working along with his sight... We'll probably put him down tonight or tomorrow, i see no improvements in him since he went downhill.... But i'd like to know if anyone here has ever had this problem?
Once grass started growing, the cows ventured out from the hay bales and this is when i noticed the 2 abandoned twin calves. They started to struggle since they couldnt steal milk from cows crowded around the hay bales... I spent days trying to figure out who wasnt giving enough milk.. Came up with nothing, matched all cows with their calves so these 2 were twins left behind....Anywhoot, one is doing well and one wont nurse a bottle. He's over a month old and we dont know how he survived. He eats grain and hay, and i force a bottle down him till he drinks at least one full bottle each day..
Then, there is a calf who never nursed. I did not catch this calf not nursing because we went out of town and had family checking cows. I notice the calf a few days after we returned. We have cow and calf at the house. I know the calf did not get colostrum, so i was prepared for a uphill struggle. Calf nursed and was on the upswing. Spent a week in the corrals under observation. Then, a couple days ago, he started going downhill. Long story short, we're keeping him alive via tube. He appears to be blind now. He was not blind when we brought him to the corral, this started about a day ago. He's still strong. What he's doing is walking to the corral fence and ends up with his head stuck through with him forcing himself against it like a zombie for brains. I can get him away from the fence and he just goes in the direction hes pointed till he dead ends into a fence and just keeps pushing. He doesnt seem aware anything is around him. I suspect that since he never nursed for his first few days, he probably has organ damage although he didnt seem dehydrated and we tubed electrolytes in him the first day, then he nursed the cow on his own. What organ damage will cause blindness and empty brain? Its just so weird. I think he'd live if we keep tube feeding him, but, his brain doesnt seem to be working along with his sight... We'll probably put him down tonight or tomorrow, i see no improvements in him since he went downhill.... But i'd like to know if anyone here has ever had this problem?
