Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
Java, the dam of our "little bull" calved 5 days early last year, calving on Jan 1st. This year she was due Jan 8th.
On Thursday, she was a little lame. As I've mentioned, we have been MUD non-stop. Several cows have come up lame. So, we brought her into the barn. On Friday, Phil picked up her foot, cleaned it - it stunk - assuming foot rot . Put Coppertox on it, didn't wrap because we had all our pens free, so we kept her in. Gave her Exceed as directed (text) by my new young vet.
Next day, she really did not act right. She normally devours half a bale of hay in one feeding. She just laid around. Finally, I noticed she was leaking urine (or embryonic fluid?). I text my old retired vet. Told him what she was like. He said uterine torsion is not very common with beef, but - being lame, she may lunge getting up and could have flipped the calf. Said for Phil to palpate vaginally to check. Phil did - everything felt normal. Cervex was closed.
Next morning, Phil was first in the barn and called me saying Java had blood in her discharge/slime.
I text the retired vet and asked if he would come out.
He came right out - palpated her rectally, said she had a full breech calf coming and there was no movement. He had to work really hard to reach the legs to get them up. Got the chains on both legs, had Phil hold them while he went to his truck for something - still no movement, vet said dead. Phil put pressure on them, and calf slid right out falling hard on the floor of the chute. Calf shook it's head!! Live bull calf. Obviously, checked for twin, yup. That one almost slid out by herself - yes freemartin.
So, Java was hauled all over all summer being shown, nursed her monster bull calf for 9 months, and was carrying TWINS, and kept her condition with her 3# corn a day while being shown. Nothing since September. And - she calved same day as last year, 7 days early.
Both calves were up and nursing in about 30 minutes. Amazing!!!
The retired vet has been my vet for about 30 years (or more) and lives about 2 miles away. Lucky he likes me!!!
The topper is that she NEVER showed any sign of being in labor. Just mopey and not eating or drinking and the blood in the discharge. Vet said calves easily would have been dead if we hadn't caught her when we did.
HAPPY NEW YEAR - good way to start the season!
On Thursday, she was a little lame. As I've mentioned, we have been MUD non-stop. Several cows have come up lame. So, we brought her into the barn. On Friday, Phil picked up her foot, cleaned it - it stunk - assuming foot rot . Put Coppertox on it, didn't wrap because we had all our pens free, so we kept her in. Gave her Exceed as directed (text) by my new young vet.
Next day, she really did not act right. She normally devours half a bale of hay in one feeding. She just laid around. Finally, I noticed she was leaking urine (or embryonic fluid?). I text my old retired vet. Told him what she was like. He said uterine torsion is not very common with beef, but - being lame, she may lunge getting up and could have flipped the calf. Said for Phil to palpate vaginally to check. Phil did - everything felt normal. Cervex was closed.
Next morning, Phil was first in the barn and called me saying Java had blood in her discharge/slime.
I text the retired vet and asked if he would come out.
He came right out - palpated her rectally, said she had a full breech calf coming and there was no movement. He had to work really hard to reach the legs to get them up. Got the chains on both legs, had Phil hold them while he went to his truck for something - still no movement, vet said dead. Phil put pressure on them, and calf slid right out falling hard on the floor of the chute. Calf shook it's head!! Live bull calf. Obviously, checked for twin, yup. That one almost slid out by herself - yes freemartin.
So, Java was hauled all over all summer being shown, nursed her monster bull calf for 9 months, and was carrying TWINS, and kept her condition with her 3# corn a day while being shown. Nothing since September. And - she calved same day as last year, 7 days early.
Both calves were up and nursing in about 30 minutes. Amazing!!!
The retired vet has been my vet for about 30 years (or more) and lives about 2 miles away. Lucky he likes me!!!
The topper is that she NEVER showed any sign of being in labor. Just mopey and not eating or drinking and the blood in the discharge. Vet said calves easily would have been dead if we hadn't caught her when we did.
HAPPY NEW YEAR - good way to start the season!
