coincidence?

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GMN

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southwest, MO
I haven't had to pull a calf in years, this past week, I have had to pull 2, both first calf heifers, and both had bulls. The one heifer last week, did not clean of course,so I had to have the Vet out on her, but all is well with her now and the calf. The second one, I had to pull last night during milking, and she did clean, also had a bull. With the temps so cold, I had to put the calf in the barn for the night, under old rugs etc...but this morning he ate like a pig. Now another older cow, who calved a few days ago, I did not think she would have problems with a RP, but now I see she still has not cleaned. I'm just wondering now, if this is just a coincidence that 2 have had RP's and 2 needed to be pulled or if something could be causing it?

Any thoughts?

GMN
 
Given the information... I'd consider it more than a coincidence. RPs can be linked to hard births/having to pull a calf, of course, and so that could be blamed on the herd bull or very high protein feed or lots of grain for the heifers. However, it doesn't sound like the cow has a similar excuse. What's your mineral program like? has it changed in the last 30 days? If not, has the feed the cows are on changed in the last 30 days - even just from 2nd to 3rd crop hay, or feeding from a different stack, new load of grain, etc?
 
i cant answer your q.but id say it is kinda strange that those things happened.but thats part of dairing.you might try giving the cows an heifers a 5 gal bucket of warm water after they calve.an it might help clean them out.how big was the 2 pulls.
 
Different bull?

I think I dodged a pull yesterday afternoon. Saw a heifer starting to have her calf. Saw two feet that look huge and could only imaging a calf to match the feet. Had a cow in the pen to the chute that needed attention and gotten out of the way, by the time I was ready to run the heifer in to check her out she was cleaning off the calf. Not going to say how long it's been since I had to pull a calf, don't want to jinx it. ;-)
 
Sounds like more than a coincidence to me. Milkmaid is on the right track with the mineral program. That is usually the first thing that is lacking. If you have a good mineral program, it could also be the feedstuffs she mentioned.

What is the BCS of the heifers/cows that did not clean. Cows with less than ideal BCS scores sometimes are more apt to have a retained placenta. That was the case with my brother's and my cattle this past spring. We had maybe 10-12 3 year old cows a little thin after raising big calves, and then a brutal winter was hard on everything. Had 2 of those have a RP.
 
GMN":2lodcvl5 said:
I haven't had to pull a calf in years, this past week, I have had to pull 2, both first calf heifers, and both had bulls. The one heifer last week, did not clean of course,so I had to have the Vet out on her, but all is well with her now and the calf. The second one, I had to pull last night during milking, and she did clean, also had a bull. With the temps so cold, I had to put the calf in the barn for the night, under old rugs etc...but this morning he ate like a pig. Now another older cow, who calved a few days ago, I did not think she would have problems with a RP, but now I see she still has not cleaned. I'm just wondering now, if this is just a coincidence that 2 have had RP's and 2 needed to be pulled or if something could be causing it?

Any thoughts?

GMN
Click to expand...

The retained placenta's might be coincidence but, if this were my herd, I would draw/have blood drawn on both cows and make sure everything was ok.
 
bigbull338":30skjpg4 said:
i cant answer your q.but id say it is kinda strange that those things happened.but thats part of dairing.you might try giving the cows an heifers a 5 gal bucket of warm water after they calve.an it might help clean them out.how big was the 2 pulls.
Click to expand...

The first pull was easier, but that calf was a big calf, I can fully understand why she did not clean, also being a first calf heifer, I am sure that had alot to do with it, alot of stress associated there for first time Moms. The second one. was a hard pull, for a brief second there, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get it out. But, the head was starting to swell with the tongue, and I knew it was now or the calf was going to die, so I just mustered up all the strenth I had and out it came. She did show interest in cleaning it off, and did some, but it was sooo cold that night, that it had to be taken away soon after.

I have not changed my feeding program any in the last 30 days, and it is the same bull for both. I have to think that it is just a coincidence, because that is how my luck is here, things usually happen in sets of 2 or 3. A few years back, I had one heifer, one cow, each have a prolapse on the same day (very expensive)

Factor in the size and age of all the animals concerned, I think it just is the way it is. I will keep your responses all in mind though, if it happens again in the near future, still have 8 heifers to go, so we will see.

Gail
 
it is probably the calving that caused it, but a good loose mineral can help in a lot of areas. i had a group i bought that only had salt blocks, thay had foot problems and i started the mineral it has totaly ended the problem. i was hauling and treating for foot rot, on young cattle.
 

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