Cow prolapsed and dead

[fnfarms1]

Had a cow calving, watched her for 45 mins with little progress, I was right there decided to pull it. Pulled it calf was fine, drug him around chute in front of her. Went back to let her out and noticed she had prolapsed. Got vet called. Cow went down in chute acting like couldn't breathe. Opened chute up to make sure wasn't squeezing her. Over about 15mins she kept getting worse and just laid her head on the calf and died. Theory is that she busted a main vein and bled out inside, wasn't that much outside.
Anyone have a similar experience?

 

[TCRanch]

Dang, I'm sorry! That's rough. No, not a similar experience (my only prolapse made a full recovery) but severing an artery and bleeding out is generally the cause of death when it's that fast.

 

[farmerjan]

We had one that the vet did get put back in, but he said if she was alive in 6 hours she would make it... not quite as fast a bleed out, but she didn't make it... I raised her calf on the nurse cow.
Sorry for you...

 

[Dave]

I had one that the vet and I struggled for quiet a while getting her put back together. Got the job done. He gave her a couple of shots. And she died about the time that he pulled the needle out. Had one a couple years ago who prolapsed 4 times. We put her together twice and the vet twice. She lived to raise one of the biggest calves and take a trip to the plant in the fall. You just never know.

 

[J+ Cattle]

Yes, I been there almost exactly the same as you described. The vet wasn't any help, she was unprepared and didn't have the necessary tools and equipment on the truck and had to go back to the office. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, but it made me mad at the time.

 

[bird dog]

I have told this to J+Cattle but a few weeks ago I had a heifer uterine prolapse a few weeks before she was due. That was a new one for me. I could get it pushed back in but wouldn't stay. A neighbor that is better than most vets helped me get it held in and sewn up. It was very difficult becasue she kept pushing. We used the sugar trick that shrunk it down some but even after being sewn up. their was a big bulge out the back end. She went to town the next day and brought .82 lb. I made sure not to give her any antibiotics that would leave a residual.

For once there was a train wreck I didn't have to drag off.

 

[wbvs58]

Had a cow calving, watched her for 45 mins with little progress, I was right there decided to pull it. Pulled it calf was fine, drug him around chute in front of her. Went back to let her out and noticed she had prolapsed. Got vet called. Cow went down in chute acting like couldn't breathe. Opened chute up to make sure wasn't squeezing her. Over about 15mins she kept getting worse and just laid her head on the calf and died. Theory is that she busted a main vein and bled out inside, wasn't that much outside.
Anyone have a similar experience?

Did you use any mechanical means to pull the calf?

Ken

 

[fnfarms1]

Did you use any mechanical means to pull the calf?

Ken

Only OB chains and handle on the chains. No puller or come along. Honestly really easiest pull I've had in long time, although I've pulled maybe 4-5calves in last 8-9yrs I've used current bulls from my bull guy. Fairly sure she would have had it on her own as easy as it was, just jumped the gun trying to ensure live one since I was right there. Sunny n 75 is nice calf pulling weather compared to the usual 5deg, snowing and 30mph wind.

 

[wbvs58]

Only OB chains and handle on the chains. No puller or come along. Honestly really easiest pull I've had in long time, although I've pulled maybe 4-5calves in last 8-9yrs I've used current bulls from my bull guy. Fairly sure she would have had it on her own as easy as it was, just jumped the gun trying to ensure live one since I was right there. Sunny n 75 is nice calf pulling weather compared to the usual 5deg, snowing and 30mph wind.

Doesn't sound like the pull contributed to it.

Ken

 

[ClinchValley86]

Hate to hear that, friend. How is the calf doing now?

 

[fnfarms1]

Hate to hear that, friend. How is the calf doing now?

Calf is doing well. He's never really missed a beat. Considered selling him as bottle calf to avoid the work. But I've got my butcher beef business, I prefer steers for and I'm heifer heavy. ie 15heifers-7steers and this calf's half brother is currently my biggest steer @ 1100lbs and 11mths old. Need about 9-10steers for next year. Still 4 cows to go.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Calf is doing well. He's never really missed a beat. Considered selling him as bottle calf to avoid the work. But I've got my butcher beef business, I prefer steers for and I'm heifer heavy. ie 15heifers-7steers and this calf's half brother is currently my biggest steer @ 1100lbs and 11mths old. Need about 9-10steers for next year. Still 4 cows to go.

They sure are a lot of work.

 

[Dsth]

Sorry to hear about you losing your cow but glad the calf if doing good for you. At least the cow got to see her baby before passing away, hopefully gave her a little comfort at the end.

 

[sunnyblueskies]

We had one like that in a mature cow. Pulled calf, not too difficult pull, but she never got up after, it took very little time for her to bleed out internally. That was a few years ago, never had one like that again thank god.