dead cow question

[rockridgecattle]

before i get shot vet will be coming out to do a BSE test, and give her opinion as to cause of death
But,
I would like an opinion from some seasoned cattle vetrans, can a how you found a cow give way to what might of caused her death?
cow up to date on vaccinations and dewormer
no grain
decent hay
born march 1999
seasoned at calving
not to start before mach 15th
She was born with a twisted or curled mouth but could eat real well.

Found on side bloated,
head back
front legs curled
back legs kinda curled one, one out facing the sun
small calf slightly out. could not see the eyes of the calf
no hole that she could not get up from

Fed Saturday evening died probably Sat Night Sunday morning. We feed every other day.

 

[Luvthemcows]

rockridge, sorry for your loss and the grief that goes with it.

First thing that I think of is this....Could she have ingested some bale string or net?

Second thing...Catastrophic malpresentation of calf...maybe got stuck and forced great pressure on her heart or lungs. The apparent 'good' position of the calf when you saw it does not tell what other positions it may have been in.

Bloat happens after they die, especially quickly when warm outside....may not be related.

Only way to know for sure is to post her.

Hang in there, it will happen to all of us now and then.

 

[rockridgecattle]

thank you, it is tough. couldn't happen to the possible open cow(preg check when the vet is in the area), or a real old bitty, but one that raises a real nice calf.

the twine is all sisal and well, it's not in the best of shape.
maybe a problem calving actually aborting considering it's a minimum three months early, but it was so small that...could a small calf three months premie caused it?
Work with live animals goes with the teritory.
Husband said, loss close to $1000.00 cow & calf plus the 200.00 in feed she has eaten so far this winter; his words "could have bought alot of honey bee nucs for that.... dumb cow"

 

[randiliana]

Is it possible that while calving she got into a hollow,got her feet above her, and could not get back up. If she was a big cow, and got into enough of a hollow she may not have been able to get her feet back under her . Cows can't roll over on their own. The abortion could have just been adding insult to injury or vice versa.

 

[sizmic]

Speculation but possibly through a clot.

Sizmic

 

[grubbie]

I suppose anything is possible, but I would have a hard time believing the calf being in the birth canal is an "after effect" of what caused her death. I would think it was a premature birth gone wrong or maybe an abortion (hopefully not caused by the "B" word). But,....I am certainly no vet. Please keep us updated on what the vet finds, will be some good info to have for sure. So sorry for your loss.

 

[rockridgecattle]

Vet is out today to do a test on her and preg check two cows. Well let you know what she said.

 

[ALX.]

The "bloat" sounds like internal bleeding, which can be caused by any number of things.

Sorry you lost them RR, that stings.

 

[rockridgecattle]

Hello,
so the vet was out. Did the BSE test. Not much else she could do because it was getting ripe from the rumen.
Best guesses were:
bloat, she was a big cow and she had just ate, probably tried to lick her back and roled over
heart attack
possible rupture of a tumor in the gut
things of this nature
The abort happened post problem
If she could not get up from rolling over the exertion of trying to get up caused the abortion
stress from the bloat caused pressure etc.
But she did note that the abortion was not the cause, just from her experience as a vet.

Thanks for all the replies
Oh yeah those two cows are open. They will be 12 this march...dang nabbit, why not one of them?