Dead Premie

[I luv herfrds]

Had a first year heifer drop a dead premie calf this morning.

I have been looking at this heifer for the last couple of weeks. She just didn't "look" bred. No calf belly or any really tell tale signs.
So we ran her in the barn, put her in the head catch and I went in rectally for a feel.
I felt the pelvic bone and just past that I found a leg of the calf. I had taken a light hold on it and the calf didn't try to pull away or move, I would say I held the leg for less then 5 seconds. Told hubby it was a small calf and she might have it next month.
Guessed wrong.

It seemed that when he told me this morning that she had lost the calf, that he thought I had done something wrong when I checking her.
I did just like always gloved and lubed. Find the pelvic bone and go past it.

No idea what happened. He won't call out the vet to do a post.

 

[snickers]

next time let him do the check then there shouldnt be a problem, that usually works for me.

 

[I luv herfrds]

snickers you ain't never listened to him do a check.
It get's pretty vocal. Give's me a headache and upsets the cows so I just do it.

Talked to our vet last night. He thinks since the calf didn't move when I touched it it was already dead.
said I could not be rough enough at that stage of gestation to cause the calf's death.
We discussed a couple of different reasons for the loss, but we both agreed we will never know for sure.

 

[Chris H]

I agree with your vet.

Stuff happens.