Dumb Calf Questions

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Stocker Steve

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Do you see annual repeats of dumb (will not nurse) calves from the same breeding?
Do you cull for it?
What percent of your dumb calves are bull calves?
 
Yes. Yes. Better than 3 outta 4..that may be a low estimate for us.
 
I've only had 2 in my life. I shipped both cows, in hopes of not finding out if it was hereditary. I do remember one was a heifer. Couldn't say for sure what the other was.
 
Have only had a couple and one was truly retarded. Vet said that he may have been a harder birth, but he was on the ground when we found him although tongue was swollen some. Could not find his way to the teat without help for days, and we penned them for nearly 2 weeks to make sure he was getting to eat. He just wasn't right and then one day he was dead. Have had a few others and all have been bull calves. Haven't noticed them from certain breedings, though twice it was on the same cow and the second time was her last calf.
 
My latest dummy nursed last night. Had tubed him twice and gave him some "Push" nutritional paste to keep him going.

New heifer bull is throwing 80# calves, which is fine, but they are not very vigorous...
 

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