HOSS
Well-known member
Yep......my first A.I. calf from my best cow hit the ground on Saturda morning. It was 3 weeks pre-mature The little heifer calf was and is still alive but she is struggling. She looks fine as far as development with the exception of being about 50 pounds. I found them out in the field with the cow, who is normally an exceptional momma, acting like she didn't really care. I think it is a mental thing as this calf was early her hormones may not have adjusted. The calf was encrusted with ice and shivering. I rubbed her briskly all over and she finally tried to stand. When I picked her up and started carrying her toward the house momma cow suddenly started to care. To make a long story short I hurt my back trying to get away from her while carrying the calf. Needless to say I gave it back to her :roll: The calf tried to nurse but mommas milk had not dropped so I penned them up together and it was off to Co-op to get clostrum and milk replacer. I gave the calf a bottle of colostrum mix and she seemed more spry. Checked back in the evening and calf did not appear to nurse so I fed another bottle. This morning the calf stood for her bottle and I noticed that the cow was starting to bag up more. This afternoon I looked at the cow and there was no change in the udder......came back 2 hours later and her udder looked like a basketball. I was able to milk her and she was giving plenty but her teats had not elongated and the calf won't suck on them because they are so short. This cow normally has a beautifull udder. I don't think the teats have hd time to elongate under pressure like a cow that bags up before calving as normal. Anyway I fed the calf via the bottle again and am hoping for the best tomorrow. I hope the cow gets into momma mode more than she is now. She is on and off. Sometimes she is attentive and licking the calf and protecting it and then she flips over to walking away from it and ignoring it. She has stepped on it two or three times. Luckily it appears unhurt. This is a pretty little heifer out of a Gelbvieh bull called Atlas 101N. I really hopes she makes it. I may post pics tomorrow if she survives. The good thing is she gets up and follows momma around so she is not completley lethargic.