Trying to figure out what is wrong with Hereford calf - born 3 days ago, big in size, head and neck looked swollen, leg joints were swollen, neck looks short and thick, looked like he is in a daze and he wouldn't suck very well. Three days later, swelling is down in head and joints, but cannot seem to nurse very well. Can suck a bottle for about 5-10 seconds then must quit and sounds like he is snorting. I can get a half a bottle at a feeding in, but then he won't take any more. Is acting better, more active, but still doesn't look quite normal. Mother did get impregnated by a close relative by accident. Any ideas?
Funny Looking Calf
- Thread starter ljV
- Start date
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Caustic Burno
Well-known member
ljV":2e3g48x5 said:
Sounds like a dummy calf.
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Aero":2ueksefi said:
Dwarfism is a trait of Herefords.
ljV":g0ev314p said:
Line breeding.
When it works, everyone brags about their breeding and genetic knowledge.
When it does not - it is simply a wreck.
If it lives - get rid of it.
If it stays poorly do not spend much money on it.
If it is poorly after a few more days - shoot it or sell it.
Bez!
CattleAnnie
Well-known member
I've seen a few Herf sired calves that match this description.
Big sized, raw boned, tongue generally sticks out a bit, dumb like stick and oddly enough, all of them were bug-eyed in appearance. Very lethargic and not overly co-ordinated.
If you mess with them long enough, they will suck, but it is a bit of a chore, as they don't seem to be able to figure out what to do with their tongues.
Helped a friend of mine with a few of them, and personally I think that they are probably akin to mentally handicapped people.
Sometimes these things just happen.
Take care.
Big sized, raw boned, tongue generally sticks out a bit, dumb like stick and oddly enough, all of them were bug-eyed in appearance. Very lethargic and not overly co-ordinated.
If you mess with them long enough, they will suck, but it is a bit of a chore, as they don't seem to be able to figure out what to do with their tongues.
Helped a friend of mine with a few of them, and personally I think that they are probably akin to mentally handicapped people.
Sometimes these things just happen.
Take care.
greenwillowherefords
Well-known member
Could you post a picture, I sure would like to see it.
GW. Wife
GW. Wife
Jake
Well-known member
ok for some reason I doubt dwarf. I'd say that it's probably that she had issues having the calf and it's head and joints swelled from the stress and lack of oxygen. They bigger they are the dumber they are so give him a week of tubing and trying to get him to nurse and the calf should be fine.
It sounds like he had a difficult birth and it took too long to get out. It takes quite awhile to recover form a tramatic birth. The swelling makes it difficult to eat and walk. They are sometimes never quite right again.
