Got out -- overindulged on barley --now bleeding from rectum

[Clodkicker]

We have a pregnant heifer that is proving to be a royal pain. She has been out a number of times but this time may be her demise. She is due in April.

We came home today, found the barley lid off of the can. While she was innocently standing in the corral, the loose stools outside the barn match the mess on her butt. She is bleeding from the rectum as far as we can tell. Any idea on what is wrong and advice on what to do?

Daryl

 

[milkmaid]

Her problem isn't bleeding from the rectum... it's that grain overload causes something called acidosis. Ruminal acidosis can lead to systemic acidosis -- basically it can kill them in 24 hours or less.

The easiest treatment is 50 grams of baking soda -- put it in capsules if possible. Restrict her access to water for now; to cut a long explanation short, allowing her to fill her rumen with water will result in the acidic ruminal fluids being absorbed and will cause systemic acidosis... and then the internal organs shut down.

 

[Clodkicker]

I don't have capsules for baking soda--what is another way to administer?

 

[Clodkicker]

Update--this is the same heifer that wouldn't eat at all a couple of weeks ago. She had a cough and just wouldn't eat after she overindulged on oats (she has a knack for walking through electric fences). Vet felt it was just a little virus--was fine and recovered until tonight with the barley.

We did give her some baking soda mixed in a little water. Vet thought she didn't have much compared to her body weight--Guess we'll see tomorrow if she is better or worse.

 

[Clodkicker]

Well, our preg heifer recovered from her acidosis but took her to the vet hospital to have a full treatment to restore her rumen. We do think she is trying to abort now. Will have to wait and see about her feet.

 

[milkmaid]

Well, our preg heifer recovered from her acidosis but took her to the vet hospital to have a full treatment to restore her rumen. We do think she is trying to abort now. Will have to wait and see about her feet.

Glad she's still alive, but too bad about her trying to abort. Maybe she isn't really; I know we had about 15 cows in the grain shed last winter, all at different stages of pregnancy (50 days to 220 days), and not one slipped a calf. Never saw any hoof problems (ie founder) due to it either, believe it or not. And these cows ate all night long until they'd gorged themselves.

Best wishes; keep us posted!

 

[Jogeephus]

If she likes to eat, feed her then butcher her. Sounds like a good steak is all you are going to get out of her other than problems and vet bills.

 

[Clodkicker]

She is registered so I am not ready to give up on her yet--especially to butcher.