Had Trouble Today

[FlyingLSimmentals]

One of our Reg. Simmental Cows went to looking for a place to calve around 10:30 this morning. Dad and I watched where she went and we eased out to leave with a plan to come back a bit later to check her out. I guess it was a little after 11:30 I came to check on her and see the calf. Figured she would of had one and be in the same location or close by. Went on the atv and couldn't find her at her previous location. Drove around checking their favorite hiding places, ended up spotting her on the back of the farm off the hill in our largest pasture. She was still walking about like in a search for a cool location even took a dip in the pond. She left the pond and went to a nice shady cool spot on the edge of the boundary. Didn't she anything hanging out so I left at 12:48 with plans to come back later. Lazy me didn't come back until a bit after 3 o' clock, found her head downhill in the barbwire fence. She wasn't able to swing herself up and looked to be choking herself. I think she had a foot out. Anyway I went to get help, this cow being my brother's. Him and I got back to her and found that she had got a calf out it was alive and looked well. Moved the calf and got a rope around her head and helped pull her out of the low down hill ditch. She then jumped up and went straight to licking the calf, it was a heifer. I told my brother that with the size of the calf, it being a little heifer and the dam not having any afterbirth hanging that she was more than likely carrying another. Because if that was it she would have dropped it a long while ago. He thought she was done and that the calf was bigger than I thought and it was the heat and her location that she picked why she had trouble. But he said he would come back and check on her in about an hour. Anyhow he didn't do it, dad and I went later to make sure things were well. Found her down hill again not able to get up with another calf out covered in afterbirth. I uncovered it's head but calf was already dead, a nice black blaze face bull. We used the rope again and helped her up and brought up the little black heifer for her to lick. Gave it some colostrum before we left hopefully they'll bond some tonight and she'll figure out to nurse momma. I buried the afterbirth and dad hauled the dead calf off. I'll say again I hate twins. Also I hope my brother learned to trust me and quit being so laid back. Wish me luck that tomorrow will be trouble free and the little one is nursing. Sorry for the long spill, my fingers get typing and I seem to not quit.

 

[branguscowgirl]

What am ordeal! I hope that your brother is feeling a bit guilty for letting her go through all that and not checking on her.
Hoping all is well tomorrow.

 

[Williamsv]

Sorry about your trouble. I hope tomorrow will be better and the mother and calf will be bonded and all going well. Seems like we just have to have these days. I do not like twins either. Had one to lose her triplets in March. You sure don't want them.

 

[Nesikep]

We've all been there,.. thankfully the cow is alright, that could have easily been a bloat case on top of it all... Afterbirth over the calf can happen on singles too, so it's just the luck of the draw on that...

Hope they're all good from here on in!

 

[fenceman]

Well you came out pretty good it considering. Sorry you had trouble.
This is just my observation. But it seems when one is starting labor , and goes and crawls in tank or creek, something ain't right.

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

Cow stayed with calf all night. Pretty sure calf hasn't nursed cow yet. Calf has awful straight weak front legs, appear to not be much muscling around the knees. Have been feeding it colostrum from bottle. Did get cow and calf to the holding pen or working pen this morning. Hopefully we can get the little one on the dam as soon as possible.
Fenceman, I agree. Figured something wasn't right, thought she would of had the calf already before the dip in the pond. Didn't see anything out so thought maybe I was wrong and didn't want to stress or bother her in the heat. Should have stayed and watched from the distance but didn't want to put up with the insects and heat (yes I know that's just lazy). She hasn't had any problems before calving usually from larger BW bulls figured she would be fine with this calving ease sire. Just didn't expect twins until into the process. Luckily we watched her well enough that she is fine and hopefully one little heifer will be.

 

[dun]

Luckily we watched her well enough that she is fine and hopefully one little heifer will be.

That wuld be 1 little probably freemartin.

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

That's right Dun 1 little unwanted problem. Don't know why it had to be in there taking up space with that blaze face bull, darn twins. But hopefully she'll serve a purpose and make some steaks and burger. Don't have to worry about a registration fee too. Time for me to make another round and see how she is a doing.

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Side note, we put an embryo in a cow tonight. Seems she had two CL's, one on the left ovary and one on the right ovary. What does that mean? Had she been bred, she would have likely had twins, fraternal. We have never had that happen (two CL's) in a recip before... just kind of odd... Sorry to hear about the twins. I always go with my gut at calving, it is usually right!