Fire Sweep Ranch
Well-known member
Ugh, what a week! We had three calves born all on the same day; one on time (an Upgrade heifer calf, 89 pounds), one 8 days early (a Lock n Load x SS U Misti Nights embryo heifer calf, 69 pounds) and of course the early calf (266 days gestation, Angus cow sired by Chopper, bull calf, 51 pounds).
Anyway, we have a good recip that was due today with a Steel Force embryo calf. Out of three eggs, all three stuck but one aborted early (130 days gestation) so I was really looking forward to this last one, since the spring embryo heifer calf is super nice! The recip cow is the dam of Ronnie, a heifer I have pictured here before with Ron in KY at the junior nationals this year. This cow is a little spooky compared to the rest, and not halter broke (we bought her in a sale as a bred). So I brought her up to the pasture near the house last night, with another cow to keep her company, so we could keep a closer eye on her. We had some really bad storms last night, with high winds and over 2 inches of rain. The wind was bad enough to pitch our pool (48 inch deep, 16 feet wide), which was almost empty (draining it for winter storage) into the pasture where this cow was. I leave early on Tuesdays and Thursdays to teach at the college (before daylight), so hubby texted me to let me know the pool ended up in the pasture but her got it out before he left. So I get home at 4PM to find the cow hovering over a dead calf, and very distraught. She is super protective, so I walked out there with a big stick just to confirm what my gut told me, that it was dead. It was, of course, a heifer calf, and still warm and flexible. I left the two alone, since I was home alone and did not want to get hurt. I watched her over the next two hours never leave the calf, lay down and pass her placenta, eat it, and was obviously confused by the lack of the calf standing. When hubby got home, we chased the cow out of the pasture (she DID NOT want to leave her baby) and picked the calf up to weigh her and dispose. She was 62 pounds (small for a Simmi), and had a ton of clear thick goop that drained from her mouth. I bet she never took a breath, with the amount of fluid that came out. So, now I am second guessing myself, did the pool flying spook her enough to cause an abruption of the umbilicus? Could this have been prevented had we just left her out on pasture (which they are the furthest from the house, so hard to check on). I really hate seeing my cows like this. Last fall we lost a set of twins and listening to the cow call for her babies was heartbreaking. This is a part of the business I do not like, loosing one you had high hopes for and think you might have prevented....
On a lighter note, the little half angus bull calf seems to be doing well. I let him and his dam out of the barn tonight and into the small pasture next to the barn. Every time I see him lying around, I think he is dead because he is just so darn small! I sure hope he makes it! Here is a pic I took of him tonight, his dam MIGHT be 1000 pounds if she is lucky.... a very small Pioneer angus 3 year old:
Sorry to vent,.... I hate losing a calf. Heifers are the hardest, and embryos are even worse!
Anyway, we have a good recip that was due today with a Steel Force embryo calf. Out of three eggs, all three stuck but one aborted early (130 days gestation) so I was really looking forward to this last one, since the spring embryo heifer calf is super nice! The recip cow is the dam of Ronnie, a heifer I have pictured here before with Ron in KY at the junior nationals this year. This cow is a little spooky compared to the rest, and not halter broke (we bought her in a sale as a bred). So I brought her up to the pasture near the house last night, with another cow to keep her company, so we could keep a closer eye on her. We had some really bad storms last night, with high winds and over 2 inches of rain. The wind was bad enough to pitch our pool (48 inch deep, 16 feet wide), which was almost empty (draining it for winter storage) into the pasture where this cow was. I leave early on Tuesdays and Thursdays to teach at the college (before daylight), so hubby texted me to let me know the pool ended up in the pasture but her got it out before he left. So I get home at 4PM to find the cow hovering over a dead calf, and very distraught. She is super protective, so I walked out there with a big stick just to confirm what my gut told me, that it was dead. It was, of course, a heifer calf, and still warm and flexible. I left the two alone, since I was home alone and did not want to get hurt. I watched her over the next two hours never leave the calf, lay down and pass her placenta, eat it, and was obviously confused by the lack of the calf standing. When hubby got home, we chased the cow out of the pasture (she DID NOT want to leave her baby) and picked the calf up to weigh her and dispose. She was 62 pounds (small for a Simmi), and had a ton of clear thick goop that drained from her mouth. I bet she never took a breath, with the amount of fluid that came out. So, now I am second guessing myself, did the pool flying spook her enough to cause an abruption of the umbilicus? Could this have been prevented had we just left her out on pasture (which they are the furthest from the house, so hard to check on). I really hate seeing my cows like this. Last fall we lost a set of twins and listening to the cow call for her babies was heartbreaking. This is a part of the business I do not like, loosing one you had high hopes for and think you might have prevented....
On a lighter note, the little half angus bull calf seems to be doing well. I let him and his dam out of the barn tonight and into the small pasture next to the barn. Every time I see him lying around, I think he is dead because he is just so darn small! I sure hope he makes it! Here is a pic I took of him tonight, his dam MIGHT be 1000 pounds if she is lucky.... a very small Pioneer angus 3 year old:
Sorry to vent,.... I hate losing a calf. Heifers are the hardest, and embryos are even worse!