little calf

[missy_501nz]

hi
i have a calf that was born yesterday and i was wondering if anyone can tell me what is wrong with her.
she is very small around knee height maybe a bit smaller (she is holstien friesan x simmental), she has not come from a first time calver and there was no calving problems, but she has pop eyes but i have seen plenty of calves with pop eyes but not like this her eyes are almost poping out and she can not shut them fully it does not have any other birth defects that i can see.
i live on a dairy farm so have seen loads of calves but not one like this.

thanks

 

[Beefy]

i would really like to see a picture of this calf if you wouldnt mind posting one.

i really dont know what is wrong with it. it sounds like it could be several possibilities.
inbreeding can cause pop eyes and express all kinds of bad genes.
could be a dwarf?
could be disease related?
maybe even some sort of plant toxicity?
i assume you checked for twins?

 

[missy_501nz]

hi

i will try get a pic up tonight or tomorrow.
there was definatly no twin and definatly not imbreed.

thanks for the reply and i will put a pic on.

 

[rockridgecattle]

take a look back through the genetics in the herd. Go back if you can to the momma, and grand ma. Were they bred by the same bull etc. We have had some genetic problem and had to go back to 3 generations to find them. Then if you combine the calf's momma with a bull who carries a simmilar gene out pops the problem. Been experiencing that these last few years on a few cows ourselves.
We named a cow googles cause her eyes were set funny, kinda popped out. Now we realize it was genetic. Because we have to downsize due to hay shortages we are culling any of those "funky" animals or who have produced a "funky" calf in their lifetime.

 

[dyates]

Premie? Had one like that last year from a heifer. Tiny little thing looked liked skin and bones with pop-eyes. Took some TLC but she finally started growing and looks quite nice now. No plans to keep her, but she will make money.