I am about a week into weaning a group of calves. This morning, I found one previously healthy steer dead. He was about 5 months old and healthy and active last night. Found him still warm on his side and he hadn't kicked or struggled any I could tell. Actually had a mouthful of unchewed sudan hay in his mouth so he had just recently been eating. He was slightly bloated looking but not severe. I was worried it might be contagious so decided to open him up and see what might have been wrong. I found all organs to be normal and no sign of blackleg. His rumen was packed with hay and I pulled out about 3 gallons, all which looked normal. That's when I found a hard object between the rumen and next stomach. It was a charred piece of wood about the size of a golf ball in diameter and twice that length (see pic). It seemed to be blocking the exit into the next stomach and there were other small pieces and ash packed around it. I was wondering if anyone has heard of a calf dying suddenly from an obstruction like this? Everything I have been able to read seems to indicate that it usually takes longer and they will get poor plus this was a pretty small object which I would think he could pass. He was the picture of health until I found him this morning. I'm not sure where he picked up the charred wood either as there isn't anything like that in the pen so he may have swallowed it a while ago. I was glad it doesn't appear to be disease, but perplexed how this could happen. Thoughts?