Lost my first calf in years

[FlyingLSimmentals]

My favorite Reg. Cow an 8 year old lost her calf tonight. It has been raining pretty well throughout the day and night and it's sloppy. I took the ATV to check on them between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m., I found that she was looking for a place and that she were going to calve. Went back on the ATV just a bit after 10:00 expecting to find a newborn, got there and realized she is needing help. In the edge of a small patch of woods with it trying to come up another thunderstorm in the dark. I realized I needed help to help her so I went quickly and got better tools and lights and some help, got back down there 10:30 or so and the calf had been born with Dam licking it nicely. Their was no response from calf, thought I saw an air bubble or two from his nostril. Gave it a good padding or smacking and cleaned his air ways well trying to get a response but he was gone. A really nice too large red bull. Would have been one of our last from my old herd sire the Invasion son. I'm glad that bull is gone inconsistent calf sizes I hate, his calves were from say 35 to over 100. Did get some nice ones from him but a lot of other problems as well. Makes me wish I still had the Dream On son that we had before, he sure was a good one. Really hope the new bull lifts my spirits soon with easily born calves or I might be in for a really tough year and be bull shopping sooner than expected again. The new bull has only got 1 calf on the ground now, most of his will come in the fall. Therefore the jury is still out on him. Between this weather and my bad luck if I really was a drinking man I would be in the bottle now trying to cheer up some. Now thoughts are in my mind of what I want to do with this cow and how special she is to me. Guess I'll figure it out, I better go and get some sleep and ask for a better day tomorrow in my prayer night cap.

 

[slick4591]

Sounds like there are some of us having calving problems. Sorry you lost yours.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Sorry to hear that FLS. Always the pits when that happens.
Best of luck with the rest.

 

[inyati13]

Mike, you are faring well. One calf in years is not too bad. These birth weight issues are interesting. Sorry for the bad fortune.

 

[skyhightree1]

Sorry about the calf

 

[fitz]

Sorry about your calf. It never gets easy to lose one. My calves from the Bull used were dropping out like little poodles. Told myself I'd used a real "sleep at night Bull".
Then the freak occurrence came Friday night. I'm not going to dwell on it, but found this girl dead with a big bull calf hanging out Sat. morning. Just kept telling myself how fortunate I was to get the tractor to her for removal. I'm sick over it.
Good luck going forward.

 

[shortybreeder]

I lost a 3 day old calf to the neighbor's dog last July, I decided to keep the cow cuz she'd only bring about $1500 slaughter and to replace her quality would've been $3500, figured I could feed her for less than $2000 and it wasn't totally her fault. Hope that helps with your decision. :2cents:

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

Sorry for your loss fitz that really stinks. I really hate to say it but I feel a little better to know I'm with some company who's having some bad luck. Slick I'm happy that you were able to save yours. What hurts me the most is it had to be my nicest Registered Female whom will usually have my best calf. Her calf is always everyone's favorite red or black and always the first to be chosen. Hate that this calf broke the streak appears it's gonna be a big BW year if the first calves are indications which will be different from the two previous years. Crossing my fingers for some lighter weight calves, would even take another little beagle size calf if it is alive even if it had to nurse a bottle for awhile.

 

[FlyingLSimmentals]

shorty,
I'll probably keep her because of how well her calves have done. They have all been kept as replacements or sold to other cattlemen as herd sires or replacements. I haven't heard of any trouble with her calves or had any from the ones I've kept, besides the one who likes to stay out on the other side of the fence. But she did break the contract and didn't get her calf here alive on the ground. The cost of replacements are expensive as you mentioned plus are unproven. She's gonna get a review and I'm gonna do some number punching and attend some sales.

 

[inyati13]

Sorry about your calf. It never gets easy to lose one. My calves from the Bull used were dropping out like little poodles. Told myself I'd used a real "sleep at night Bull".
Then the freak occurrence came Friday night. I'm not going to dwell on it, but found this girl dead with a big bull calf hanging out Sat. morning. Just kept telling myself how fortunate I was to get the tractor to her for removal. I'm sick over it.
Good luck going forward.

fitz: Wonder if she severed a uterine artery. I lost a fine Milestone heifer last August. I found her struggling to deliver a large calf. Front feet and head were showing. When I got her up, she staggered. I walked her into the alley which was a mistake. She went down. It was a nightmare getting her back up. The vet got there and put a hemostatic clamp on the severed artery. She dropped dead while we were standing there watching. Calf was already dead.

 

[shortybreeder]

shorty,
I'll probably keep her because of how well her calves have done. They have all been kept as replacements or sold to other cattlemen as herd sires or replacements. I haven't heard of any trouble with her calves or had any from the ones I've kept, besides the one who likes to stay out on the other side of the fence. But she did break the contract and didn't get her calf here alive on the ground. The cost of replacements are expensive as you mentioned plus are unproven. She's gonna get a review and I'm gonna do some number punching and attend some sales.

My cow is the same way, 1st bull is a herd sire and the 2nd got Grand Champion ROG at 3.77lbs/day. We are moving her up to March calving to hopefully get a nice breeding animal bull or heifer from her.