Lost one last night

[funky 4-Her]

Sorry for your loss...

 

[GMN]

Man oh man. I lost my first calf today since owning the place. He was a steer that was in the weaning pen. He bloated up and died. I made this diagnosis myself. There was no cracklin or anything in his legs. He had been vaccinated twice for black leg already. Looks like he bloated as he was bloated up on the rumen side up high. Hadnt pooped looks like one was hung, wasnt laying spread out just laying there. Tongue partially out. A little bit of blood in mouth and in eye. Looks like he had tried to breath so hard and couldnt and the blood vessels ruptured. Pushed on his side and it felt like a water bed. I called vet out he confirmed diagnoses of bloat per necropsy on the spot. The calf hadnt been dead long it didnt appear. I thought at first it might have been pig weed poisoning as there is a little bit in the pen where i had them confined however the vet found no evidence of this. He did take blood samples and said he would test those but said it did appear to be bloat. I knew this calf was dead before I even pulled in from the way he was just laying there and not moving. I feel like I neglected this calf and thats why he died. He showed no signs of sickness yesterday and I even had a friend out yesterday that has been a large animal vet for 45 years but is now retired and there was nothing wrong then. I had to work last night and dad went and checked em. He said all was well when he left out of there at dark last night which was approximately 9:00 pm. I know you cant have your cake and eat it to. I also realize if you have livestock you will eventually have dead stock. There went a freezer beef order out the window dang it. Strange thing is this calf has been on grass, mothers milk, and creep since day one. Its not like I just started him on feed. The only thing that was done differently here lately is that I have just been feeding the steers hay and grain in the weaning pen and no grass. Perhaps maybe the hay (pearl millet) and the feed were just to rich for him to handle.

I had one like this a few years back, perfectly fine in the morning, I went out mid day and he was starting to bloat, called the Vet, he got there, and did try to puncture its stomack, but it was too late, I really felt awful as did the Vet, but I think what it was is that I had put alfalfa hay in the pen that morning, and it overate, yet no one else in the pen ever had a problem. I think sometimes things just happen, and its best not to think too much about it, or beat yourself up too much.

Gail

 

[GMN]

Im not really beating myself up I just feel bummed out. I was going to take this calf to the slaughter house when he reached 1000 pounds and charge the customer 1.00 per pound plus the slaughter house kill fee. I was looking to get around 1200 dollars off this animal but now i get nothing. Oh well such is life. I asked the vet why the calf had a little blood in his mouth and a little in his eyes. He said that when they bloat up like that and struggle to breath sometimes they try so hard that they hemmorhage (spelling?) and that is what caused the blood. I reckon Ill just have to watch the others and hope that I dont lose any more. Dang steer was one of the biggest and best ones.

Yep thats how it always is. Better luck next time.

Gail

 

[CWT Angus]

Sorry about your calf. It's always a bummer to loose one, even though we all know it is going to happen sooner or later. Who knows what went on with the little guy, we can do our absolute best for them & for some reason bad things still happen.