Fire Sweep Ranch
Well-known member
Not a good way to start the season, but one of my girls aborted an embryo calf last night, 250 days gestation. I should have gone back out and checked her last night, because I noted she was laying and acting like she was pushing, or uncomfortable, stretching her legs out, around 8PM. No real bag made yet. But I went out this morning and she was protecting her dead bull calf. He was 51 pounds, and the first thing I noted was his larger-than-normal distended belly. :cry2:
So, my question is, is there a genetic condition that causes the calf to have a distended belly? If you look at the picture, his belly looks unusually big. Now, with his genetics (Sandeen Upper Class - sire), they tend to be big bellied cattle.... maybe I am grasping at straws here, and nothing will change the outcome (a dead calf)... Just trying to learn from an unfortunate event. I still have two more of those embryos in the tank...
I have had three abortions in the time we have been breeding cattle, two of which were embryo bull calves. The last one that was aborted, about 2 years ago, we had cultured and nothing specific came back. I know it happens, but I hate it! I hate it for the cow, I hate it for us. All three abortions were in August/September time frame.
Anyway, off to church this morning, try to lift my spirits...
So, my question is, is there a genetic condition that causes the calf to have a distended belly? If you look at the picture, his belly looks unusually big. Now, with his genetics (Sandeen Upper Class - sire), they tend to be big bellied cattle.... maybe I am grasping at straws here, and nothing will change the outcome (a dead calf)... Just trying to learn from an unfortunate event. I still have two more of those embryos in the tank...
I have had three abortions in the time we have been breeding cattle, two of which were embryo bull calves. The last one that was aborted, about 2 years ago, we had cultured and nothing specific came back. I know it happens, but I hate it! I hate it for the cow, I hate it for us. All three abortions were in August/September time frame.
Anyway, off to church this morning, try to lift my spirits...