FYI... a "dumb" calf is one born somewhat mentally retarded from not getting enough oxygen to the brain because of a difficult birth or other factors. I humans, the mother is at the hospital and the baby is on a monitor and in many cases, these things can be prevented. I had a cow have a dumb calf this year. It was terribly malpositioned and it took 11 hours to deliver. The young cow was way too robust to ever lay down for help and I must take five meds at night that don't allow me to stay awake for emergencies. In the morning we thought we were pulling a dead calf, but as soon as I got my hand in and found where the head was and moved it (it wasn't easy) the calf finally came out....alive, but dumb. It's tongue stayed swollen for two days and tubing and bottle feeding and medication didn't help. It was really dumb.