New heifer calf, advice needed...

[2/B or not 2/B]

This calf was born yesterday, much to my surprise. I guess I really misjudged when she was supposed to be coming. My first visit with her was last night in the dark with a flashlight and I was concerned because her mom bagged up so big. Wanted to make sure the calf was able to nurse, but it didn't seem like she was getting much.

I checked on her this morning and saw her urinating a lot, which I thought was a good sign. But I also saw her struggling to nurse from her mom and trying to nurse other cows. I moved her and her mom into a coral and was able to check the mom's udder only to find that she has only one milking quarter... The whole udder is very full, but 3 of the teats feel dry and empty. The udder is hard and warm but not hot. The milk from the good quarter is white, clean, no lumps, good smelling. I wonder if this cow had a previous infection and has scar tissue damage? I was hoping maybe she just needed to let down her milk, but she couldn't let down one quarter and not the others, right? I massaged the teats and the bag.

I do think the calf got colostrum and some milk from her mom. We gave her another bottle of colostrum and later a bottle of milk replacer with some of her mom's milk that I was able to milk out.

Our cows aren't confined often and they hate being separated from each other. What was really frustrating *&/!% was when momma cow, who is normally a nice cow, started kicking up dirt everywhere, acting tough and upset. All over her udder, all over her calf, all in her water. I was trying hard to keep everything really clean, new straw in the corral, and she wanted to throw a little fit and get dirt everywhere, in everything. She even kicked her calf while trying to kick dirt.

Here's the udder. The low hanging teat is the one making milk. The ones you can't see look just like the one on the right:

We had to thoroughly clean everyone up after the dust storm settled. Now I'd appreciate advice (besides putting her mom on the short list, I know). I don't want to lose this calf or have her grow up to be a runt. She seems a bit discouraged from trying to keep nursing from her mom. Is this a bottle calf?

 

[CWT Angus]

What is the history on the cow? Have you had her through a calving season or is this the 1st? Doesnt look like those smaller quarters may be working. Another problem is when the working quarters are so full, they are hard for the little newborns to get their mouths around the teats. You say they other 3 quarters look dry? Sounds like you may have yourself a bottle calf. If that's the case, you can decide how long to keep momma around. If she has enough milk to suppliment your bottle she may be helpful, but it doesn't look like she does. Either way keep the calf penned up so you can get her on the bottle.
If you do decide to run momma to the sale that will buy some milk replacer if you choose to keep the calf. She's a cutie!

 

[dun]

Hard quarters without heat makes me think of edema. Ask your vet about a shot for edema (Lasix I think) and with any luck the quarters will soften up and everything will work out. Till they do I would bottle her aaat least once a day, preferably twice a day

 

[hillsdown]

I completely agree with Dun.That udder looks extremely painful;poor cow it must hurt her when the calf tries to drink from all quarters and so she kicks. Also it is not uncommon for a newborn to go from quarter to quarter because they do not have the expertise of getting milk yet.

Ask your vet for some help.

 

[2/B or not 2/B]

Thanks for the replies, both mother and calf are penned and we'll continue with twice daily bottles.

A little more info on the cow. I've known her all her life, but she was my aunt's and I didn't take note of her specific health history or previous calves until she became mine two years ago. She's an easy keeper and hasn't had previous problems that I know of. Here is a picture of her from this April with her last calf.

Also, to clarify, she is not kicking her calf away from her. She was kicking up dirt with her front feet because she was being mad/anxious/protective, whatever.

 

[dun]

While I have no patience with a cow (or heifer) that won;t do her job, a cow that wants to but can;t because of a problem gets a lot more time to work it out. But they freqeuntly need help working out or they wouldn;t be having the porblem in the first place. If she's letting the calf nurse and bonk around her udder and her only dirt slinging is related to gaurding/protecting her calf, she deserves the opportunity to do her job. If it was an every year thing then she needs to go to the meat locker, but once isn;t an instant stamp for removal. If you get the swelling out of that udder and she still can;t milk enough to raise a calf, then she needs to go, but give her the help she needs and a fair opportunity to do what she was hired to do

 

[Chris H]

When was her last calf born, and when was it weaned?

 

[2/B or not 2/B]

The vet doesn't think it's udder edema, doesn't think it's mastitis. He thinks the teat canals are blocked above the teats, possibly from scar tissue and the calf will need to be bottle fed. Her last calf weaned really small and I couldn't see any good reason why but maybe this was it. Someone asked when the last calf was weaned. She was weaned September 1st and I didn't expect this one to come until December.

If she had mastitis and a fever previously, wouldn't I be able to see it in her feet? I thought fevers left cracks in hooves?

 

[dun]

Lots of things crack hooves, never heard of mastitis or fever causing it. Time to bottle the calf and ship the cow. No need to feed a baby sitter that can;t provide the groceries.