Nose dive

[Medic24]

Had a 480 lb holstien heifer calf turn up missing the other day, and looked for two days for her... she is one of our better heifers that we reserved to ship to Lancaster Penna, and sell at one of the better markets there...... but apparently luck and fate were not with us.


We finally found her laying dead in a small branch, and although heart broken , we saw no sign of illness, or anything amiss.

After spending several hours of hauling her up and over the huge rocks above us did we begin to suspect that in fact these may have been just one of those freak accidents as the rocks above her were nearly 3 stories high.

A trip to the diagnostic lab proved our suspicians right, the vet there said she looked like she had been either hit by a freight train, or fallen from a very high place, as multiple broken bones, sheared spinal cord, as well as massive brain and body hemorages........thank goodness. because at least we will get some insurance for that. Had it been illness related, we would get didly.

That very bad thing is that we hate to see the loss of life over something so freaky as climbing a rock and falling off, although we humans who do know better do it all the time with the same results....... :cboy:

And no, it won't happen again, up went a fence around these rocks pronto!

 

[Farmhand]

Sorry to hear about your loss. It's bad when something happens that you don't think should be a problem. Been there myself. You look at a spot and think there is no way it will be a problem - then it becomes one. Kicked myself afterwards but like you, I fixed it pronto. At least you can take some comfort in knowing it isn't anything that will affect the rest of the herd. And you can sleep better knowing it will never happen again.

 

[TheBullLady]

Sorry for your loss Medic! No matter how hard to try to second guess the silly things livestock will do, it seems you can never have enough precautions.

I would never have suspected a heifer / cow would do that. Perhaps she got accidentally pushed? That would seem more likely. Mine are usually careful on steep banks, etc. so it seems odd that she would have fallen herself. Of course, anything is possible.

I'm sure it was a pain to take her in to be posted, but I'm sure you're glad you did.

 

[samm]

i dont want to make no one mad or offend anyone , but i think i have read a few other messages on these boards and maybe others, that spoke of people that have animals that have died and had a vet or something like a vet, look at it ....like an animal autopsy?? i guess we have never had a suspicious death occur so we never saw the need, but on the other hand it could find something that needs to be found if something is contagious and going around...i dunno...i was just wondering, and rambling

samm

 

[Alan]

i dont want to make no one mad or offend anyone , but i think i have read a few other messages on these boards and maybe others, that spoke of people that have animals that have died and had a vet or something like a vet, look at it ....like an animal autopsy?? i guess we have never had a suspicious death occur so we never saw the need, but on the other hand it could find something that needs to be found if something is contagious and going around...i dunno...i was just wondering, and rambling

samm

Hi Samm, not an expert on cattle, but it sound like this "autopsy" was done for insurance reasons as much anything else. Must have been a big $ hiefer. It's done all the time for horses.

A trip to the diagnostic lab proved our suspicians right, the vet there said she looked like she had been either hit by a freight train, or fallen from a very high place, as multiple broken bones, sheared spinal cord, as well as massive brain and body hemorages........thank goodness. because at least we will get some insurance for that. Had it been illness related, we would get didly.

I'm sorry for you loss, must be tough losing one that you had high hopes for, but thank godness for insurance. I'm curious to why the insurance wouldn't have covered an illness? Just the way the policy was written or do they figure an illness is preventable?

Alan

 

[Chuck]

i dont want to make no one mad or offend anyone , but i think i have read a few other messages on these boards and maybe others, that spoke of people that have animals that have died and had a vet or something like a vet, look at it ....like an animal autopsy?? i guess we have never had a suspicious death occur so we never saw the need, but on the other hand it could find something that needs to be found if something is contagious and going around...i dunno...i was just wondering, and rambling

samm

Sometimes you can learn a lot from having one posted. Sometimes you still don't know for sure. At the least it can help ease your mind from wondering what happened if the vet sees something that they can tell you. BTW- Some vets are better at it than others. Like everything else I guess.

 

[Chuck]

. I'm curious to why the insurance wouldn't have covered an illness?

I'm sure there is probably someone out there who sells it, but the cost of life and health insurance to cover all causes on commercial livestock would be outrageous. Would hate to see that premium.

 

[Medic24]

So true, yes I did take it to get 'posted' for several reasons... the first and foremost reason being, that if it was an illness, I wanted to know about it, as our cattle are vacinated against everything we can think of and then some.....so it would have been an oddball illness or something that we have not or perhaps cannot vacinate against.

Secondly, yes, it is for the insurance claim, we anticipated that they would require an autopsy to be performed, and we wanted to have all of our ducks in a row so to speak, furthermore, if it was an illness related death, they do not cover that.... and we certainly would not expect to be paid for such.
We purchased the insurance just a few months ago, when we started losing so many calves to predators........only cost $87.00 a year when combined with our farm policy through our state farm bureau... so if they do pay and theyshould,, it was a very wise purchase....... we believe this size and grade of holstien heifer is worth about 950 to 1200 bucks according to the Lancaster Farmer sales reports......
Claim adjuster has been so far very good about it seemingly wanting ot pay... he states that most claims are for predator attacks and lightning.... go figure.

Thanks for your kind words to all. Oddly, it is the strange things that we lose our livestock from, nothing common like most folks. Perhaps someday we need to write a book of how NOT to raise animals. :cboy:

 

[greenwillowherefords]

Sorry to hear about it, Medic. Hope the insurance covers well. I've done my share of second-guessing decisions as well.

 

[ctlbaron]

Sorry to hear it Medic.

 

[Crowderfarms]

Medic, You've sure had more than your share on bad luck. Hope things improve real soon for you. Farm Bureau insurance is some of the best money can buy. We have the same type coverage on our Cattle.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Medic I thought I had lost cattle to everthing, just never had one commit suicide.

 

[sidney411]

Medic, I'm curious about this insurance. Do you have to show the remains of the catlte to an insurance adjuster or have an autopsy to file a claims? What if a calf is killed by a domestic dog and carried off? What I'm getting at is what do you have to do to prove your loss, to get reimbursed? Do have to keep weight records and photos of your animals on file at the insurance office? Thanks for your help, I've never looked into the livestock insurance but it doesn't sound like a bad idea.