Pot Bellied 3 week old

[ffamom]

There is a 3 week old heifer calve at the ag barn that has a pot belly. It also seems like one of its ribs stick out more than the other. I have never seen this in a calve that is not bottle fed. Is this a normal thing? The cow is a 2 year old beefmaster. The calve has had the yellow scours. Isn't that usually milk sours?

 

[milkmaid]

Not necessarily... also, regardless of the cause of the scours, anytime an animal has diarrhea they're losing fluids and nutrients. This calf is not absorbing much of what she's eating, which results in a potbellied appearance because she doesn't get adequate nutrition.

So no, it's not normal. The scours ought to be dealt with and the calf treated pronto.

 

[msscamp]

There is a 3 week old heifer calve at the ag barn that has a pot belly. It also seems like one of its ribs stick out more than the other. I have never seen this in a calve that is not bottle fed. Is this a normal thing?

It happens on occasion - sometimes due to genetics, sometimes due to the mother's lack of milking ability, sometimes due to scours that weren't treated, sometimes just because it can.

 

[3rdgeneration farmer]

1 cc MYCOTEL to each 100lbs., fix it