Prolapse in Old Cow

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She had babies all those years without a single issue. It should be age-related.
I agree that it is going to be age related and not a genetic anomaly. I wouldn't doubt that her weight was/is a contributing factor as well. Extra weight isn't necessarily a huge concern in younger animals (humans too) but as either gets older, they both are less able to deal with the added stresses the weight brings. Hence more weight problems in older animals.
 
Since this is not a monetary decision (pet, sentimental value). She is in good shape for her age. If you can find a way to haul her to even a neighbor's place with a chute it can still be replaced and the stitch just stays in. It might have happened because she's so heavy but bayou can have the vet rectal her to make sure there is no cancer involved. I have seen that before in an old cow. If there is you have your answer.
 
She had babies all those years without a single issue. It should be age-related.
Yup, I get it... to all of you who responded like-wise. It most likely IS age and weight related... mostly.

But there will be other animals within the national cow herd who, when facing similar conditions, WON'T prolapse. The only indicator that we have to help us to know which ones WILL prolapse and which won't, when challenged by these "perfect storm" conditions, is by recognizing them when they DO prolapse, and then selecting genetically against that known indicator.

So what would be the reason that would cause us to still choose to select THESE genetics, in spite of the fact that she did display that indicator? Maybe "she's papered", or maybe she's a really high $$$ cow that we bought as breeding stock, or maybe she's got really great "conformation", or maybe she produced a calf every year on time (God forbid they were all heifer calves), or maybe she was bottle fed and was our daughter's favorite, or maybe she was Mom's favorite because she wanted to have her ears scratched every time she went in the pen. These are NOT how we get to genetically avoiding genetic predispositions within the herd... either personally or nationally.

And I understand that concern over "prolapse" could potentially not be your biggest priority at a given point in time (particularly if, like in this case, you've never had to deal with one before)... so you still might choose to "keep her" (although, I sure can't figure how prolapsing wouldn't rank right up there at the top of the list of problems you'd want eradicated from the herd).

And I understand that this specific critter probably won't be having another calf anyway, being the age that she is... so she's not likely to be "passing on this predisposition gene" after today. But remember that all those calves that she already had will still have inherited this now displayed minor genetic predisposition too... one that didn't even show up until she was 20 years old... so she could (theoretically) have 18 other daughters out there that also might have somewhat of a higher predisposition toward it too, to one degree or another. What if the bull she was bred to had had some "excuses/exceptions" made in his genetic background for this as well... now all those daughters have gotten a double whammy... have fun with that. "The herd" (locally and nationally) would be better off without that predisposition.

So then pragmatically, on what basis SHOULD we keep this one, or her offspring, when she DID present us with this problem? Why ever take a chance on "keeping" any form of indicated predisposition toward it within the genetics of the breeding herd? The only way to avoid breeding in genetic predispositions for these difficulties, is to select genetically AGAINST them... EVERY TIME, with no excuses allowed. Some of those selections against will be addressing a fairly minimal predisposition... but even that is still a predisposition. If we make no excuses for these issues, the "herd" ultimately WILL be better for it. And let's not forget that predisposition for prolapse IS very highly genetically passed down.

The best animal in the herd is going to be the one that you can't remember her name, because she just went out and did her job and never had any issues. She probably won't be the best looking animal out there, and she probably WON'T be one of those "with papers" or that "you paid X amount of high $$ for". In fact, you just can't remember anything about her, because she just operated in the background without ever giving you a reason to notice her. And now, she's 20 years old and you're looking through the herd trying to find culls, and you see that tag indicating how old she is, and you look her up and suddenly see that she's given you a calf every year, on time, and has never had any other entry in her herd book. She never jumped a fence or went crazy in the corral, she never had pinkeye or an infection. And now the only reason you're potentially considering her to be a cull is because she's just "old"... and she doesn't even look it! You can't even really believe that she's still here! She makes you go "WOW"... she's like the GOAT! THAT'S the one you need to be looking at her daughter's records for.
 
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Vaginal prolapse is hereditary and they all get culled here. Uterine prolapse is not hereditary and if they breed back after replacing they stay. Have never had a cow do it twice.
I agree with Kenny's statement, not dealing with it immediately is animal abuse. Even worse when it is a "dear pet".
 
Yup, I get it... to all of you who responded like-wise. It most likely IS age and weight related... mostly.

But there will be other animals within the national cow herd who, when facing similar conditions, WON'T prolapse. The only indicator that we have to help us to know which ones WILL prolapse and which won't, when challenged by these "perfect storm" conditions, is by recognizing them when they DO prolapse, and then selecting genetically against that known indicator.

So what would be the reason that would cause us to still choose to select THESE genetics, in spite of the fact that she did display that indicator? Maybe "she's papered", or maybe she's a really high $$$ cow that we bought as breeding stock, or maybe she's got really great "conformation", or maybe she produced a calf every year on time (God forbid they were all heifer calves), or maybe she was bottle fed and was our daughter's favorite, or maybe she was Mom's favorite because she wanted to have her ears scratched every time she went in the pen. These are NOT how we get to genetically avoiding genetic predispositions within the herd... either personally or nationally.

And I understand that concern over "prolapse" could potentially not be your biggest priority at a given point in time (particularly if, like in this case, you've never had to deal with one before)... so you still might choose to "keep her" (although, I sure can't figure how prolapsing wouldn't rank right up there at the top of the list of problems you'd want eradicated from the herd).

And I understand that this specific critter probably won't be having another calf anyway, being the age that she is... so she's not likely to be "passing on this predisposition gene" after today. But remember that all those calves that she already had will still have inherited this now displayed minor genetic predisposition too... one that didn't even show up until she was 20 years old... so she could (theoretically) have 18 other daughters out there that also might have somewhat of a higher predisposition toward it too, to one degree or another. What if the bull she was bred to had had some "excuses/exceptions" made in his genetic background for this as well... now all those daughters have gotten a double whammy... have fun with that. "The herd" (locally and nationally) would be better off without that predisposition.

So then pragmatically, on what basis SHOULD we keep this one, or her offspring, when she DID present us with this problem? Why ever take a chance on "keeping" any form of indicated predisposition toward it within the genetics of the breeding herd? The only way to avoid breeding in genetic predispositions for these difficulties, is to select genetically AGAINST them... EVERY TIME, with no excuses allowed. Some of those selections against will be addressing a fairly minimal predisposition... but even that is still a predisposition. If we make no excuses for these issues, the "herd" ultimately WILL be better for it. And let's not forget that predisposition for prolapse IS very highly genetically passed down.

The best animal in the herd is going to be the one that you can't remember her name, because she just went out and did her job and never had any issues. She probably won't be the best looking animal out there, and she probably WON'T be one of those "with papers" or that "you paid X amount of high $$ for". In fact, you just can't remember anything about her, because she just operated in the background without ever giving you a reason to notice her. And now, she's 20 years old and you're looking through the herd trying to find culls, and you see that tag indicating how old she is, and you look her up and suddenly see that she's given you a calf every year, on time, and has never had any other entry in her herd book. She never jumped a fence or went crazy in the corral, she never had pinkeye or an infection. And now the only reason you're potentially considering her to be a cull is because she's just "old"... and she doesn't even look it! You can't even really believe that she's still here! She makes you go "WOW"... she's like the GOAT! THAT'S the one you need to be looking at her daughter's records for.
OH MY! I won't say this is wrong, but I might be culling every single animal out there if I start trying to apply this thought process! 🤯
 

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