robertwhite
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"Vent Mode On"
Very small herd, started calving on 2/7 (1-11/2 weeks early). 1st calf (boy) was probably 75lbs and real leggy, then came a normal weight, but real leggy girl. She came out of a heifer and because of the long legs, the heifer prolapsed. She probably prolapsed 50-60% and we were able to get it back in and over the pelvis (still is in place today). After bottle feeding the calf overnight, momma calmed down and took to the calf and has been nursing.
Next day, a normal size boy, but again, real leggy. Same day a 70-75lb girl and of course, leggy.
Then yesterday morning a normal weight, normal legs boy and last night, a 7 yr old cow is having trouble calving. Let her try for quite a while and finally got her in the chute when it was obvious there was a problem. Reach in and get 2 hooves and head, all in proper position. Then have to ties ropes and use come-a-long as we can't pull it.
By this time I figure calf would be dead, but have to save momma. Calf starts to come out and as he is coming out, I see him move. Crap! Now I have to get this calf out right away and as he is coming out, I can see his back half start to twist around. So front half was normal, back half was twisted. Momma fully prolapses.
Take calf (who spit out probably a quart of fluid) and try to save him. Bull calf is huge (80-85lbs) and yup, really leggy. Calf started breathing on its own, cleaned it, milked the mother and fed him about a pint+ (of course, I had failed to get a new bag of colostrum to replace the one I had used the other day) Buddy spent about 3 hrs trying to get prolapse back in and could not get it over the pelvis (it was just plain blocked, don't know why.) Plan on taking cow to sale barn to at least get a couple bucks, but cow was already dead. Have to get neighbor with backhoe to bury her.
Got bag of colostrum this morning and calf has been bottle feeding (in pen with other prolapsed cow and calf) and seems like he will make it. Now obviously, there is something in this new bulls (2yr old) history that is real tall as he is short and squat. Don't know what I will do with him at this point, since trying to find a bull for the spring (June) is not likely. My last heifer (due in 2 mths) I will induce labor 2-3 weeks early and hope for the best. Craziest thing is that first calf has grown into those legs in just 1 1/2 weeks and is a monster. Hopefully, the others will do the same.
So now I'm down 2 cows (will let the 1st one nurse her calf separated from the herd/bull, then sell her as burger), have a bull I don't know what to do with, have to take a chance with my heifer that's due and I'm ready to pull what's left of my hair out. :bang:
Can I catch a break sometime?
Very small herd, started calving on 2/7 (1-11/2 weeks early). 1st calf (boy) was probably 75lbs and real leggy, then came a normal weight, but real leggy girl. She came out of a heifer and because of the long legs, the heifer prolapsed. She probably prolapsed 50-60% and we were able to get it back in and over the pelvis (still is in place today). After bottle feeding the calf overnight, momma calmed down and took to the calf and has been nursing.
Next day, a normal size boy, but again, real leggy. Same day a 70-75lb girl and of course, leggy.
Then yesterday morning a normal weight, normal legs boy and last night, a 7 yr old cow is having trouble calving. Let her try for quite a while and finally got her in the chute when it was obvious there was a problem. Reach in and get 2 hooves and head, all in proper position. Then have to ties ropes and use come-a-long as we can't pull it.
By this time I figure calf would be dead, but have to save momma. Calf starts to come out and as he is coming out, I see him move. Crap! Now I have to get this calf out right away and as he is coming out, I can see his back half start to twist around. So front half was normal, back half was twisted. Momma fully prolapses.
Take calf (who spit out probably a quart of fluid) and try to save him. Bull calf is huge (80-85lbs) and yup, really leggy. Calf started breathing on its own, cleaned it, milked the mother and fed him about a pint+ (of course, I had failed to get a new bag of colostrum to replace the one I had used the other day) Buddy spent about 3 hrs trying to get prolapse back in and could not get it over the pelvis (it was just plain blocked, don't know why.) Plan on taking cow to sale barn to at least get a couple bucks, but cow was already dead. Have to get neighbor with backhoe to bury her.
Got bag of colostrum this morning and calf has been bottle feeding (in pen with other prolapsed cow and calf) and seems like he will make it. Now obviously, there is something in this new bulls (2yr old) history that is real tall as he is short and squat. Don't know what I will do with him at this point, since trying to find a bull for the spring (June) is not likely. My last heifer (due in 2 mths) I will induce labor 2-3 weeks early and hope for the best. Craziest thing is that first calf has grown into those legs in just 1 1/2 weeks and is a monster. Hopefully, the others will do the same.
So now I'm down 2 cows (will let the 1st one nurse her calf separated from the herd/bull, then sell her as burger), have a bull I don't know what to do with, have to take a chance with my heifer that's due and I'm ready to pull what's left of my hair out. :bang:
Can I catch a break sometime?