update to the heifer found dead

[shanbruce]

Just to give an update. The mucous coming out of her rear was also blood. No storms or lightning, I wish we had though, it is extremely dry. We didn't get the vet out since this was our very first loss. We have decided it was either a plastic sack or someone shot her with bird shot. The rest of the herd is fine. So thankfully it doesn't appear to be any diseases. We really hope it was a plastic sack or something of that nature and no one shot her. Thank you all for your support and advice. This is a wonderful website. I will make it a routine to check it out often.

 

[Beefy]

i would lean toward blackleg, bloating, or poisonous plants. bag and shot would be about my 20th and 21st guesses. and i have problem neighbors.

 

[msscamp]

I would have to cast my vote with the others - I doubt it was a plastic bag or birdshot with the symptoms.

 

[longhorn314]

I would agree with the others on this one,I would look into something else

 

[3MR]

I would love to hear how the vet came to the plastic bag or birdshot assumption as well. I have a really really hard time with the birdshot theory. That would sort of be something you would be able to tell for sure; being shot that is! Not to mention bird shot isnt exactly designed to take down a 1000 lbs+- animal.

Just a thought, being you have been going through a drought; have you checked the Nitrate levels in your pasture. The less growth in the plant the higher the nitrate levels. Likewise the higher probablity the animal has grazed closer to the base of the plant where the highest levels of Nitrate are contained.

Testing is inexpensive, dead cows arent.

 

[mnmtranching]

If I would have suspected shot, I would have peeled back the skin, checked it out. I had a cow shot once and thats how we proved it. The bleeding from tha back end should tell something.

We will never know for sure, but I'm with the others, can't see a plastic bag killing her.

mnmt