Lost a calf

[kgchis]

Well over the past few weeks we have had 6 new babies, but one didn't make it.

The cow was raised on our place and is 10 years old. She always raises a good calf. Well this year her calf just didn't suck. I have no clue what happened. He wasn't clogged and was urinating fine.

Sunday I decided to try and start bottle feeding him. I could only get him to take a little at a time. After 4 feedings from Sunday evening to Monday mid-afternoon, he passed away.

I guess the vet was right when he said that is just nature's way of handling something that went wrong, but it still sucks

On the bright side, one of my other cows had a calf right after this one passed. The new calf is doing fine.

[scorpian5]

We just about lost one this week to. But we decided not to let it happen this time and went and purchased a stomach tube feeder from the vet and a bag of colostrum and some electrolyte. WE gave it the colostrom and 4 hours later the electrolyte. It didnt drink the next mornig so it got tube feed another electrolyte in the morning and milk repacer that nite. This morning it drank half a bottle and it drank almost a full bottle at noon. It takes some time but it should be worth it

[Sprout]

I lost a lamb the same way he was fine vigorous right after birth, acctually the strongest one, drank fine all that jazz, but when I went back to check on him in the morning he was weak, his umbilicus was thick swollen and purple (I think he had an abdominal hernia, or a weak wall and momma bit off some intestine when she was cleaning him), he was hypothermic and anemic despite being in a nice warm barn with a heat lamp. Brought him in did all I could and he still crashed. It's depressing when things are out of your hands and the only thing you can do is watch.

I would definatly recomend learning how to stomach tube, and always keep fresh colostrum, from any animal you can get it from. Sub Q fluids are also a good way to go too. Next time you have the vet out ask him/her to show you how do do them, they are invaluable tools for bringing little ones back from the brink.

(ah no now I'm sad again, loosing babies is terrible)