Stillborn calf and drying up

[tlance]

Ok we had a stillborn calf and the cow is totally engorged. Is there something we should do or will it eventually just go down. We try to stay as natural as possible so drugs unless absolutely needed would not be what we want. Thanks for any information.
Tracy

[rivesjct3768]

Originally Posted by tlance

Ok we had a stillborn calf and the cow is totally engorged. Is there something we should do or will it eventually just go down. We try to stay as natural as possible so drugs unless absolutely needed would not be what we want. Thanks for any information.
Tracy

Can she be milked to reduce the pressure on the udder?

[dosthouhavemilk]

Can you foster a calf onto her so you don't lose a year of production?

[tlance]

Milking her out has been a thought. She isn't on the tame side so it might be tougher. Putting a calf on her hasnt been a thought but its something to think about.

Tracy

[dosthouhavemilk]

I suppose the first question asked should have been what kind of cow is she? Dairy or beef? An engorged dairy cow is a mastitis case waiting to happen if there isn't something done to relieve the pressure.
I don't really know beef cattle so can't really comment on that aspect.

[JeffNY]

If it is a beef cow, and depending if that beef cow has dairy in her or not, will depend whether or not you can simply let her dry off, or get a calf to stick on her. We have some beef cattle, and we have had a couple who did loose their calves at birth (stillborn). What we did was let them dry up, they never got sick, and they dried up in a couple weeks. Good luck with her.


Jeff