Found Steer Dead This A.M.

[JElfering]

My son found his 8 month old steer dead. It was a holstein he was raising for 4-H for auction. The boys had four steers total and my one jersey steer in a pen for the winter. The NE cold of Wisconsin can be brutal but they had shelter and water. My sons recently increased grain and reduced hay. I am thinking perhaps acid stomach. However, this steer was the smallest and was growing the slowest. My son found him bloated and frozen to the ground this morning. We disposed of the animal and noticed that it was passing blood as well. Any thoughts on what it could have been? The vet wouldn't come out because the animal needs to be warm for an autopsy. She suggested birth defect and the increase of grain stretched his intestines too much causing rupture. Thankfully, my son still has another steer to raise out but I am worried something in the barnyard may be contagious. The other steers look good. The jersey looks a bit small but they always do. Send thoughts if you can.
Thanks,
Jen of 10

[mamahen]

The upping of grain & reducing hay could have been a factor.

They use the hay for warmth - think of it as heating fuel - grain doesn't make heat like the digestion of hay will.

If it is really cold, hay should be increased.

[Up North]

Whenever you have one animal that is smaller and slow growing compared to it's peer group, there is probably something dragging it down. The list of possible causes would be very lengthy.
A bitter cold spell or a severe hot and humid spell will usually kill off these poor doers with equal dispatch. Unless these animals are separated from the group and put to right condition prior to extreme weather stress periods, they invariably end up dead. Natural selection fullfilling its destiny.

One dead animal would not lead me to suspect contagions in the environment.
All one can do is carry on, and develop an eye for when to intervene and give special care to these slow-doers to keep them going and produce a salable animal.

[copperhead46]

I would definately suspect the grain increase. Too much corn causes acidosis and could account for the blood, because it will, basically cause ulcers. I don't know how long or how much grain the calf was getting, so this is just a guess. I would never recomend lowering the hay for an animal in the winter, it is fuel for them. Sorry about the loss, it's never good losing an animal.
P.J.