elderly cow problem ?

JHinCA · #1 10/21/09, 08:36 AM

Hi,

We have an old milking shorthorn, about 15 or 16, who has been dry for over a year. She seems to come into heat and has been exposed to the bull, but looks like she isn't going to settle again. We have been okay with letting her live with the steers and be retired.

She seems to be in good health except once in awhile we will see her look like she is straining to urinate. When she does that she looks uncomfortable, arches her back and holds her tail out straight for along time. Her appetite is fine, she is not overly thin or fat, her manure looks normal, her vitality is good. What do you think this could be? IS it something treatable? Is it something that is going to get worse, so we should make her into hamburger soon?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Jean

Jan in CO · #2 10/21/09, 10:31 AM

Jean, it could be hardware disease, too. We just put our old cow down because she didn't have a tooth in her poor head, and couldn't eat grass any longer. She was a great mother, and I hated to do it, but knew she wasn't getting the nutrition she needed. I was told the meat would be tough and tasteless, but it isn't! I figured I'd have to make her into hamburger, but glad I didn't do that. Good luck, Jan in Co

Farm 36 · #3 10/21/09, 01:02 PM

This is not hardware . If you watch her she is probly sucking air in her uterus and this also why she is not able to become pregnant.I am sorry to say her time is up. Time to trade her for a younger aminal that can produce . With her age sell her and get a nice young animal .

springvalley · #4 10/21/09, 04:18 PM

I agree with Farm 36 , it is not hardware! Sounds to me as she could have a urinary tract infection, does she stop and start the urine flow once she starts? You could try hops, that is a natual estrogine which may help her seatle. Wheat germ oil would help in the feed also. But you need to get the infection cleared up first.You could use her to fill the freezer, a crock pot will cook anything to a tender state to be eaten. I know I would have a hard time eating a good ole cow that has served me well for so many years. Kinda like eatin my horse. Thanks Marc

JHinCA · #5 10/22/09, 09:53 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. We will have to decide if it is worth working with her or time to put her in the freezer.

Jean

copperhead46 · #6 10/22/09, 11:51 AM

I'd second the vote for "freezer time"...........P.J.

JHinCA · #7 10/22/09, 01:23 PM

On another board, someone suggested that we should have her checked out in case her problem is something contagious that the bull could pass along. Any thoughts on that possibility? I don't want to have an unnecessary vet bill, but if it is something other cows could catch, i want to get her looked at.

Jean

Farm 36 · #8 10/22/09, 07:31 PM

Jean I would not worry to much about the bull for the most part you are a closed herd because you only let the bull service your cows. Lets look at this another way if she was in heat today and settled you still have nine months for a calf. If you sell her and buy a 14 month heifer and she gets bred today you will have a calf and milk in nine month .Your old cow if she has been dry for one year she has been served 18 times in a year by the bull it does not look good . Now even if she does get bred can she handle the extra stress or will she die and you will have nothing and the rendering works will charge $100 to take her off your hands.

Ken Scharabok · #9 11/06/09, 03:58 AM

Check with your vet. Sounds like an infection to me also. Could be a razing yeast infection.

While a cow can technically live to be about 25-years-old, I doubt many do so. They fall out of the program for one reason or another. Heck, I had a two-year-old who lost her calf born on the coldest day of the year. Kept her for another year but she never settled again - went barren on me. Sold her to someone who I told the history of her. She didn't settle on his bull either.

I've also notice the older a cow the poorer doing the calves. Its like she just doesn't have the resources to birth and raise a really nice calf anymore. My oldest is Sweet Thing (a cow born to be scratched) - about the same age as yours. This year she was four months late in calving. Small heifer calf still. I'm overwintering her to raise out the calf, but she is scheduled to have wheels put under her next spring. I'll morn her for a couple of days, then move on.

springvalley · #10 11/07/09, 11:22 PM

I agree with you guys, it costs alot to feed a cow a whole year with out getting any thing from her. But then on the other hand if money,feed, and calves arn`t the a problem keep her around, cows do make decent pets. It`s a bear when they try settin on your lap. I have a young cow that was open when I had my cows vet checked, and if she isn`t bred when I get her checked again she will go in the freezer.TY Marc.