Well, she calved this morning

[desertshi]

Beautiful little heifer calf, stillborn. She looks to me to be full term? The thing is mom never developed her udder. It is twice as big as when I posted the photos but is by NO means full. It looks like she just barely started developing it. I am soooo bummed.

I now have more of a question about that lump that was in her rear pic. Now that her udder got larger you can see the lump more because it is being pushed out from between her legs. As she was pushing I noticed that there is a weird hole like someone poked it with a ball point pen off to the side of the lump. Someone here told us (and I don't know how knowledgable they really are. They've had cows in the family for a while but I don't know if he really knows what he's talking about) that with that lump, said it was a hernia, that she wouldn't be good for having calves?? Should I sell this cow?? Sorry, I'm just really sad about this!! It's a big deal since I only have three cows!

[desertshi]

Forgot to post the pic....

[linn]

Sorry to hear about the stillborn calf. Yes, I believe I would sell the cow.

[mamahen]

Sorry to hear about the calf. It is hard waiting and then losing a much wanted calf. Been there, done that.

The lump doesn't scream hernia to me. It is not normal, but doesn't seem to really be in a hernia "spot". It looks more like some sort of growth. To bad you can't feel it to see if it is more soft & squishy or hard. I forget, how long has she had it?

As to keeping her. It's really up to you. You have tamed her down, fattened her up and put time into her. If cows are hard to come by, you have the resources to rebreed her, go ahead and try. I probably would give her one more chance. You're not running a commercial operation, you can do things a little different.

Now, if you could get another cow and knew she could carry to term, then I'd say butcher this one. But there are no guarantees in life.

Is this pic after she calved? It looks like she cleaned up good.

[crowinghen]

so sorry to hear about the calf

that lump is weird... doesn't look like any hernia I've ever seen... almost looks like a misplaced testicle? Probably not since she was bred... what does it feel like hard or soft?

again, so sorry you lost the calf

susie

[springvalley]

Sorry you lost your calf, it does happen. The lump looks odd to me also, I have raised cattle my whole life and have never seen anything like it. I think I would sell the cow, but thats your call, if you can afford to keep her, do so. >Thanks Marc

[desertshi]

So if we decide to butcher her, how soon can that be done? Is the meat good after all the hormones associated with birthing?

[Farm 36]

I would sell the cow she has made all the money she can . The lumps could be cancer growths . When the buyers see her in the sale she will get discounted heavily.She may have something wrong with her that is why she dumped the calf .

[desertshi]

Actually things work a little different here. We can go offer her to the stores around town and if they buy her they will take her directly to the "town slaughterhouse" which is run by the city gov't. (It's illegal to slaughter a cow on your own...something about checking papers to make sure it's not stolen.) You don't take them to a "sale" persay. Just offer around town. People get wind of it and will come looking. :-)

[Timberline]

I can't really tell from the pic, but does she have several small lumps between her teats? Does she have lumps anywhere else?

[desertshi]

Originally Posted by Chalk Creek

I can't really tell from the pic, but does she have several small lumps between her teats? Does she have lumps anywhere else?

Yes she has little lumps around her teats. No where else that I can see though. I chalked it up to being extra teats??

I felt the lump and it isn't hard like a rock but not squishy either. Kinda spungy??

Can this cow be slaughtered right away even though she just calved??

[RiverPines]

I dont think it would matter that she just calved when it comes to butchering. We have slaughter goats right after kidding and they still were tender and delicious!!

But I would go with slaughter, not sell.
At least you can fill the freezer.