sick calf???

[gwithrow]

we have a two week old calf, angus simmental, she has been doing well, but this evening when I went to check on everyone, she seemed less perky...lying down a lot.....which I know calves do, but everyone else was eating...she had a big blob of clear mucus on her back leg....no blood, just clear...I have to say I have not noticed that before in any other calf...I didn't see her nursing tonight, but I don't stand there all day long either...she was nibbling at hay....bright eyes.....these cows are on pasture...with supplimental hay since the field is pretty sparse now....

what would cause the mucus? and what actions could be taken if she is down tomorrow?

maybe after I have worked with cows for a hundred years I will not panic at every little thing...we have only a few so each one gets watched quite closely...whether they like it or not...

[agmantoo]

Cattle with pneumonia will have a nasal discharge. This discharge is what could have gotten to the back leg. Less perky is also a symptom of the onset of pneumonia. With the cattle being closer together since they are on hay and the shifting of weather extremes I think the calf may be under stress thus weakening its natural resistance.

Nuflor is probably the best treatment available. You will need to get the nuflor from a vet.