Blind Calf

[Oakshire_Farm]

I got a call from the dairy farm that I get my bull calves from about 2 weeks ago.... he had a bull calf for me to pick up and a blind heifer if I wanted her? So I went to go get the bull calf and chat about the heifer. She was born blind, she is a month and a half old. The vet had done some tests, and there is nothing that can be done for her. So I brought her home, she was free, how could I say no? lol So now she is here, she does very well! She knows how to find her milk, grain, hay. She is strong enough to fight the younger calves out of her way to make sure she gets enough. I have had her for almost a week now.

Has anyone ever had a blind cow? How did they do? I put a piece of bailer twine with a cow bell around the neck of another calf. I am hoping that she will learn to follow the sound of the bell and stay close to the other calves? I have not let the out of the barn, the weather has been really rainy. I am thinking I am going to keep her in as long as I can, if the bell thing seems to work I will let her out? If she does well I will keep her, if not I will butcher her as veal?

I really do not need another cow, but she seemed like a good deal. Tell me your stories

[Ronney]

Yes, I've had blind cattle and if this heifer were mine I would keep her and turn her into a milking cow and run her with my herd. She would be the bottom of the pecking order but she would follow them and learn the boundaries of paddocks, where gates were etc. Even if I didn't have a small herd to run her with, if she had a good temperment and a will to get on with it, I would probably meet her half-way and use her as a house cow.

There are responsibilities in keeping blind animals as I'm sure you are aware. Paddocks, at least initially, need to be safe in that they have no steep, unfenced cliffs to fall over. No running water as in creeks or rivers although oddly enough, as they get older, they seem to recognise these and stay away from them. No dams either as they get stuck in them and are worse than creeks. Tomos are another problem.

I've had, and still have, blind cattle, sheep, dogs and cats and with a little care and help, they adapt and survive amazingly well. It's really up to you.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[springvalley]

I`m with Ronnie, they adapt very well. My father and grandfather use to have a blind draft horse they use to work, never had a problem with her as long as she had her work partner with her. Good Luck! > Marc

[arcticow]

Yep, my sister milked a blind Jersey for years. Knew the gates, waterers, sheds, better than folks did in th' dark. Milked like crazy, too.

[Oakshire_Farm]

Great news!! Did any of you put a bell on another cow so they will figure out to stay with the herd? I have 6 cows right now, well 2 cows, 3 heifers and a bull. The pasture is all safe level and no water ways. I really do not need another cow, I am trying to down size, just sold one and have 1 more for sale. But this little one seems special.

My hubby wondered how she will do as she gets older and starts coming into heat, if she is acting silly and the others are acting silly will she get hurt? I have delt with blind dogs, but never a large animal. She is just such a sweet little thing. It is really neat to watch her find things. This morning, I dumper there grain in the tub, all the other calves (5 bull calves ranging from 2 weeks-4 months) and she sniffed the air, made a few circles , bumped into another calf and went straight into the tub. She is strong enough to push her way around and get what she wants!

[linn]

We have two blind feeder calves in the lot right now. A year or so ago pinkeye was bad in our calves and these two lost the sight in both eyes. They do fine in the lot where they can get their bearings. The only trouble we have is at feed time, when they will walk right over you to get to their grain.

[stormywood]

I was given a blind bull calf last winter. Ronnie Milsap is his name. He lives in our huge backyard. When we first got him, he had a guide goat back there with him, now he has another bull calf and two little heifers, he is now a steer. He gets around fine and is gentle and loves his hugs and snacks. I adore him, my husband tells me that come Spring he is freezer bound. He is afraid that Ronnie might get spooked and hurt me. We shall see! Good luck, ours seemed to adapt well, his ears crack me up, the turn in different directions, kinda like radars.

[arcticow]

Little heifer should be able to locate others & stay with them by smell. I had one who learned to use another calf between her and electric fence! Could go anywhere over 4 acres without a bobble, would sometimes do it at a run.

[troy n sarah tx]

Growing up we had a blind calf called Ferdinand. My uncle told us (my twin and I) that we could have a calf if we carried it from the barn to the car. At 12 one of us grabbed the front and one got the back, since it was one of his week old heifers he told us he would give us a steer instead. Ferdinand had pink eye really bad as a calf and due to the antibiotics could not be sold at market. He got really good to listening really close for signs of us. In fact when he would play tag with us. We would tag him on the nose and run, he would run after us and when he got close he would walk up, tap us, and run the other way. He was a great steer. Currently he is buried with the rest of the pets in my dad's pet cemetery.

I would suggest watching her and if you feel she needs help then offer it, if not she should learn to adjust in her own way.

Sarah

[Ronney]

Originally Posted by stormywood

.... his ears crack me up, they turn in different directions, kinda like radars.

Your right, they do become radars. Their sense of smell and hearing becomes very acute and my blind steer and blind sheep could tell from footsteps whether it was somebody they wanted to know or not.

We tend to think that eyesight is the first line to survival but in fact smell and hearing play a huge part too. I have a cow that I'm not really milking in that she is rearing her calf and comes to the shed when she wants milked. I let her out of the shed the other day and her calf had wandered off with the other cows. I watched Hine go right round the yard smelling the ground and then follow the scent up the drive. I had watched the calf follow the cows and she weaved from one side to the other as she went - it was interesting to watch Hine weave from one side to the other as she followed the scent. Cows can smell water, they can also smell the grass. It's interesting to let cows into a fresh paddock and watch them. They will walk, smell, walk, smell walk, smell and start munching.

Oakshire, no I've never put a bell on and I doubt it would be much use other than to tell you where she is. By all accounts, your place is well set up and all going well, she shouldn't have too many problems. Tell your husband not to be such a worrywart While some cows do get silly and skittish when on heat most don't and from some of the posts here, there are a few blind cows that have lived to tell the tale.

A photo would be nice and updates if you decide to go through with it.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[Oakshire_Farm]

Great news! and great Stories I think she is going to be a wait and see. As much as I would love to keep a Holstein as a milker, I do no miss feeding my old girl (RIP Cream) since I lost my old Holstein and got into Jerseys. I was shocked that 3 Jerseys eat the same as my old Holstein do in a day. I miss that old Lady but not her feed bills. I think I am going to leave the bell on her buddy for now (just for my self, lol) And in the spring when I put her out on pasture I will see how she does. I will keep everyone posted and try to post some pics as she grows And some pics of her eyes they are much smaller than they should be?

[neal68]

we have a blind sheep (she was born with no eyes) and she gets along really well. the other lamb her age helped her from day one. it is so cool watching them the helper will baaa and blind will follow.