Dead Calves - I'm Just Venting.

[Ken Scharabok]

Four calves born, apparently, over last two days. Found two of them dead. One was a VERY small calf. May have been born dead. Other was either a VERY large calf who died, or, looks like, not able to use front legs.

One-sixth of my expected calf crop.

I'm know for taking good care of my cattle. They go into winter so fat I actually want them to thin down a bit before calving. I put a round bale of hay depending on how they react when I do. Come a-rumming and I'll put out more often. Just mosingly on up, skip a couple of days.

Loose minerals as well as mineral blocks.

[linn]

We have had one calf born blind and one that was born with crooked front legs. I thought maybe the cows didn't get enough of the right kind of minerals. The little blind calf is in the barn and eating fine, we sold the cow. The other little calf is in the barn also. DH made some homemade splints for her front legs, they are slowly straightening out a little. She can get up and walk on them and tries to run and play. Her mom comes in night and morning to feed her and the blind calf. Seems to be a bad year for livestock.

[gone-a-milkin]

I am sorry to hear that. It seems like some years are like that.
Here's hoping the rest of the cows do alright for you.

[oregon woodsmok]

Could have been some sort of mild virus. Not enough to make the cows sick, but at the wrong time during gestation, enough to damage the calves.

[randiliana]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, hope the rest come good!

[Ken Scharabok]

"Could have been some sort of mild virus. Not enough to make the cows sick, but at the wrong time during gestation, enough to damage the calves."

Several years ago I had two calves born with spinal diffica (sp?). Open sore on spine above hips. Called the vet and he said he was seeing a lot of that that year.

[SFM in KY]

Several years ago a horse breeder friend of mine had several foals born with a 'hole in the heart' died at birth or soon after, by just one stallion. Major problem as they had just bought the stallion (big $$) and first thought of course was the stallion.

After a lot of expensive tests, etc. by the end of the foaling/calving/lambing season in that area they found other species with the same problem, hit and miss ... and all concentrated in a fairly limited area. The eventual decision was that it was some kind of more or less limited (2 or 3 counties I think) in that area that was somehow contaminated by something ... possibly some kind of spray being used.

No problems the following year, or since. Some of these kinds of things are very difficult to track down and it doesn't take heavy exposure if the animal is exposed at just the wrong time in the gestation period.

[bruce2288]

If you are not there very shortly after the birth and just find a dead calf. It could be almost anything. I once saw a cow calving, calf alive went for another big round bale back in about 15 minutes. She had moved and calved dead calf. birth sack on the head, she was licking the calf if I had been another 20 minutes she would have had the sack licked off And I would have never known what happened. Calves get stepped on, some newver breath, some don't suck, some are both dead, some born backwards and drown before delivery, you will never know if you don't see it happen.

[shagerman]

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

Four calves born, apparently, over last two days. Found two of them dead. One was a VERY small calf. May have been born dead. Other was either a VERY large calf who died, or, looks like, not able to use front legs.

One-sixth of my expected calf crop.

I'm know for taking good care of my cattle. They go into winter so fat I actually want them to thin down a bit before calving. I put a round bale of hay depending on how they react when I do. Come a-rumming and I'll put out more often. Just mosingly on up, skip a couple of days.

Loose minerals as well as mineral blocks.

i know exactly how you feel. 2 years ago. everything went to he77 in a handbasket quick around here. my first year of staying home and calves were coming too quick. i had 5 cows and only 3 calves. 1 mother was in labor and the rest of the girls walked by,,, up she came and stood for a half hour, i tied one foot off but the other went back in.i waited till she laid back down. i helped pull and it was too late the baby had drown,2 nd calf was born. sucking on mom. at least i thought he was, down he went. got the vet out tubed him and died. 3rd calf i pulled. mom was having a hard time knocking her head on the ground,, i pulled that one. and ended up ripping her, had the vet out again. i ran to a friends house and bought a holestein for the one that died bydrowning. she took to him. i am thankful. the other 2 girls were shipped. now this year i have 6 to give birth and in a week or so they will be starting..i am ready.

[oneokie]

You did not mention anything about a vaccination schedule for your brood cows. There are several viral infections that can cause the symptoms you say you experienced. Even a good vaccination schedule will not be a 100% cure. BTDT, got the T-shirt.

Consult with a large animal Vet for tests that can be done to determine if your cows are carriers of some of the reproductive viruses. Brucellosis and Pi3are the most definitive. An animal that tests positive for being a persistently infected with Pi3 should be sent to market, preferably slaughter.

One other thing is to have your bull tested for Trich.

[bourbonred]

So sorry. Last year was our rough time of it. Had never had a calving season like it. Only about 1/3 of the herd calved, and then lost some due to our failures. Hard (and very expensive) lessons learned. This year is completely different. But it does stink when you work so hard all year for spring calving.

[GrannyG]

One of our friends said at church this morning he had lost 5 or 6 calves. He takes great care of his livestock and his family has raised cattle for years on their property. The vet came back with Lead poisoning....this makes NO sense...they are going to walk all their property to see if there is any kind of source...also wondering about the feed...this is a scary thought.I am anxious to know more about their situation.

[Jennifer L.]

Originally Posted by GrannyG

One of our friends said at church this morning he had lost 5 or 6 calves. He takes great care of his livestock and his family has raised cattle for years on their property. The vet came back with Lead poisoning....this makes NO sense...they are going to walk all their property to see if there is any kind of source...also wondering about the feed...this is a scary thought.I am anxious to know more about their situation.

Might have dumped a dead battery in the field, or someone may have dumped one on them to get rid of it.

Jennifer

[Sherry in Iowa]

I am so sorry for the calf loss. I am wondering if anyone else is concerned about the GMO Alfalfa and the Roundup ready weed spray when it comes to their cattle. If you don't raise your own hay, which we don't, it sure does make you want to call and question the people that do. You can type in GMO, Cattle, Abortions on a search engine.

Or, you can go here New Pathogen,Roundup Ready,GMOs. The Report You Didn't See on TV and read what Dr. Huber said about this. He wrote a letter to Vilsack practically begging him to put off letting gmo alfalfa be sold.

The article has the letter from Dr. Huber to Vilsack. Or, just type in GMO, Vilsack and Dr. Huber in a search.

[shagerman]

i was told by a neighbor that i didnt feed selinium.. well i do but is it enough. i buy granulated mineral with selinum in it. but then again. i was told alot of stuff, and i finally got upset with everyone with all there suggestions of what i did or didnt do. last year i never lost a one. and i had to help pull again., nothing has changed, except one is not a heifer anymore, and my stock is all under 5 years old now,i have 2 heifers this year and 4 cows. we will see what happens this year.