Advice on Jersey Calf

Marysgoats · #1 01/07/12, 05:47 AM

First off, I've wanted a Jersey calf to raise to milk. With that being said here's the problem.
A friend of mine works at a dairy. They had told me they would get me one. So Tuesday he calls and says he has a 4 month old Jersey if I wanted it. I jumped up and told my husband lets go get it. Didn't know what was wrong till we got there. Low an behold the calf has been walking on 3 legs for about
2 weeks. He said they didn't know what had happened to the leg. He also told me the owner gave the calf 2 shots. And he lanced (?) the back leg joint because it was swelled, he told me that infection came out of it. This is what is wrong with calf. My friend said about two weeks ago he just noticed this. Swelled back right leg in the joint. Now being the person that I am I took and bought the calf hopeing to help out. He also said the calf wis in with other calfs and maybe got layed on when they were laying down. The leg seems not to be broken aniwhere. My friend is comming today to debud her. Her horns are comming out an I don't have the heart to do this even with the goats I raise. I have tryed to get him to see what kind of shot he gave(the owner) and if he thought I could get a Vet to come out and check her. She so pretty, words can't tell you. I'll try to get some pictures today of her. Oh yea she gets around good an walks on 3 legs, but I sure want to help her if I can. Any Ideas what could have happened? I really need advice here.

Valmai · #2 01/07/12, 05:56 AM

Get the vet. You cannot help her recover if you dont know what is wrong. Does she at least put weight on the injured leg?

Marysgoats · #3 01/07/12, 06:13 AM

No she just moves around on 3 legs, never putting the leg down on the ground at all.
I've read lots of leg problems here an just maybe she did get a leg infection early on and they just never saw it. I'm new at this an I do think a Vet could help or just tell me something.

6e · #4 01/07/12, 07:29 AM

I'd definitely call in a vet. If you're hoping to breed her, you don't want her permanently lame on that leg and the vet has a lot of medicine and knowledge at his disposal if he's a large animal vet.

Good luck.

Marysgoats · #5 01/07/12, 07:57 AM

I'll call a Vet when they open. I entended to milk this cow when she gets older. I have 3 bulls I'm raising for freezer now and have had no trouble with them yet.

willow_girl · #6 01/07/12, 09:06 AM

My guess would be navel ill, AKA joint ill:

http://www.angusbeefbulletin.com/art...b_NavelIll.pdf

http://www.thecattlesite.com/disease...-ill-of-calves

Poor l'il girl!

MARYDVM · #7 01/07/12, 09:55 AM

They sold you a cull - hopefully for not much money. Once bacteria invade the joint the destruction begins, and if the farmer "surgery" involved cutting into the joint without sterile preparation (clipping, scrubbing,sterile blade) then he just made things ten times worse. Have a vet look at it, but you've pretty much lost the joint by this time. Some adult cows can function on 3 legs, most can't. Pretty poor prospects for a milker.

haypoint · #8 01/07/12, 10:51 AM

At this point I wish you luck. Earlier I would have suggested walking away.
Raising animals requires a good degree of care and compassion. Most folks have an urge to "fix" things. It is heart breaking when we can't. Even worse is the well intentioned newbies that cause deaths through a lack of knowledge or experience.
Learn from this. Learn how to debud. If you can get someone to help you pick out a calf, going beyond the one with the pretty eyes.

I know this isn't the advise you waned to hear.

Valmai · #9 01/07/12, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

My guess would be navel ill, AKA joint ill:

http://www.angusbeefbulletin.com/art...b_NavelIll.pdf

http://www.thecattlesite.com/disease...-ill-of-calves

Poor l'il girl!

I initially thought navel ill, but if she is not putting any weight on that leg I would think it is more likely dislocation or nerve damage.
Also how could any reasonable cattle person not notice such a thing or know how to fix it?

haypoint · #10 01/09/12, 08:24 PM

When I was growing up, I'd hear folks talk about someone or something that was worthless, they'd say, " Well that's about as worthless as the t**ts on a boar hog." Well that old saw is about worn out. I think I've stumbled (opps) onto a new one, "Well that's about as worthless as a three legged Jersey bull calf."

But, really, I hope this little guy gets going on all fours, soon. Shame on the farmer that likely knew better, too.

farmgirl6 · #11 01/09/12, 10:48 PM

I am a newby to the cow thing, but what I have noticed a. cows are clever at hiding injuries, calves, however, are anything but stoic - they are pretty dramatic with everything, from shots (collapsing like they have been shot) leading (collapsing like they are choking to death) ect

b. some calves can come back from the most lost situations! my little calf was stretched out in the back of my hummer in a coma for almost five hours with a massive respiratory infection and an IV, vet told me he had never seen one come back from that, she is fine now. I guess I am saying, since this sounds like a project cow; hang in there and you might be suprised, get a vet to take a look.

**gone-a-milkin** · #12 01/09/12, 10:55 PM

I have to agree with the others that it is a poor prognosis.

Whether from navel ill or another injury, chances are very high that she will never be sound.

It is asking a lot for a jersey cow to hold up an udder on one hind leg.
Lame cows do not make much milk either.

Live and learn. :hug: