How often do calves not make it once they're born?

DOlthaus · #1 11/27/12, 06:30 PM

First time at this. One cow delivered her calf. Must have been early this morning. I didn't notice anything unusual about her last night. I noticed she was off to herself but have noticed that on occasion before. This afternoon, noticed a little blood on her rump and went looking. Looks like she delivered but didn't get the sack off and the calf suffocated. I really wasn't expecting her to deliver for a couple more weeks. This is her first calf. How common is this? Now worried about the other cow. I'll have to keep a closer eye on her.

CJBegins · #2 11/27/12, 06:59 PM

Awwww, that is too bad. Is this a first time mother? Some cows are just overwhelmed what is happening and don't know what to do. I don't think it is a frequent occurance but it does happen.

Is this a dairy cow or beef cow? If she is a dairy cow you need to start getting her milked after 12 hours and then twice a day from then on. If she is a beef cow, I think most people just let them go and the pressure that builds up in their udder will signal their body to stop making milk. That however does take a while so you have to watch for swelling and discomfort of the udder.

myersfarm · #3 11/27/12, 07:54 PM

sorry you lost it.....but if the bag was still on the calf when you found it...I would cull the cow....the cow should have licked the bag off even if the calf never moved....if she had licked off the bag and you found a clean calf except for what the calf was laying on...then I would keep her......

Calfkeeper · #4 11/27/12, 08:33 PM

I am so sorry about the loss. It isn't real common that they don't take care of their calves. Did she not clean it at all? Sometimes they do that. I have been here on this dairy (we run about 40 milkers) for 8 years and have only seen 2 first calf cows do this; totally walk away from their calf. I have never seen a calf totally born with the bag still over the nose though. Usually it comes off in the birthing process, before the calf hits the ground. So we go out and there's this nasty little calf wandering around bawling with the cow no where in sight.

DOlthaus · #5 11/27/12, 08:48 PM

The bag was completely intact. That's what makes me think it suffocated. This was a beef calf, mostly Angus. I'll consider the cull. Just so disappointed that I had no clue she was ready to calf.

G. Seddon · #6 11/28/12, 07:12 AM

Sorry to hear about the calf.

That's one more reason to keep records and watch the cattle so that you know approximately when they're due and can keep an eye on them, move them to a smaller enclosure where they're easily checked, even in the middle of the night if necessary.

Here's just one of many articles about calving indicators that may be helpful to you:

The Cow-Calf Manager

Allen W · #7 11/28/12, 02:07 PM

Sounds like she may have sloughed the calf, especially if she wasn't showing.

houndlover · #8 11/28/12, 02:29 PM

Something may have spooked her too.

opportunity · #9 11/28/12, 11:19 PM

I wouldn't hold it against her some times they dont' know what to do especially the first time. I'm also wondering if the calf was miscarried was it small?