Sad Day on the farm

hiddensprings · #1 03/10/14, 10:52 AM

Had to have my vet out late Saturday for a cow that was having a terrible delivery. The calf was huge and unfortunately, we weren't able to get it totally out and had to put the cow down. I give my vet a huge pat on the back, he worked his butt off trying to help her. Here I was worried about all of my first time heifers and they all delivered with no issues at all. This cow was having her third calve. Never had any issues before. It was terrible, heart-breaking, but putting her down was the best so she didn't suffer more then she had too. These are the days when I question my will-power to be a farmer.

M5farm · #2 03/10/14, 12:05 PM

Its tough no matter how many times you have to do it.

hope things go smoother the rest of the year.

Awnry Abe · #3 03/10/14, 12:19 PM

We all go through it. Its tough to have those days.

I hope tomorrow brings sunshine, happiness, and 1000 reasons to be optimistic...

G. Seddon · #4 03/10/14, 12:34 PM

Sorry to hear it as it's always very sad to lose an animal.

Were the heifers and this cow all bred to the same bull?

MO_cows · #5 03/10/14, 02:55 PM

Sorry it happened. Sounds like worst case scenario - a cow on her 3rd calf means you have had her long enough to form an attachment. Also, she was in her prime. A tough loss.

Sometimes they go overdue and the calves get too big to deliver. Unless they are AI'd you really don't know when you expect the calf. We had one do this, going by the last date she was exposed to the bull, she was a week overdue. A week over the 283 day average, I should say. But I think she went a whole cycle overdue, the calf was so much bigger than normal. We lost the calf but the cow lived. She did go on to have more live calves, normal size, after that. Just a fluke but it makes for a very bad day.

Lady89 · #6 03/10/14, 07:20 PM

i am sorry i feel u i have lost 2 mothers this year and could only save one of the calfs

did the calf live or was it lost as well?

Farmer Jayne · #7 03/10/14, 10:16 PM

Hiddensprings, I am so sorry. I had this exact same thing happen earlier this year. My vet was also a trooper and tried for hours, but we weren't able to save the cow (the calf was dead when I found the cow in labor in the morning). The calf was not only too big, but it was tummy-up with one foot out and its head twisted back behind it. The whole time spent trying to save the cow was pretty horrifying. The vet said that sometimes this happens no matter how we try to prevent it. It was just really sad. Sending hugs and good thoughts your way.

hiddensprings · #8 03/10/14, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. Seddon

Sorry to hear it as it's always very sad to lose an animal.

Were the heifers and this cow all bred to the same bull?

Yep, all bred by the same bull. I wish I could figure out why the differences in the calves. My first time heifers all had calves around 45-50 pounds (I'm estimating since I don't have a scale, but I could pick them up and this girl is at her limit on a 50 lb bag of feed)

hiddensprings · #9 03/10/14, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady89

i am sorry i feel u i have lost 2 mothers this year and could only save one of the calfs

did the calf live or was it lost as well?

Without getting too graphic, no the calve didn't survive. Let's just say it was the worst if could have possibly been.

hiddensprings · #10 03/10/14, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farmer Jayne

Hiddensprings, I am so sorry. I had this exact same thing happen earlier this year. My vet was also a trooper and tried for hours, but we weren't able to save the cow (the calf was dead when I found the cow in labor in the morning). The calf was not only too big, but it was tummy-up with one foot out and its head twisted back behind it. The whole time spent trying to save the cow was pretty horrifying. The vet said that sometimes this happens no matter how we try to prevent it. It was just really sad. Sending hugs and good thoughts your way.

Thank you Farmer Jayne

Jennifer L. · #11 03/11/14, 06:40 PM

Sorry to hear, hiddensprings. Sure does make a down day to have something like that happen. I know what you've been through . . .

solsikkefarms · #12 03/11/14, 07:08 PM

Sorry to hear of your loss. Every safe birth is truly a miracle. Wish you all the best of luck in the future.

SteveO · #13 03/11/14, 07:51 PM

strange here in TN Also Calves at least 3 weeks early. The first one was 35# the last 56#. But still at least a month early?? and all 5 within a week.
Cold wet winter but no idea why??
Sorry for your loss. Makes you appreciate all the times that thing fall into place a little more
Steve

Madyparker2014 · #14 03/11/14, 09:15 PM

To all who have lost calves and momma cows that's terrible