My new herd - Very small herd of very small cows!

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:26 am

Haven't you heard Tricky D D is now PC and he has dropped the cow pie along with the stubble and several other things. The world has gone mad along with some of the pages on the board. It's nice to go somewhere for a laugh:D Mind you I was suprised Saffy puts a whole one in her pies. Must remember to fast before calling in for dinner.:p

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:42 pm

Very sad day everyone! Even smaller Herd!

We have had a disaster!!!

Our cow has died of Magnesium Deficiency this afternoon. We found her at 7.30am flat out and gave her a bottle of magnesium under the skin. No effect so we rang the vet, they were not as prompt as we would have liked so we gave her another bottle of mag at 8.45ish and the vet gave her calcium in the vein with a tiny bit of mag in it just after 9 all to no avail + more later on.

The vet even sedated her in the hope that stopping the seizures would enable her to recover but sadly she died this afternoon. We will have to try to compensate by giving her bull calf extra pellets but she milked so heavily it isn't going to hit the spot.

We are devastated.

Stephanie

Post by **Mark Bowles** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:00 pm

So sorry Steph, you must be gutted, not really a lot you can do, just make sure plenty of minerals are around your fields all the time. I expect you know that having had dairy cattle.
Get your new field soil tested in the spring for minerals, its only about £20 per sample i think, that way you will know what your up against.
You can see the number of posts and views on "your new herd" its like weve all been along the journey with you.
All the best
Mark

richmonds dun dexters · Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:01 pm

sorry to hear your bad news it seems there are so many things too go wrong even with this hardy breed of cattle. we bought a some as a hobby and have had a few problems

Inger · Post by **Inger** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:54 pm

So sorry to hear of your misfortune Stephanie, especially after waiting so long for your animals.

wagra dexters · Post by **wagra dexters** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:37 pm

Devastated for all concerned. Your photos of Ginger have become the parameter by which we gauge our females. May her genes live on forever. Much sympathy, Margaret

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:42 pm

so sorry. . Sue Bill and Woodmagic Hedgehog 3rd

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:08 pm

So sorry Saffy it is a bad time of year for this sort of thing with the weather keeping mild then cold, the grass still growing a bit as well but not having all it should. Is it the calf in the picture? if so he looks strong enough to cope. Also if you leave him with the rest you might notice he will pinch a drop off the other cow. They say no livestock without deadstock but it doesn't make it any easier.

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:21 am

So sorry Saffy, would agree with Welshdexterboy, she's certainly given the calf a good start so he hould do fine.

Issy · Post by **Issy** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:26 pm

So sorry Stephanie what horrid news

. She looked a beautiful cow.

Anna · Post by **Anna** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:29 pm

I can´t belive this is true. I am so sorry for you. So unfair!

Few things are as frustrating and heartbreaking as problems with a new and eagerly awaited herd. I have experinced it earlier, not with the cows but with other animals. Severe setbacks seem to be most common when starting up, after a while things settle.

/Anna

welshdexterboy; is frozen grass a danger when it comes to magnesium deficiency? Magnesium deficiency is not common here, but frozen grass is and since Dexters are sensitive I get a little worried. I don´t think our minerals contain much of magnesium. Do anyone know the approximate magnesium content the a Brittish mineral block suitable for Dexters? But I have to have the soil tested before I jump to conclusions of course..

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Louisa Gidney · Post by **Louisa Gidney** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:37 pm

What rotten bad luck. It's one thing my cattle have never suffered from, the grass doesn't grow fast enough up here.

welshdexterboy · Post by **welshdexterboy** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:25 am

Anna --It's not that Dexters are anymore sensitive to Mag deficiency it is just that if you have a growth of fresh'ish grass and the weather is changeable we used to make sure we had some Mag licks out for the cattle. They know if they want it or not and will help themselves to what they need. I have not heard of any suffering from it off frozen grass- It would more likely be a first case of Blue Tongue :D

Tricky · Post by **Tricky** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:12 am

With changable weather and lush looking autumn grass some Straw or even Haylage on offer is often a good bet too. :;):

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 11:54 am

Tricky - I gave hay twice a day as much as they would eat and straw, which they ignored. The highest mag cake I could find. They had been in that field since the 3rd.

Stephanie

Edited By Saffy on 1195728995