What is happening?

helen salmon · Post by **helen salmon** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:51 am

Hi,
I am puzzled. My 3 year old Flora was AI'd 3 times last year before she stopped coming in season. Great we thought, it has worked. She has not been in season since, but it is now 300 days and no sign of a calf, despite her udder appearing to fill up about 3 weeks ago. She is pretty large too. Any ideas about what has happened? And what do we do now?
I'd greatly appreciate your help.
Helen

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:14 pm

It is very difficult to know what is happening without examining her, I would advise having a vet look at this cow as soon as possible.

Duncan

nuttalls · Post by **nuttalls** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:46 pm

hi helen, whats the last ai date? We have all our sheep ai,d on the same day but the lambs can be born well before the due date and well after the due date, we thought lambing would be over in a week.No such luck took 3 weeks in all, so i reckon your calf won,t be long unless it,s a phantom, good luck and keep us informed. taking mine to bakewell next week should be fun. jean jordeth

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:03 pm

First reply put on in a bit of a rush, my reason for saying see vet ASAP is that 21 days ago would have been about her due date, udder developed as you would expect, no calf, and udder has gone. It can happen that something prevents the birth and despite what you would expect the cow goes on as normal. It may be that nothing is going on, but you should get it checked in case there is a dead calf in there.

Duncan

helen salmon · Post by **helen salmon** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:19 pm

Hi,
The AI technician was here this afternoon for one of the others. He examined Flora and reckoned she had no calf in there.
She was last AI'd on 4th October.
I think we will get the vet out to her in any case just to make sure.
Helen

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:36 pm

Sorry to hear no calf, and sorry to seem alarmist, but if there had been something wrong it needed seen to urgently. I hope you do manage to sort her out.

Duncan

wagra dexters · Post by **wagra dexters** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:14 am

Helen, if you don't mind me asking, what did the vet say about your cow?
Margaret

helen salmon · Post by **helen salmon** » Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:28 pm

The vet's reaction was 'Well this happens' Admittedly Flora is the picture of health, if a little well covered. i have read that being overweight can cause fertility problems, but all she eats is grass with hay in the winter. The vet plans to inject her to bring her into season.
I still feel confused as to what happened though. She came into season regularly, then stopped after her third AI. She appeared to bag up around the time she should have been due. I assume this is just extra fat. Around the time she should have given birth she kept on licking the other two cows, mainly round their faces. If it had been a dog I would have said it was a phantom pregnancy, but the vet didn't seem to consider this a possibility.
Of course I am disappointed there is no calf, and I am grateful that Flora is OK, I'd just love to know what happened.
Helen