Dexter Cattle For Sale Discussion Board

Hi everyone I hope you can help with some advice concerning a new born calf that can not stand. Early this morning I found my cow lying down and although I knew she was due to calve I did not for one minute think that she had already given birth! As I approached her I could see that the front of her was sitting on the back legs of her calf! I calmly approached the calf and the cow got up. I could see that all was not well as the calf made no effort to move. I took the calf to the vet fearing that her hip had been crushed but the vet could find nothing wrong. Hips ok, movement ok but she can not stand. She has been tube fed and all day I have tried to get more colostrum into her but its really hard work. Her mother is disinterested and want to rejoin the herd (I have brought them both in in the hope that the calf may recover) I have no idea what to do and I know that there is an abundance of experience out there, please help

hi
just looked at site and found your question we have a large commercial suckler herd and I have tube fed many calves .its not easy at first but I have found that gently rubbing my finger on the roof of the calves mouth while holding it slightly open while the other hand is gently easing the tube into its mouth as the calf swallows the tube slides in dont force it .did the vet suggest giving the calf a pain relief injection.try bottle feeding it but keep those liquids going .Its a long time since I had a pure dexter calf they can be ticky little devils.Food and rest and mum near by is all you can do.Good luck

I agree with what Helena has said, and would suggest getting some feed in by tube whilst encouraging suckling either direct onto the cow if she will allow, or if the calf is weak and the cow uncooperative, try using a bottle and teat till the calf is sucking strongly. As long as you feel the calf is not in any danger from the mother keep them together. It may be that there is some muscle damage from the cow lying on the calf, and this is where Helena' suggestion of painkiller may be relevant - there are various licenced NSAID's for cattle, ask your vet, he/she may be willing to prescribe some without having to see the calf again.

Keep trying.

Duncan

Thank you for your advice. I have chosen to bottle feed as she can suck really well the only problem is that she prefers to chew the teat and not suck. Do you think she will get better or am I just being too optimistic

Sorry Duncan we must have posted at the same time. The vet gave her an antibiotic and a anti-inflammatory

Dangerous for me to predict if she will recover or not, but if you do not try you certainly will not succeed. As long as she is trying, you keep trying too. The sucking versus chewing should improve with time. If the calf is fit try to get the cow's teat in her mouth sometimes when she is hungry.

Duncan

Hi I have just been out to the stable to try to give her some more colstrum and she began fitting in my arms. I attempted to revive her but sadly she passed away about 20 minutes ago. I am feeling pretty frustrated right now so I'll sign off and speak to you all soon. Thank you for your advice and support

Just seen your last post of last night Julie, so sorry to hear.

Duncan

That's really bad luck Julie, very sorry to hear it.

Hi a bit more together today. This was the second calf to die in 3 weeks. I know that I need to sit down and have a good look at what went wrong and how to change things. I have been racking my brains to try and think what could have happened and the only two thing I can come up with is that Arnie our bull was in the field with the cows while calving. Mum may have been lying on the calf yesterday to protect it?????????? Arnie is not nasty but he is young and so anything different excites him. Could both calf deaths have been down to this. The other thing is how I feed my cows, they have always had 'breakfast' and in addition haylage in the winter. Perhaps the calf, in both cases, was too big ????????????? We did have to pull off a calf from our eldest cow but put this down to her age and she was exhausted. I would not say that any of the calves were extra large but the 2 dead calfs came off first time mums so is that why. Its times like this when I feel like selling my herd and sticking to what I know 'my pigs'. I would welcome all suggestions as to how I can better be prepared next year. I thought it would all be a walk in the park, how wrong I was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So sorry to hear of your problems. Are you a member of a DCS area group? There are many experienced breeders down your way who can point you in the right direction not to mention field advisors.

sorry to hear about the calf but you tried your best.was either of the calves covered in a orange coloured slime at birth this indicates stress at birth.was the head trapped and started to swell.did you get at least 3 litres of colstum in the calf within 6 hours of birth this is a life saver without it they will die.I dont mind if you want a chat on the phone if I can offer any help.also check your minerals in your feed or do you give them adlib.as they say if you have livestock you have deadstock.look forward to your next heathly calf.hope you dexter owners dont mind me answering but I find this forum very interesting wish my cattle society had one

Hi thank you for replying. No I'm not a member of a group so this is something I should do. I did contact a Field Advisor when we had the first dead calf as I was uncertain whether to leave the calf with the cow for a while.

In answer to the question concerning colostrum, I did not get anywhere near that amount into the calf. The vet tubed approx 500ml and in total I guess I got the calf to take another 500ml. No orange slime and head nor tongue swollen. The calf appear very floppy as if not enough oxygen so perhaps I missed a difficult breach birth. I will never know about the other calf as it was just in the middle of the field still warm but dead. I must check them about 20 times a day but even so I missed two of the births!

oops sorry 3 pints not litres .

Julie,

Re size - We put an Angus to all our (long-led and not tiny) Dexters and never yet had a problem. I hope I haven't spoken too soon!!!

Re heifers - if your two deaths are down to heifers, that could well be the issue. Heifers need special attention and you need to be there at whatever hour, I'd say. Cows are rarely a problem in our herd anyhow, and not only calve much more easily and quickly, but also usually at a more reasonable hour.

Re bulls - I have heard it said that a bull should never be in with a calving female, and we have never done it, but I also know a farmer in his 80's, who has 800 head / 60 year old herd, and he regularly left bulls in with no problem he said. Bulls are strange animals, full of hormones and will lie on things, including people, so personally, I'd keep your bull out of it no matter how "nice" he is.

Fat cows or heifers are a big problem, FAR more than a big calf IMO.