Dexter Cattle For Sale Discussion Board

we ahve a nice shaped cow that came to us as a bulled heifer - she slipped the calf after about 3 months, thought "these things happen".

ran her with the bull again last summer - and she slipped the calf after about 3 months

She is probably the best cow in size and confirmation that we have and we have plenty of other beef available but obviously no future if she cannot produce a calf - whats the feeling from the experienced members?

alternatively is it likely to be worth involving a vet or would we be throwing good money after bad?

Cheers
mac

Boofarm wrote:alternatively is it likely to be worth involving a vet or would we be throwing good money after bad?

I think it would be a case of spending money for the sake of it. I'd beef her now.

Where abouts in the country are you? Small pockets with Schmollenberg this year. I would get a vet to have a look at her if she is a good cow and get a proper diagnosis before you make any decisions.

A vet should have seen this cow at least twice anyway, as any bovine abortion should be reported to DEFRA and samples taken to be certain brucellosis is not involved - no routine testing done in UK now so this form of surveillance very important. All dairy herds are checked by bulk milk sample but for beef herds the abortion enquiry is important. As a vet I always encourage more tests to be done, and the farmer only has the lab charges since I am being paid by DEFRA to be there anyway.

Duncan

That occurred to me too, Duncan, after I'd turned the PC off. Vet's are a sore point with me at the moment as we have a really good (Scottish) vet who can correctly diagnose most things over the phone but he employs the united nations of useless vets who charge for every little thing, give anti inflammatories & then we call the knacker man.

I would check that the minerals etc are correct ,it was my understanding to report any early calf losts.Also if you have purchased any stock or there is any chance of infection from outside stock have you checked for BVD.Make sure if this cow has never bred is it a PI.

Years ago a friend (really, not me) had a similar problem with her favourite cow. The tests came back as Toxocara, I think, and the cow did eventually carry a calf full term. Personally, these days and in the light of Dom's thread, I'm inclined to the principle of first loss is least loss.