Dead Calves

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Popeye03

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Jul 11, 2010
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29
I continue to have calving problems for the third straight year.  My cows are very well taken care,  they are on a good mineral.  Nothing should be out of place.  My problem is that the calves have been coming out dead,  no calving problems, no defects,  just dead!  I have no idea what could cause this but if anyone has suggestions I would love to hear them.  It only occurs on a few cows a year and they have been sired by all different bulls.  Last year this cow was bred to sunseeker, the calf was great,  he sold for 7500!  Bred her back to sunseeker and dead calf??

Thanks

Brandt Edwards
EFG Show Cattle
 

chambero

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Feb 12, 2007
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Texas
Are you actually seeing the calves being born (truly dead before birth) or are you finding a dead calf on the ground sometime after birth (calf could have during or after birth)?

The quick answer is get the dead calves to a vet for an autopsy ASAP.

My guess would be heat stress immediatley after birth depending on where you are and how much shade the calves have.
 

olsun

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Mar 17, 2008
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434
There are times when a calf is born rear legs first, and when the process takes too long, the calf suffocates, and you find a dead calf. This is just one of several possibilities.
 

firesweepranch

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SW MO
Good point! We test all of our cattle for BVD-PI. Since we travel to so many shows with bred heifers, we want to play it safe. All  you do is take a small notch of the ear and send it to a testing center. We have one here in MO and it is only a couple of bucks. And, when I go to sell that calf, I can say that she does not have BVD!
 

Popeye03

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Jul 11, 2010
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I did not get to see this calf come out.  I checked the cow before I went to bed and when I got up this morning I checked her and she was licking a brand new dead calf.  But in the spring one of my donor cows calved and I saw everything.  Calf came out correctly, no issues whatsoever,  yet he was dead!  I vaccinate twice a year and run a brucelosis free herd so therefore my vet and I are fully aware of what vaccinations we are giving.  I called him first thing and he has no explanation.  He said I am doing everything correct.  So still a mysterey,  I understand that a calf can have problems when calving but when I watch the whole process and it goes perfect and the sob is still dead I just don't get it!
 

CAB

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  What percentage are you having born dead? How many dead out of how many total births.
 

Popeye03

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Jul 11, 2010
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About 20 percent!  My profile picture is the calf this cow produce last year.
 

CAB

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  20% would definitely indicate a problem that needs to be diagnosed. Agree with Chambero that you need to get some autopsies done @ your vet or ag college. JMO
 

SHAGGY

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Nov 23, 2009
Messages
148
Location
Hillsboro, Ohio
I understand your frustration, i have had similar problems. My whole life we have had very good luck for the most part calving, yet the last several years have been challenging. This year I lost a Majors Money Man calf out of a Git It Done heifer, i was there and everything went really smooth, yet the calf was dead. This is just an example of one, i have had several like this over the last couple of years. If you get any answers let me know. Good luck.  
 

hntwhitetail

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I would contact you state agricultural department and have one of the calves checked out, and get the problem fixed.
 

husker1

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Nebraska
In addition to posting the calves, I'd look into the more subtle, sometimes dismissed things, such as water-quality, feed (mold), etc.  Not sure what these things could cause, but just have to keep your eye out for anything.
 

jbw

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Jan 12, 2009
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I don't see how it could be PI, BVD. There is know way the calf could have come into contact with the virus and go through the incubation period.  If the cow was a carrier might be different, but I would think that you would be having problems with your cows, not just dead calves.
 

firesweepranch

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Bovine Virus Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) infection in cattle herds can result in major economic loss from poor reproductive performance (reduced percent pregnant, increased abortion and stillbirth) or poor calf performance (increased calf sickness and death loss). Cattle persistently infected with BVDV (BVD-PI) are the primary reservoir for BVDV infection in cattle herds, and thus are the major focus of control programs.
Most BVDV infection problems in cattle herds go unnoticed since 70-90% of BVD infections do not result in observable disease. When present, the most common disease caused by BVD virus infection in cattle herds is poor reproductive performance including, abortions, poor conception rates, stillbirths, and weak calves. In addition, BVD virus infection causes suppression of the bovine immune system resulting in increased susceptibility to other infectious diseases. In cow-calf herds the immunosuppressive effect of BVD is normally noticed as increased calf death loss (from scours and pneumonia) and poor weaning weight. In feedlot animals this is noticed primarily as increased death loss and incidence of respiratory disease (pneumonia). Lastly, BVD virus infection alone can cause diarrhea with oral ulcers and bleeding disorders.
Note that a cow can be PI, but NEVER show signs! They even suggest testing cows that lose a calf, if the calf did not get tested when born dead. This stuff is not something to mess with.
Not saying this is what is going on, just doing a public service announcement since someone else brought it up  :)
 

Popeye03

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Jul 11, 2010
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I had a 100 percent conception rate on these cows that are now calving!  I don't have any issues with bvd seeing I vaccinate them twice a year for it.  It is a valid point just not one that I could rationalize right now.   
 

Alscows

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Jul 16, 2009
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Location
Ohio
Vaccination would only prevent new cases.  If you have a cow that could be PI she could be shedding it or causing her own reproductive problems.  Did you have mold issues in your corn last fall?  You may have a vomtoxin problem.  Cattle express these stresses differentlly.  Dropping a pregnancy at 9 months isn't common but serious enough to involve the vet.  Keep updates coming always curious to figure these things out.
 

SWMO

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Carthage MO
Nitrates can be sneaky.  Anything from dead at birth to weak calves to some deformities.  Posting the dead calf is the only way to find out for sure.
 

dimebag

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Apr 21, 2008
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Texas
I have had problems also , i took two cows to the vet and took blood samples to try and find out whats going on . Awaiting results now .
 

shorthorngirl2010

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Apr 25, 2008
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McCook, Nebraska
Thing is, I'm not sure they can confirm Nitrates as the issue by necropsy.  I believe that's one of those things you have to test the source.  I could be wrong though.  Testing a feed sample would more than likely be to your benefit. JMHO.
 
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