Premature Calf

Recently had a 2nd calf cow calve 3 weeks early, and managed to have the calf alive. Her diet has been steady and hasn't been in high stress areas, and there isn't a twin. Any ideas of what could have caused this?  ???

jsuhr said:

Recently had a 2nd calf cow calve 3 weeks early, and managed to have the calf alive. Her diet has been steady and hasn't been in high stress areas, and there isn't a twin. Any ideas of what could have caused this?  ???

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Just happens sometimes....had this little guy come 3 weeks early, TINY..really weak too, stayed alive about 3 days.

Had a premie on May 2nd out of Cowboy Cut x Monopoly.  She was 2 1/2 weeks early.  She is small and I have been nursing along.  Did all the vaccinations plus some Bose and NuFlo.  Also gave some electrolytes today.  No scours but just seemed to need a little pick me up.  Think we will be okay but I think will take a couple weeks to get going. 

Wow that calf in the pic is really small...any idea the weight on that thing??

If I had to guess id say 25-30 pounds. My grandma could pick it up and carry it with one arm.

Muddy Creek Show Cattle said:

jsuhr said:

Recently had a 2nd calf cow calve 3 weeks early, and managed to have the calf alive. Her diet has been steady and hasn't been in high stress areas, and there isn't a twin. Any ideas of what could have caused this?  ???

Click to expand...

Just happens sometimes....had this little guy come 3 weeks early, TINY..really weak too, stayed alive about 3 days.

Click to expand...

Wow Muddy Creek that is an itty bitty little dude.  We had a set of twins born about 45 days early back in December (didn't live) and they were bigger than that little fella.  JSUHR, I have got nothing that would answer your question.  Like everyone else says in some cases it just happens.  Just like humans I suppose.  Good luck with your calf. 

I had a 32 pound lamb born one year--  our best yearling heifer right now weighed in the high 30's at birth.

Hey thanks for the ideas. We have been giving it milk replacer and nursing it on the cow 2 times a day plus a little "physical Therapy" but today it actually could hold itself up and walk on it own. That poor thing is abou t35 lbs and has a ways to go but I think it can pull through. It was a Pride And Glory X Ribeye calf and I was really hoping for a nice energetic calf but I guess thats part of farming.

We had a Rainmaker heifer 3 weeks early last year weigh in at 42 pounds, she started off a little slow but she got goin in a couple days.  Just depends on luck.

We had a cow calve a month and a half early the calve didnt make it. It was a phf Star x Eskimo Leggs baby, gorgeous colorig, little bull calf, my brother was sick over it.
Little Heifer (angel)

He's been able to get up under his own power but we realized today that he is blind. Talk about a bad situation getting worse. Hopefully he starts to instinctively nurse on the cow but we can just hope he starts to take off.