problems with calf

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Vacanballs

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
102
I had a monopoly bull calf last Tuesday out of a really nice half Charolais cow. The calf ended up having a front foot back and I had to maneuver it back into position to get it out. Came out really easy once the foot was correct. I ended up tubing the calf because he did not want to get up right away though.

The problem is that the calf seems to not want to lift its head. It stands there with his head dropped and I have to help it nurse. I put the cow in the chute and hold his head while he nurses. It was pretty tough at first, but the calf seems to be doing a little better everyday(as far as nursing goes). I feed it 3 times daily. The 110 degree heat is not helping much.

My question is: Has anyone experienced this and do the calves come out of it? Am I just wasting time on a lost cause?
 

Jenny

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
223
Location
south dakota
that calf was most likely stressed pretty good before birth because of the foot being back; when that happens you can get some oxygen deprivation and even when the calf is born and survives, there can be some brain swelling and that results in a lethargic calf or sometimes you hear them referred to as "big dummies"; but after the swelling goes down and the brain recovers, the calf will most likely be very normal and healthy;
keep up what you are doing and I bet you will have a very normal calf in a week or so....
 
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