Friday the 13th

[Simmgirl03]

So the day started out just as any other, then I got the call that my simmental first calf heifer was calving. My husband is fairly new to cows so he gave me a play by play over the phone as I was at work. All seem to be ok feet first then head. That's about when "CC" started to get wore out and begun to take breaks within about 15-20 min she had the big girl out. But my husband kept saying she's still just laying there and there is a lot of "stuff" hanging out. At first I just thought no biggy just afterbirth but after an hour of her not getting up and more "stuff" hanging out he sent me a picture and I knew it was bad. I left work early and got to the house about 5 minutes after the vet. She had a full prolapse but luckily no tares. The vet was able to get her put back together and sewed up in about 30 min. He said it was the easiest one he had done in years. We put mama and baby in a pen together and although both are pretty confused we got the calf to nurse and all appears to be well for tonight. Just breaks my heart to know that at then end of the summer my CC girl will have to go down the road. Just another chapter in the never ending book of my bad luck cattle. Happy friday the 13th... Glad its over now!

 

[Cowboy]

Hey girl -- here's a word of encouragement!! As you may see -- I am in the process of my yearly NO SLEEP SESSIONS -- hehehe

Before you write your hfr off the face of earth, let HER show you she won't breed back, don't take that for grantid.

I have seen some really nasty stuff over the last 30 years, alot of it you just say to your self -- well it's over, BUT WAIT!

Nature is deffinately a wonderfull thing. The very fact she was an easy fix is a good tihng. They can heal in amazing ways. I know of one cow years ago that had had a c-section done, a huge calf, and she was not completely anestisized for what ever reason. Right after leaving, the ranchers vet got a call to come back quick. He got back there only to see she had pushed out the newly repaired uterus and now had a full prolapse to deal with as well. Even with all the stiches in the uterus, he got it back in, re-sewed her again, and went home.

This cow was not only going to be fine, she was in heat 35 days later, and REBRED to calve a full 2 weeks earleir the next year and never did it again!

SMILE -- it ain't over till it's over!!! Give her some itme, you may be amazed!

BEST of luck --

My Friday the 13th just yielded an over due Star Power tonight, a SMALLISH hfr no less, and this morning had the best calf of the year so far -- a tremendously good looking - THICK, black hairy bull by Gigolo Joe from a Lady's Man --  not small though -- well over 90 pounds. ALL  is good here! He was 5 days early, the Star Power due yesterday. Go figure!

Terry

;D ;D ;D

 

[dori36]

Ditto to Terry's comments.  I had a heifer do the same thing.  The Vet put her back together and I held her out from the bull for 3 months.  Mostly because I like my calving intervals to remain constant.  When I turned her in, she bred back and calved successfully on her own.  She's calved several times since uneventfully.  I'd give her a chance!

 

[Simmgirl03]

Thank you both for the encouraging words!  Cow & calf are doing well this morning and were both up ready for breakfast when we went out at about 6:45.  Mama is still nervous of the calf but I think instinct is telling her that it is her baby and she has been talking to her and cleaning her up more and more each time I check them.  I've attached a couple pictures of both.  Thanks again for letting me vent last night and your encouraging words!

 

[DLB]

I hope all goes better for the mama.  BUT that calf is just way to cute!  Keep us updated.

 

[klintdog]

Can the tendency to prolapse be passed on genetically?

 

[DCC_Cattle]

I wouldn't write your cow off yet. I had a heifer prolapse after she had her first calf. Since then, she has bred right back AI every time and has had 4 calves since then with no problems.
That is a cute calf! What is the sire?

 

[Steered]

Can the tendency to prolapse be passed on genetically?

Yes< I believe that the tendancy to prolapse is a heritable trait. 

 

[Simmgirl03]

I wouldn't write your cow off yet. I had a heifer prolapse after she had her first calf. Since then, she has bred right back AI every time and has had 4 calves since then with no problems.
That is a cute calf! What is the sire?

Thanks!  The sire is our simmental heifer bull that we raised.  He himself is sired by a son of C&B Junior Stretch out of an Abricot cow. Sadly I do not have any current photos of him so I attached one from long ago when he was about 8 months old.

 

[CM Cattle]

Like the color.

 

[randiliana]

Uterine prolapse are not considered to be terribly inheritable, and just because a cow had one once, doesn't mean she is more prone to having one again. Usually they are a result of a too big calf or too long labour, when the muscles and tendons that hold everything together are too tired or relaxed to keep things in place.

Vaginal prolapses on the other hand ARE considered to be inheritable, and they tend to happen year after year, and often get worse as time goes on.

A cow that had a uterine prolapse doesn't need to be culled out unless, that is, she comes up dry in the fall. Vaginal on the other hand should be on the cull list.

For those who don't know the difference vaginal happens before calving and uterine happens after (normally right after).

 

[Simmgirl03]

So I added a poll to help me decide what my next step will be with this pair.  I am totally a sucker for this heifer, and she has had the best attitude through this whole ordeal, allowing us to put a halter on her and milk her (and she is NOT halter broke).  I've had some many different options on whether we should keep her or sell her I wanted to get the experts option.  Thanks for any additional explanation you can provide and I appreciate all that has already been given.