"rubber legged" calves

[worthabit]

We are over half done calving and had been getting along great but the last 4 calves (from 2 different bulls) have been born with what I call rubber legs. The calves are very wobbly and their back legs almost are the shape of the letter C. We had a few born like this last year in the middle of calving season and then they just stopped. The affected calves eventually grew out of it and the vet was not concerned. My questions are have any of you had this? Is it just a case of being in a cramped space for 9 months? It's strange that they all come at the same time and then stop. The cows are on hay and the same mineral year round. Thanks.

 

[cowman 52]

Happens more often than not--  usually get straightened out in 3-4 days-- bones just soft and may have been curled up a bit before he got here- 

 

[aandtcattle]

We had this same thing you are talking about a few years ago.  Our vet thought it might be a side effect of the cows getting into a low dose of poisonous plants at some point during gestation and that is why they all come at once because all of those calves were at the most susceptible stage of gestation.  At least they come out of it.  Ours were hard to tell apart from the normal calves a month later.

 

[worthabit]

Thanks for the replies. A and T, we don't have many poisonous plants up here so I don't think that is the cause. I know that it happens every once in a while but I found it odd that it has happened two years in a row and all at one time.