When's calving starting 2021

tellmeabit

Lime Tree Farm wrote: »

I was reading recently, have the front legs tucked under them, to prop up the chest and allow the lungs expand and breathe in, as it is more difficult for them if they are laying on their side.

Back legs to each side too. Helps hold them there.

whelan2

Was someone saying on here a cloudy eye in a calf is a sign of a deficiency?

Lime Tree Farm

whelan2 wrote: »

Was someone saying on here a cloudy eye in a calf is a sign of a deficiency?

I don't know, but I have heard of a newborn or days old calf getting a Vit B injection to prevent blindness.

funkey_monkey

whelan2 wrote: »

Was someone saying on here a cloudy eye in a calf is a sign of a deficiency?

I thought it was Vit A they got.

Does it have any other symptoms - does it react to a hand across the eyes?

whelan2

funkey_monkey wrote: »

I thought it was Vit A they got.

Does it have any other symptoms - does it react to a hand across the eyes?

Its a suckler calf. The same cow's calf died at 2 months last year. It's a week old. Is doing ok. A bit of a scour yesterday and the day before gave it effydral and multimin. One eye is cloudy put opticlox in it too

funkey_monkey

Scour - Have you got the results back yet of the BVD?
Might be something congenital. The fact that the calf last year died young would make me feel the need to cull the cow if you don't get a satisfactory diagnosis from the vet - what have they said on the matter?

https://www.fginsight.com/news/news/bvd-zero-calves-observation-can-give-vital-clues-bvd-is-in-a-herd-140314-1116

Possible eye defects in BVD exposed calves:

• Microphthalmia – literally translates as ‘small eye’ and can affect one of both eyes
• Cataracts – eyes look cloudy and lead to blindness
• Retinal dysplasia – again capable of affecting one or both eyes, the calf will have impaired sight and a non-functioning retina in the eye and will most likely be blind
• Retinal detachment – calves are born with impaired sight and may go on to develop full blindness in either one or both eyes

whelan2

Vet was out with the calf from last year a few times and couldn't figure what was wrong. Bvd sample sent on monday. Pedigree Angus calf

funkey_monkey

It would have to be the ped one Is she a 2nd calver - or has she previously reared a calf?
Hopefully it pulls through - do the cows get precalver minerals?

whelan2

funkey_monkey wrote: »

It would have to be the ped one Is she a 2nd calver - or has she previously reared a calf?
Hopefully it pulls through - do the cows get precalver minerals?

This is her 3rd calf a heifer in 2019 that was fine. A bull last March that died st 2 months and then this calf. I remember last year when the vet first visited the calf was riddled with lice. It had been outside since birth, never saw a young calf with so many on it. Vet said lice attack a weak animal . Ye they got a good do with minerals and on good silage

tellmeabit

jfh wrote: »

Lads, have a calf here, that hasn't stood or sucked since he was born on Sunday , I've been tubing him with milk, thought he'd die but still hanging on, breathing heavy, like fluid in lungs but was born on slats so might be pneumonia, anything ye recommend?

How is he since?
My fella is similar from Sunday but is up and sucks away, breathing heavy and after feeding is sweating. No temp. He is struggling with the knuckle that was stopping him calving. The pull after didn't help. He is lively but o don't like the breathing a sweating.vet gave me a few shots for him but I'll have to get him out to see for himself.

Base price

@ Whelan - I was reading up on vit A deficiency and it can cause eye and other problems in calves. Apparently calves get vit A from colostrum so if the cow is deficient then the calf is automatically deficient.

I haven't had a chance to check up the ingredients of the multimin injection that you gave the calve but check to see if it includes vitamins cause the name sounds like it only incudes minerals.
Maybe Greysides or one of the other Vets will give an opinion.

Limestone Cowboy

New one for me, neighbour called that he had a calf coming backwards and only 1 leg coming. Got him straightened up and after a battle this is what appeared out. No bone on the top of the skull and front legs reversed.

charolais0153

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

New one for me, neighbour called that he had a calf coming backwards and only 1 leg coming. Got him straightened up and after a battle this is what appeared out. No bone on the top of the skull and front legs reversed.

Good job he wasn't alive, be awful for him

endainoz

Another one with lovely colours from yesterday, pity about the pair of balls on him!

whelan2

Base price wrote: »

@ Whelan - I was reading up on vit A deficiency and it can cause eye and other problems in calves. Apparently calves get vit A from colostrum so if the cow is deficient then the calf is automatically deficient.

I haven't had a chance to check up the ingredients of the multimin injection that you gave the calve but check to see if it includes vitamins cause the name sounds like it only incudes minerals.
Maybe Greysides or one of the other Vets will give an opinion.

Got vet out. Calf has a temperature. Lungs ok. Injected her in the eye. Slight scour. Keep up the effydral. She gave her marbocyl and flunixin

Hard Knocks

whelan2 wrote: »

Got vet out. Calf has a temperature. Lungs ok. Injected her in the eye. Slight scour. Keep up the effydral. She gave her marbocyl and flunixin

Be careful there’s allot of Crypto about

whelan2

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Be careful there’s allot of Crypto about

Ye she mentioned that too. She's not dehydrated and piddled 3 times while vet was there. The effydral will help there too

endainoz

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Be careful there’s allot of Crypto about

Heard that from a few people, luckily the weather is decent enough to let animals out.

patsy_mccabe

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

New one for me, neighbour called that he had a calf coming backwards and only 1 leg coming. Got him straightened up and after a battle this is what appeared out. No bone on the top of the skull and front legs reversed.

I wonder what caused that? In a way, you were lucky he came backwards. You would have being trying to turn him if you saw the front legs upside down.

I think nature throws strange things every now and then. If its beneficial for survival, then that mutation carries on in the species. Longer legs being able to reach higher branches etc.

SuperTortoise

And we're off, first one this evening, calved herself, gave a small bit of help to suck but she would have managed fine without, grand heifer calf.

squinn2912

Lost a huge lim bull calf this morning. Just got to her too late. I was sure she wouldn’t calve until at least tonight. Very disappointed with myself if I’d been a bit earlier I think we’d have saved him and he’d be a super calf.

RD10

Have cow here that keeps laying flat out on her side as if trying to relieve pain. Started it day or two before she calved (knew myself it wasnt calving pains - i checked her and vet checked her)
she has since calved a week and a half is back doing same again the past few days. Shes eating and seems ok when up and about but once she sits down you'll see her laying down flat on her side.
Had vet out twice - before and after she calved (she induced cow) and treated cow for different things on both occasions but i'd be interested to hear your opinions on what it might be or if anyone has seen this before.
I just dont like the way she keeps going on the way she is.
Shewas treated for colic and calcium deficiency.

whelan2

How are her feet?

RD10

whelan2 wrote: »

How are her feet?

Feet are fine but did notice twice when she seemed to be in more pain with this she'd go mad stiff and lame on her feet and then boom back to normal again. Shes outside now - just keeping an eye on her

grassroot1

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

New one for me, neighbour called that he had a calf coming backwards and only 1 leg coming. Got him straightened up and after a battle this is what appeared out. No bone on the top of the skull and front legs reversed.

Schmallenberg?

grassroot1

RD10 wrote: »

Have cow here that keeps laying flat out on her side as if trying to relieve pain. Started it day or two before she calved (knew myself it wasnt calving pains - i checked her and vet checked her)
she has since calved a week and a half is back doing same again the past few days. Shes eating and seems ok when up and about but once she sits down you'll see her laying down flat on her side.
Had vet out twice - before and after she calved (she induced cow) and treated cow for different things on both occasions but i'd be interested to hear your opinions on what it might be or if anyone has seen this before.
I just dont like the way she keeps going on the way she is.
Shewas treated for colic and calcium deficiency.

has she ingested wire?

greysides

RD10 wrote: »

Have cow here that keeps laying flat out on her side as if trying to relieve pain. Started it day or two before she calved (knew myself it wasnt calving pains - i checked her and vet checked her)
she has since calved a week and a half is back doing same again the past few days. Shes eating and seems ok when up and about but once she sits down you'll see her laying down flat on her side.
Had vet out twice - before and after she calved (she induced cow) and treated cow for different things on both occasions but i'd be interested to hear your opinions on what it might be or if anyone has seen this before.
I just dont like the way she keeps going on the way she is.
Shewas treated for colic and calcium deficiency.

Observe her urinating.

tanko

grassroot1 wrote: »

Schmallenberg?

There's seems to be very little mention of this anymore, is it still about or have cattle built up immunity to it?

Limestone Cowboy

grassroot1 wrote: »

Schmallenberg?

Where's our resident Vet.. He's staying very quiet

RD10

greysides wrote: »

Observe her urinating.

Cheers. What should i be looking out for?

RD10

grassroot1 wrote: »

has she ingested wire?

She's been inside fir the winter, so dont think any chance of it being that. No wire in pens.

tanko

RD10 wrote: »

She's been inside fir the winter, so dont think any chance of it being that. No wire in pens.

Bits of wire can end up in silage and get eaten, not saying it's happened here but it can happen.

High bike

RD10 wrote: »

Cheers. What should i be looking out for?

Blood in the urine maybe

Reggie.

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

Where's our resident Vet.. He's staying very quiet

Ah hes off gathering up the hamsters. They must have gotten out again

whelan2

Reggie. wrote: »

Ah hes off gathering up the hamsters. They must have gotten out again

Could be busy either? It is spring time , busy time.

greysides

grassroot1 wrote: »

Schmallenberg?

Possibly, but there has always been weird one-offs due to genetics so it's hard to know.

Here's one I came across recently. It was the third in the herd in a short time. The hind hooves were over-extended and sticking out, and contaminated, so I cut them off before doing the caesarean. I'd be reasonably sure it was due to Schmallenberg. It presented as seen- all legs together. Note shortened low jaw.

greysides

RD10 wrote: »

Cheers. What should i be looking out for?

Bad smell, discolouration (cloudy, bloody), frequency.

It's just a guess but a kidney infection could be causing back pain.

squinn2912

Nice strong heifercalf there an hour ago. Cow did all in about an hour and ten mins later when I went down and moved all into a new pen I turned around and could hear my favourite sound, the lips smacking! Delighted

Limestone Cowboy

After losing a grand 3 week old calf, seen him yesterday at 3 o clock and he stood and stretched with no obvious ailments. Was sitting down with his head tucked in like he was sleeping when I found him this morning. Annoyed now that I must have missed something yesterday, dehorned him 3 days ago and maybe it brought on meningitis or something. Sickened either way anyway. Had a springer on her back as well this morning. Lucky to get her in time.

RD10

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

After losing a grand 3 week old calf, seen him yesterday at 3 o clock and he stood and stretched with no obvious ailments. Was sitting down with his head tucked in like he was sleeping when I found him this morning. Annoyed now that I must have missed something yesterday, dehorned him 3 days ago and maybe it brought on meningitis or something. Sickened either way anyway. Had a springer on her back as well this morning. Lucky to get her in time.

Have a calf here that got a bad dose few weeks back with that cold weather and has been very off form past few days again.
Got him stronger antibiotics/anti inflammatory again. Vet diagnosed him with that ol middle ear infection aswell.
Had mentioned it perhaps leading to meningitis if not treated properly and let go on.
Treating its mother for bad mastitis in one quarter at the same time. Come out this morning to discover she now has it in another quarter. Never a dull moment.
Am finding this year has been non stop with different things going wrong.

tellmeabit

No 5 SFL heifer 287 days.

K9

Limestone Cowboy wrote: »

After losing a grand 3 week old calf, seen him yesterday at 3 o clock and he stood and stretched with no obvious ailments. Was sitting down with his head tucked in like he was sleeping when I found him this morning. Annoyed now that I must have missed something yesterday, dehorned him 3 days ago and maybe it brought on meningitis or something. Sickened either way anyway. Had a springer on her back as well this morning. Lucky to get her in time.

Are they done for clostridial. Could of been blackleg or tetanus

tanko

K9 wrote: »

Are they done for clostridial. Could of been blackleg or tetanus

That's what i was thinking, meningitis doesn't kill suddenly like that afaik.
Found a three week old calf dead in the field a few years back, saw her running around the field a few hours earlier.

You can't cover calves against clostridial disease at that age, can you??

K9

tanko wrote: »

That's what i was thinking, meningitis doesn't kill suddenly like that afaik.
Found a three week old calf dead in the field a few years back, saw her running around the field a few hours earlier.

You can't cover calves against clostridial disease at that age, can you??

Probably have to do the cows before calving. Can do calves after 2weeks but takes I think 2 weeks to be covered after administering. Then the second shot 4/6 weeks after

greysides

K9 wrote: »

Are they done for clostridial. Could of been blackleg or tetanus

Too quick for tetanus and probably too young for Blackleg, but a clostridial enterotoxaemia would be a possibility.

greysides

For lambs, colostral protection lasts 3-4 months so calves should be vaguely similar.

Grueller

November calf lame there now when I went to the shed. Bit of swelling at the heel in between the crubeens. I have no amoxycillin in the press only had oxytetracycline. I gave her a shot. Is that any good for lameness. I can't remember what I got it for. Also a spray of alamycin aerosol on it.

Sami23

Had a cow calf last night and 1 of her teats is blocked and I can't free it up. I tried softening it with water and even tried pushing a dry cow tube into it to try free it but no joy.
Anyone any tips how to sort this problem.
I know the calf won't need it straight away but don't want to leave it blocked either.
Tia

High bike

Sami23 wrote: »

Had a cow calf last night and 1 of her teats is blocked and I can't free it up. I tried softening it with water and even tried pushing a dry cow tube into it to try free it but no joy.
Anyone any tips how to sort this problem.
I know the calf won't need it straight away but don't want to leave it blocked either.
Tia

you probably need something longer like a cotton bud,had something similar last year and the vet freed it with a long steel implement dont know what it was just be careful with it.Are u sure its soft and she hasn't mastitis?

Sami23

High bike wrote: »

you probably need something longer like a cotton bud,had something similar last year and the vet freed it with a long steel implement dont know what it was just be careful with it.Are u sure its soft and she hasn't mastitis?

Yeah seems just as soft as the others so 99% sure not mastitis