C-Section and Abnormal Calf - WARNING Graphic

[Triple_S]

Had to do a c-section on a cow yesterday. I've not got the pile of experience some of you have, so this was my first one. Vet and I both felt the calf and it was confusing to say the least. Besides the calf's intestines being outside its body, something didn't feel shaped right so we opted for a c-section. I'll try to keep the pics as clean as possible but the vet was all pumped up about this calf. He called it all kind of scientific names and said to take pictures cause we may not ever get to see another one like this again (I sure hope not)

Vet's tech doing the cutting

Vet up to his elbows

Four feet at once, this can't be good

Calf was completly deformed. His spine was short and did a 180 degree turn upwards, putting his rear right over his head. The odd part was it was all kinda fused together if that makes any sense.

uterus all sown (sewed?) back up

almost done

All finished up. Vet and his tech did an impressive job. He says there was no cause for it, just one of those things that happens.

[PATB]

If either parent is registered the calf needs to be reported to the appropiate breed association. Check on advantage.com about challenge calfs/defects discussions. Do you have more info on sire/dam or more pictures of calf?

http://www.advantagecattle.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=1

[Triple_S]

the cow is just a commercial cow. She ran with a few bulls during breeding season. 2 Balancers and 1 Angus. I have more pictures of the calf but thought them to be a little graphic for a forum. The vet knew what it was, I wish i could remember the scientic name he called it. Something Reflectus. Anyways, it wasn't a genetic problem or a nutritional problem (trust me I interrogated him on that) I'll let ya'll know if I hear anything else

[redrobin]

schistosoma reflexus
http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/repropath/Fetuses/calves/larger.htm#Shistosomus%20Reflexus1

Your vet did neat work.

[PATB]

If the vet diagnosed it then I will take her work for it. I am sorry for your loss. We did one c-section here and that will be the last one, cows will be beefed instead.

[BlackCattleRancher]

That is the most professional c-section I've ever seen done. Cow covered witha blue cloth, vet wearing a mask and the whole medical outfit. That cow got the 5 star hospital stay. She must be on the new Obama health care plan. lol

[Grassfarmer]

I remember we once had a calf something similar - two pairs of legs one behind the other right at the front, then the calf just kind of tailed off - there was very little behind the ribcage, a short length of spine and that was it. Our cow delivered it herself as it was probably premature. That was September 1986 I think - it was the year of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia anyway and we always suspected that might have been the cause. A large cloud of radiation passed across western Europe in April and contaminated a lot of land. The sheep on the hills that were predominantly granite had to be tested for radiation levels for a few years after that before sale as they were deemed dangerously high levels.

[brushpopper]

Who were the vets you used?

[Triple_S]

[Oldtimer]

Yep-- back in the 70's/80's we had a couple of those like that...Called them inside out calves....I haven't seen another one til this one...

[Northern Rancher]

I had one a fews years back I was riding through the cows and i saw a red angusx coiw with a calf in front of her with a magpie on it. Wasn't too impressed with hermothrering ability till I saw what she'd had on her own. My vet said it about a one in 10,000 deal and not to worry much about it. They arepretty weird to look at.

[Grassfarmer]