• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

early calves

tlakota

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2007
Messages
209
Location
aberdeen,sd
Just when i got done feeding tonite i noticed a heifer was acting weird. So i got her in. Shes up by the barn in a pen. I had her ultrasounded back on august 28 and she was bred for 91 days. This is quite early for her. Whats the earliest calves that you guys get? I just figure 9 months gestation around here. I usually start about 10 days before them being 9 months bred, but this one is quite a bit earlier then that.
 
Babies- both cattle and human can't count- so anything is possible...

Depending on the cattle- and the bull used- a couple weeks early is not unusual.....There is also the possibility she slipped or got hit- putting her into labor.....
 
three weeks early will the calf be developed enough?...i just went and check on her and she hasnt progressed any but still walkin around with her tail up...
 
tlakota said:
three weeks early will the calf be developed enough?...i just went and check on her and she hasnt progressed any but still walkin around with her tail up...

Three weeks early- it should be developed enough to have a good chance of making it....
 
just got in and she had it...not good...thats the 2nd one this year...the other one was a set of twins i really wonder what the deal is
 
If you want to do diagnostics, you could either call your vet to submit samples, or do it yourself.

I worked in the virology lab at Wyoming State Vet Lab while in college, and we tested aborted fetuses for BVD, IBR, and Chlamydia (if I remember correctly!).

If interested in testing, just put in separate zip lock bags a piece of lung, liver, kidney, heart and spleen from the fetus. I'd submit enough tissue to fill half of a sandwich-sized ziploc bag. Also, if you could submit a chunk of afterbirth w/ cotyledons (big red buttons where placenta was attached to uterus) in a bag, that would be helpful too. Refrigerate until you ship. Likely the lab will do additional testing from other labs (bacteriology...) to try to diagnose the issue.

Be sure to send w/ ice packs and your contact info., as well as info. that specimens were from a near term, aborted bovine fetus. Also include vaccination history of dam.

You may want to verify this advice w/ your vet first, (I'm definately not a vet!), but I think the protocol should be similar. Also, you may want to call the lab before submitting samples to check prices (or look online).

It is frustrating and nerve-racking to lose them right before calving. Hang in there and Good Luck!
 
Work Hard and Study Hard said:
tlakota said:
three weeks early will the calf be developed enough?...i just went and check on her and she hasnt progressed any but still walkin around with her tail up...

YES

Take the calf to your vet and have it tested, they will send the blood off to a diagonostics lab and send the results back to your vet. It could be any number of things starting with nitrates.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top