Spots-R-Us

[Puzzled]

First calf heifer. She is 1/2 Murray Grey, 1/4 Corriente, 1/8 Herford and 1/8 Angus. The calf is out of a grade Angus bull. That calf's color pattern, courtesy
of the Corriente genes is very dominating. I really like the heifers hair-do. Her yearling half sister (from the same Murray Grey bull) has the same hair-do.
Most people will assume the calf is Pinzqauer, not so.

 

[Faster horses]

That's quite a cross! Pretty calf!!

 

[Puzzled]

I thought I might get a black calf from her. His legs were black, his head was black but as the delivery progressed
I began to see that infamous color pattern. Oh well, he is healthy and she is a good Mom.

 

[Puzzled]

100% calved out in 21 days. First calf hit the ground February 20th, last one dropped her calf today.

 

[Puzzled]

Need some suggestions. My spotted cow is not doing well. She is 2 yrs. with first calf. Number 1 suspicion is she is not adapting to the lush grass. The three cows are getting 50-60 lbs. of grass hay per day. They have HiMag minerals. This cow has bad diarrhea, gave her some Anti-Diarrheal boluses, but has had minimal effect. Her calf looks good but is beginning to act like milk production has diminished.

She was really sick yesterday, I was scared to death she would be dead this morning. But she is up and eating some hay eyes are alert but she looks like ----. Thinking maybe I should pull her clear off pasture.

Other question: How do I introduce the cows to this lush feed ? If we get some dryer weather here, would mowing the grass that has such a head start, diminish the impact it has on there digestive system ?

Monday I hope to find a large animal vet to look at her. I know she's not CAB and would not fit in with the Canadian cattle, but I do like this cow and her calf has a good start. And trust me she actually looks worse than the pictures portray her.

 

[Faster horses]

It's most likely acidosis. Put some dry hay out for dry matter. Either a round bale or even some little
square bales. That will dilute the lush feed. They need fiber going into the rumen so the cows chew their cud as much as possible to *maximize saliva production with it's bicarbonate. They'll eat the dry hay eventually, but not like they eat it it in the winter. It can even be junk hay, straw, probably not any type of grain hay though.

I agree that you need to get that stopped. It could weaken her and she could wind up with coccidiosis.

*I didn't know that, I looked it up.
www.ecofarmingdaily.com Treating Acidosis in cattle.

Good luck!

 

[Puzzled]

It's most likely acidosis. Put some dry hay out for dry matter. Either a round bale or even some little
square bales. That will dilute the lush feed. They need fiber going into the rumen so the cows chew their cud as much as possible to *maximize saliva production with it's bicarbonate. They'll eat the dry hay eventually, but not like they eat it it in the winter. It can even be junk hay, straw, probably not any type of grain hay though.

I agree that you need to get that stopped. It could weaken her and she could wind up with coccidiosis.

*I didn't know that, I looked it up.
www.ecofarmingdaily.com Treating Acidosis in cattle.

Good luck!

Thank you. Most of the info I was finding focused on Dairy cattle. And speaking of chewing her cud, that I watched for yesterday, and did not see. She was just really uncomfortable, she would lay down in an upright position, with her head resting on the ground

In a time long ago, there was a slaughter house in this area. The owner would feed to fatten some animals, his own small feedlot. He made his own mix of grain, I know it had beet pulp pellets, corn, molasses and I don't know what all else, but it also had lots of chopped hay mixed in. It was referred to as chopped feed. We fed some to our bottle calves when they got a little older, and they really thrived on it. But that hay probably played a significant role in keeping the cattle/calves healthy.

 

[Faster horses]

Thank you. Most of the info I was finding focused on Dairy cattle. And speaking of chewing her cud, that I watched for yesterday, and did not see. She was just really uncomfortable, she would lay down in an upright position, with her head resting on the ground

In a time long ago, there was a slaughter house in this area. The owner would feed to fatten some animals, his own small feedlot. He made his own mix of grain, I know it had beet pulp pellets, corn, molasses and I don't know what all else, but it also had lots of chopped hay mixed in. It was referred to as chopped feed. We fed some to our bottle calves when they got a little older, and they really thrived on it. But that hay probably played a significant role in keeping the cattle/calves healthy.

I don't think you were planning in it, but I'd be careful, at this point, feeding molasses. Beet pulp and chopped hay would have added fiber (dry matter) which is important. I remember going to a ranch that was irrigated pasture. The cows were NOT on the irrigated green grass, they were along the road trying to get some dry matter there. It's a requirement. One thing we learned through the years in Montana, in the spring when the grass is green, it has everything in it BUT it is full of moisture. By putting an old round bale of hay out (for dry matter) they actually were happier and they bred up better. We used to say in the spring "they are chasing green grass." Actually they were chasing dry matter. I do now see that she is eating on some old hay in the first picture. Just keep putting it out.

Do you have any mineral with magnesium? That might help. Grass like you have, if it were in Mt or WY could result in grass tetany. Are you feeding them mineral at all? I don't want to scare you, but grass tetany is caused from a mineral imbalance and hi mag mineral can help with that. If you see her unsteady on her feet, she probably does need to see a veterinarian. I'm concerned that she isn't chewing her cud.

 

[Puzzled]

They do have access to a Hi Mag mineral. Thanks for the tip on molasses. It's frustrating, I cross fenced their little field to enable rotation, it has made a huge difference in the volume of feed that it produces, grass is crowding out weeds. But the cows were healthier on short feed.

I think I created my own problem.

 

[Puzzled]

Checked her this evening, she seems better, up moving around and feeding. Added more minerals to their tub and put some baking soda
in another small tub. She seemed to like the baking soda.

 

[Older Whiskey]

What grasses do you have in your pastures? Have you tested the soil? Did you fertilize this spring? If so what was the ratio? I know some Oregon coast cattle ranchers also have meat goats out with the cattle. The goats help by eating some weeds and grasses that cause early spring problems in cattle.

 

[Puzzled]

What grasses do you have in your pastures? Have you tested the soil? Did you fertilize this spring? If so what was the ratio? I know some Oregon coast cattle ranchers also have meat goats out with the cattle. The goats help by eating some weeds and grasses that cause early spring problems in cattle.

Haven't put any fertilizer on for 5-10 years.
Have never tested soil.

Quite a few years back I started having problems with cow(s) getting sick in that pasture, along about March. Started pulling them out the end of February, didn't put them back in till April or later, problem solved.
Had extension agent walk the pasture, it would have been later than March, she said she could not see any plants that would pose a problem.

This cow was pulled out of there the middle of February, went back into the pasture about 2 weeks ago.
The grasses(?) Probably a blend of Orchard Grass, Fescue, Rye Grass, some clover and native grasses. After I cross fenced and started rotating, later in the summer Lotus Major kicks in.. Only toxic plant in there is a little Tansy Ragwort. Only way cattle eat that is if starved to it.

The other two cows seem fine. This cow is young, turned 2 in March. Was under weight when she calved, healthy by all appearances. But she had no reserves to give her any cushion against getting sick.
Not sure how to help her gain weight without risking doing more harm. Hope to find a vet willing to do a fecal to rule out any other problem(s).

 

[Older Whiskey]

Haven't put any fertilizer on for 5-10 years.
Have never tested soil.

Quite a few years back I started having problems with cow(s) getting sick in that pasture, along about March. Started pulling them out the end of February, didn't put them back in till April or later, problem solved.
Had extension agent walk the pasture, it would have been later than March, she said she could not see any plants that would pose a problem.

This cow was pulled out of there the middle of February, went back into the pasture about 2 weeks ago.
The grasses(?) Probably a blend of Orchard Grass, Fescue, Rye Grass, some clover and native grasses. After I cross fenced and started rotating, later in the summer Lotus Major kicks in.. Only toxic plant in there is a little Tansy Ragwort. Only way cattle eat that is if starved to it.

The other two cows seem fine. This cow is young, turned 2 in March. Was under weight when she calved, healthy by all appearances. But she had no reserves to give her any cushion against getting sick.
Not sure how to help her gain weight without risking doing more harm. Hope to find a vet willing to do a fecal to rule out any other problem(s).

A snack with Terramycin crumbles might resolve her problem.

 

[Puzzled]

A snack with Terramycin crumbles might resolve her problem.

Thank you.
I would have to use injectable unless I can find a vet that will cooperate. Most of the vets left in this area just treat poodles and cats. Some equine, but not cattle unless they are halter broke and your not afraid to unload them downtown along a busy hi-way

 

[Puzzled]

I don't think you were planning in it, but I'd be careful, at this point, feeding molasses. Beet pulp and chopped hay would have added fiber (dry matter) which is important. I remember going to a ranch that was irrigated pasture. The cows were NOT on the irrigated green grass, they were along the road trying to get some dry matter there. It's a requirement. One thing we learned through the years in Montana, in the spring when the grass is green, it has everything in it BUT it is full of moisture. By putting an old round bale of hay out (for dry matter) they actually were happier and they bred up better. We used to say in the spring "they are chasing green grass." Actually they were chasing dry matter. I do now see that she is eating on some old hay in the first picture. Just keep putting it out.

Do you have any mineral with magnesium? That might help. Grass like you have, if it were in Mt or WY could result in grass tetany. Are you feeding them mineral at all? I don't want to scare you, but grass tetany is caused from a mineral imbalance and hi mag mineral can help with that. If you see her unsteady on her feet, she probably does need to see a veterinarian. I'm concerned that she isn't chewing her cud.

"The cows were NOT on the irrigated green grass, they were along the road trying to get some dry matter there."

I have seen that too. Livestock on "improved pastures" turned in to a brushy mess of huckleberry, salmon berry, willow etc. thought they had died and gone to heaven. They would create a browse line.

I have wondered some times if livestock that have equal access to the brush of unimproved pastures as they do the improved pasture, if they are as apt to have mineral deficiencies