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Weird calf

Big Swede

Well-known member
I thought I had seen it all when it came to cattle but here is a new one on me. I found a calf last evening that was stretched out, thought he was sleeping but something didn't seem right so I went to inspect. When I got there I saw what I thought was dried mud on his head but when I went to rub it off it was attached. His whole body is covered in what feels and looks like elephant skin/leprosy. That's the best way I can describe it. The only place you can see it through his hair is on his head but it is everywhere. He hadn't been up to suck so I brought him home and gave him some colostrum. I thought about just leaving him there but wanted to have a vet look at him to see what they thought this condition might be. I googled it on the web later and saw pictures of what looked like the same thing but didn't see a name for it. Talked to a vet on the phone but he had never heard of it either. Anyone else ever seen or heard of this? He's still alive this morning but will probably die. Hope it's not contagious. :shock:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Big Swede said:
I can take some but I have never been smart enough to put them on here. Maybe Soap or JF can help me.

Swede you could post the link to the site where you found the picture that looked like your calf.
 

Big Swede

Well-known member
You must think I'm computer literate Pig Farmer. :wink: I just talked to a different vet and he said he has heard of it, and they refer to it as elephant skin. He said it was a genetic defect, not hereditary that shows up once in a while. He also said he has no chance of living because his skin has no way of protecting him from infection. I'll try to get some pictures and maybe get them on here with a little help from my friends.
 

PATB

Well-known member
Big Swede said:
I thought I had seen it all when it came to cattle but here is a new one on me. I found a calf last evening that was stretched out, thought he was sleeping but something didn't seem right so I went to inspect. When I got there I saw what I thought was dried mud on his head but when I went to rub it off it was attached. His whole body is covered in what feels and looks like elephant skin/leprosy. That's the best way I can describe it. The only place you can see it through his hair is on his head but it is everywhere. He hadn't been up to suck so I brought him home and gave him some colostrum. I thought about just leaving him there but wanted to have a vet look at him to see what they thought this condition might be. I googled it on the web later and saw pictures of what looked like the same thing but didn't see a name for it. Talked to a vet on the phone but he had never heard of it either. Anyone else ever seen or heard of this? He's still alive this morning but will probably die. Hope it's not contagious. :shock:

Big Swede

You might want to drop Lana kaiser DVM aka dragon lady from advantage site an email with a description of the challenge and pictures if possible. I would include as much info as possible including breed,sire and dam. See might advise you keep and freeze an ear if the calf does not make it.

[email protected]
 

Big Swede

Well-known member
I talked to the vet again last night and he called it something like ichtheosis or something like that. I put him down last night because I could tell he was suffering. I think he was blind too because his eyes were kind of gray. He said it has been found in some dairy breeds more commonly than beef cattle but this was Angus on Angus so I don't know why it happened. Just one of those curve balls Mother Nature throws at you now and then I guess.
 

Big Swede

Well-known member
I hear what you're saying NR. I had Angus cows back in the 90's that looked like black Holsteins. Might still be some of those genes present.
 

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