We recently lost a calf that according to the vet was due a stomach infection that destroyed the kidneys and filled the bladder with puss. He feels this was due to the lack of colostrum. The vet tells us that there is nothing we can do but to get rid of the mother. Momma is a registered angus. Can anyone advise us if there is any other solution to our problem?

-- Kenny (kjohnson@semo.net), March 25, 2002

Answers

I would ty again .Did the baby nurse ? Did the vet do a post pardum {sp}?

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.

If the cow won't allow the calf to nurse, she isn't much use. Is there any chance she would allow you to milk her? Otherwise, by the time you deduct the cost of her feed and year round care, if you also have to provide milk for the calf, won't you just be going in the hole? The only solution I can think of as far as a future calf from her is to get cow colostrum or goat colostrum ahead of time, kept in the freezer. We thaw colostrum by placing the closed container into a pan (or sink) of hot water; depends on the size of the container. If you heat colostrum over about 138 degrees it turns to cheese, so you must be careful. The calf needs colostrum at least for one day, and better yet for three days.

-- Dianne Wood (woodgoat@pacifier.com), March 25, 2002.

How are you keeping the cow milked out? If she develops mastitis she won't be much use. Perhaps that was your vet's thought, sell her before you have to treat her? Mismothering isn't an auto culling offence here but it is on many farms.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), March 25, 2002.

This really depends on why the calf didn't get colostrum, as others have said. Didn't the cow produce any? You can buy it for $9 at the farm store here - not quite as good as hers, but generally works. Did the cow not let the calf nurse at all? This cow will cost you extra time & money if you need to bottle feed all her calves. Was the calf just not nursing? Then the cow might be fine, if in good health.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.

You didn't say how old the calf was when it died. I just had a second calf three year old with a dead calf, pulled by the vet. It was stinky and the vet (usually sees a thousand head of problem pregnancies) it was an infected placenta. Never heard of it before, not in 40 years worth of experience. However I believe he is correct. I would get a second opnion on your situation. Vet said if she cleaned well, a third healthy calf was probable. Never heard of your situation. Best of luck.

-- susan norfolk (suan_norfolk@yahoo.com), March 25, 2002.

Was this her first calf?

-- Scott in IL (Farmerwebb@excite.com), March 25, 2002.

Registered angus or not I'd sell her. Not producing colostrum could be genetically passed on to her calves(bull calves also if they are ever used for breeding). If you want to keep the cow(and not use her calves for breeders) you need to contact a local dairy and get some colostrum from them. Bottle feed her calves for 3 or 4 days then you should be able to let the calf back with it's mama to nurse as long as her regular milk is ok. Frankly with the price cows are bringing at the moment I'd sell her in a heartbeat and buy a good crossbreed.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), March 25, 2002.