Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2010 18:10:25 GMT -5
Hi everybody, this isn't much of a formal introduction! I've been reading and lurking here for a long time, about a year, but had to come out of lurkdom today with some questions and concerns.
Our 8 year old Brown Swiss calved Sunday morning (three days ago) and still hasn't slipped her afterbirth. She had exactly what I wanted, a beautiful little Brown Swiss/Jersey heifer. According to the AI dates the calf (Buttercup) wasn't due until the 15th so possibly a little early but she is strong and bright. Now my problem is that without the placenta passing yet the cow (Agnes) is distracted with that and doesn't seem to be in her milk despite having a huge bag. She lets the calf nurse and fusses over her but doesn't seem to let down (at least not when we're out there) (she is a crabby cow)... the calf is a strong nurser and butts and tries hard but she just switches from tit to tit looking for a meal. She's flanked in a little, not the worst ever, but I know she's not getting enough. She seems like she's losing interest but this morning wouldn't take the bottle either. We milked out a quart of pure colostrum after 24 hours and made sure the calf got it and she took the bottle ok for that. I see the calf looking at her belly a lot, straining to poo and not getting results, and today I see her curling her upper lip and panting sometimes which IME means pain.
My concerns-what to give her for what I assume is constipation? She doesn't seem dehydrated yet but it can't be too far off. I don't know if I can get her to drink a lot of water-can I dilute milk replacer with water with maybe a spoonful of oil? I read either way on the oil. I wish I had electrolyte and I don't-can't find the bag I had on hand which is really helpful. I have a bag of colostrum replacer here.
Also how can I be sure she's getting enough to eat before she falls behind the curve? All I know for sure she has gotten in her belly is the quart of colostrum we milked out. She sucks and sucks but when we take a draw on the tit it's not very full... We have milk replacer and will give her a bottle tonight if she'll take it but I don't want the dang cow to dry up while she's trying to pass her afterbirth and we're bottle feeding the calf! She's bright and active when she's up but sleeps all day long.
I've called the vet and they're a little blase about it all. Huge production cattle ranches are all around and they don't understand this is my heifer of all heifers that must live at all costs! lol They say give her 5 days to pass the afterbirth and not much at all about the calf but that seems a lot time to peddle this poor little calf along...
Obligatory cuteness pictures-I love this heifer! With her mama and my namesake, Ol' Agnes.
Our 8 year old Brown Swiss calved Sunday morning (three days ago) and still hasn't slipped her afterbirth. She had exactly what I wanted, a beautiful little Brown Swiss/Jersey heifer. According to the AI dates the calf (Buttercup) wasn't due until the 15th so possibly a little early but she is strong and bright. Now my problem is that without the placenta passing yet the cow (Agnes) is distracted with that and doesn't seem to be in her milk despite having a huge bag. She lets the calf nurse and fusses over her but doesn't seem to let down (at least not when we're out there) (she is a crabby cow)... the calf is a strong nurser and butts and tries hard but she just switches from tit to tit looking for a meal. She's flanked in a little, not the worst ever, but I know she's not getting enough. She seems like she's losing interest but this morning wouldn't take the bottle either. We milked out a quart of pure colostrum after 24 hours and made sure the calf got it and she took the bottle ok for that. I see the calf looking at her belly a lot, straining to poo and not getting results, and today I see her curling her upper lip and panting sometimes which IME means pain.
My concerns-what to give her for what I assume is constipation? She doesn't seem dehydrated yet but it can't be too far off. I don't know if I can get her to drink a lot of water-can I dilute milk replacer with water with maybe a spoonful of oil? I read either way on the oil. I wish I had electrolyte and I don't-can't find the bag I had on hand which is really helpful. I have a bag of colostrum replacer here.
Also how can I be sure she's getting enough to eat before she falls behind the curve? All I know for sure she has gotten in her belly is the quart of colostrum we milked out. She sucks and sucks but when we take a draw on the tit it's not very full... We have milk replacer and will give her a bottle tonight if she'll take it but I don't want the dang cow to dry up while she's trying to pass her afterbirth and we're bottle feeding the calf! She's bright and active when she's up but sleeps all day long.
I've called the vet and they're a little blase about it all. Huge production cattle ranches are all around and they don't understand this is my heifer of all heifers that must live at all costs! lol They say give her 5 days to pass the afterbirth and not much at all about the calf but that seems a lot time to peddle this poor little calf along...
Obligatory cuteness pictures-I love this heifer! With her mama and my namesake, Ol' Agnes.