Post by jsboyd on Nov 18, 2014 23:42:37 GMT -5
I haven't been able to get on the forum in days. I am still shocked over the loss of our cow Ruby several days ago and haven't wanted to post about it. It was obviously caused by bloat, as dh found her dead and hugely swollen with foamy bubbles coming from her mouth early one morning. I was pretty well researched on bloat and keep an eye out for that routinely.
I'll sum up the events the day before we found her dead so that any of you can give guidance as to what we could've done to prevent so we'll know next time. We gave a 50 lb. Bermuda hay bale that morning, gave approx. 5 lbs. usual grain at milking. That afternoon around 5 p.m. we put out a square bale of alfalfa hay (for 3 adult cows and two 5 mo. bull calves). That was pretty much our common routine. Some days, however, we don't give alfalfa and usually it's not dark at that time of day that we do feed it. Knowing that alfalfa has bloat potential, the only other thing we considered that could've contributed to the death is that night the temps turned cool and it was wet and damp. But, from reading Joann's book and on the internet, bloat is usually on cool spring mornings where cow is let out to graze rich alfalfa.
In fact, we have talked to several cow owners around here and not ONE has had a cow die from bloat. what is the deal? People dealing with hundreds, maybe thousands of cows, and not one case of bloat. One guy said we may have given too much alfalfa, that he only gives his horse 1/2 bale of alfalfa. I told him the bale was for 3 adult cows and they'd had it many times before... It's super upsetting not only to lose our "working pet" but the investment that is now totally just gone.
If it is that dangerous to feed alfalfa hay, then why take the chance? I have a barn full.
Anyway, just wanted to finally share and I'll take whatever education I can from this experience, so please share if you have gone through this or if you can give guidance.
Thanks,
Jennifer
I'll sum up the events the day before we found her dead so that any of you can give guidance as to what we could've done to prevent so we'll know next time. We gave a 50 lb. Bermuda hay bale that morning, gave approx. 5 lbs. usual grain at milking. That afternoon around 5 p.m. we put out a square bale of alfalfa hay (for 3 adult cows and two 5 mo. bull calves). That was pretty much our common routine. Some days, however, we don't give alfalfa and usually it's not dark at that time of day that we do feed it. Knowing that alfalfa has bloat potential, the only other thing we considered that could've contributed to the death is that night the temps turned cool and it was wet and damp. But, from reading Joann's book and on the internet, bloat is usually on cool spring mornings where cow is let out to graze rich alfalfa.
In fact, we have talked to several cow owners around here and not ONE has had a cow die from bloat. what is the deal? People dealing with hundreds, maybe thousands of cows, and not one case of bloat. One guy said we may have given too much alfalfa, that he only gives his horse 1/2 bale of alfalfa. I told him the bale was for 3 adult cows and they'd had it many times before... It's super upsetting not only to lose our "working pet" but the investment that is now totally just gone.
If it is that dangerous to feed alfalfa hay, then why take the chance? I have a barn full.
Anyway, just wanted to finally share and I'll take whatever education I can from this experience, so please share if you have gone through this or if you can give guidance.
Thanks,
Jennifer