Post by dmbenson on Mar 31, 2015 15:55:36 GMT -5
I picked up a less than day old bull calf from a really high quality jersey dairy this afternoon. I'm looking to bounce my ideas and pick your brains on how to proceed with him.......
Back story: Cow is older (this will be her last calf) and calf was 2 weeks late. Larger than the calves I normally get from this dairy - probably 70-80 pounds. Owner went out this morning and 1 hoof and head was presented - 2nd leg back. He couldn't get the calf back in to pull the other leg forward, so calf was born in this position. Owner actually though the calf was dead, but as soon as it was out, it began breathing on it's own. Calf received (via bottle) colostrum from dairy, and probiotic/day 1 bolus immediately, and I gave him 2 pints of colostrum when I got him home (will give 2 more tonight. He is very alert, quite active for not being able to stand, and has an excellent suck reflex (once we got past the "You want to put WHAT in my mouth?" issues ).
He is alert and active, however - both front legs are severely contracted and he has not managed to stand yet - back legs seem to be a bit weak - or perhaps it's still just that newborn uncoordination since he hasn't actually 'stood' on his own yet. If I lift him, support his hips between my knees and support his front with a hand on his brisket, he will stand for a moment or two however. His front legs will 'mostly' straighten out manually, and will 'mostly' stay straight until he moves his legs, at which point they curl back up (think the position of a cow's legs when she's laying there cudding). His eyes are also a bit bloodshot, but I attribute that to being stuck in the birth canal and/or being pulled - sight doesn't appear to be impaired and I'm not concerned with that.
My inclination is to feed him 2 pints every 3-4 hours, and wait and see if he is able to rise by tomorrow - even if only to his front knees - then deal with the tendons. I do have Bo-Se, but I'm reluctant to begin shoving 'meds' in him since he's a) only about 7 hours old (by now), b) it was a difficult and protracted birth, and c) his mother is 'elderly', which from my reading can contribute to a lack of vigor in a calf.
Does this sound right, or am I missing something that I should/could be doing sooner?
Back story: Cow is older (this will be her last calf) and calf was 2 weeks late. Larger than the calves I normally get from this dairy - probably 70-80 pounds. Owner went out this morning and 1 hoof and head was presented - 2nd leg back. He couldn't get the calf back in to pull the other leg forward, so calf was born in this position. Owner actually though the calf was dead, but as soon as it was out, it began breathing on it's own. Calf received (via bottle) colostrum from dairy, and probiotic/day 1 bolus immediately, and I gave him 2 pints of colostrum when I got him home (will give 2 more tonight. He is very alert, quite active for not being able to stand, and has an excellent suck reflex (once we got past the "You want to put WHAT in my mouth?" issues ).
He is alert and active, however - both front legs are severely contracted and he has not managed to stand yet - back legs seem to be a bit weak - or perhaps it's still just that newborn uncoordination since he hasn't actually 'stood' on his own yet. If I lift him, support his hips between my knees and support his front with a hand on his brisket, he will stand for a moment or two however. His front legs will 'mostly' straighten out manually, and will 'mostly' stay straight until he moves his legs, at which point they curl back up (think the position of a cow's legs when she's laying there cudding). His eyes are also a bit bloodshot, but I attribute that to being stuck in the birth canal and/or being pulled - sight doesn't appear to be impaired and I'm not concerned with that.
My inclination is to feed him 2 pints every 3-4 hours, and wait and see if he is able to rise by tomorrow - even if only to his front knees - then deal with the tendons. I do have Bo-Se, but I'm reluctant to begin shoving 'meds' in him since he's a) only about 7 hours old (by now), b) it was a difficult and protracted birth, and c) his mother is 'elderly', which from my reading can contribute to a lack of vigor in a calf.
Does this sound right, or am I missing something that I should/could be doing sooner?