Post by finallyfarming on Jun 24, 2020 16:37:23 GMT -5
My jersey just delivered a calf with hydrocephalus and basically no lower jaw. Google is not being my friend in trying to discover more about this so I though I would ask the brilliant people on this site. We had to put the calf down of course, it was very sad as she was mooing and trying to get up. So not Neuropathic hydrocephalus. (the kind where there isn't any brain matter) The calf was three weeks early and it was a strange birth all around. Peaches was laying down in the pasture this morning with all the other cows standing around her. An "Oh No" kinda moment. She was laying in a lake of mucus and when I got her up I could tell the baby had dropped, along with her whole belly. So exciting, calf coming today, I thought! Her ligaments were soft, tons of mucus, cow not eating and restless. So I got her into the barn and figured it would be today even if her udder was not full. I was doing chores around the barn, keeping an eye on her,when I noticed a hoof out, but no labor signs and the cow wasn't acting like she was even giving birth. Then we had the rodeo of putting Peaches in the sanction just to get a halter on her, then into the birthing stall and tying her up. None of this went easy and the hoof disappeared in the fiasco. I called a neighbor for help and gloved up. Found the foot, upside down, went in farther and found the tail, hip and the other leg behind and under the pelvis. I have never been inside a cow before and was amazed how easy it was to figure out the parts. I pushed the calf back in and got the leg in the birth canal. The neighbor and my DD each took a leg, using dry towels for grip and started pulling and I worked the huge head out. There were no contractions happening at all. Very strange all around and I wish that calf had been born dead. Peaches did have one contraction after the birth and one before I went in. But that is all and now I am wondering if she will retain the placenta. How long before I call the vet? Is there something I can give her to start the process of cleaning out after this strange birth?