Post by mongrel on Jan 1, 2010 21:41:04 GMT -5
Hey, all--
Okay, I know how many threads there are about this topic, and I've read most of them and been to the Tree of Knowledge (which is a great idea--the index will make it even better). BUT, the more I read, the less sure I am about where to go from here! Here's what I've got, and I'm sorry this is so long, but I want to try to include every possible clue that might help someone shed some light on my scours mystery :
What am I dealing with? My friend with the dairy says he suspects coccidiosis, which makes perfects sense considering I was dumb enough to house them with chickens. But why are the other two right as rain and so strong? Why are their poops firming up? Why don't I seed any blood in anyones poop (and I can tell you, I've looked)
What would YOU do at this point? Should I keep up the probiotics and molasses and just see what happens? Should I go out and get some Corid (amprolium) and treat them all? Should I feed Melville LESS and give him a midday feeding of water and electrolyes?
Help...
thanks, all
Okay, I know how many threads there are about this topic, and I've read most of them and been to the Tree of Knowledge (which is a great idea--the index will make it even better). BUT, the more I read, the less sure I am about where to go from here! Here's what I've got, and I'm sorry this is so long, but I want to try to include every possible clue that might help someone shed some light on my scours mystery :
- Three calves, all six weeks old--one Jersey heifer, two bull calves.
- They all came from an organic dairy two weeks ago.
- None of the calves knew anything about hay or calf starter grain--just 2 quarts milk replacer twice a day, though they were almost certainly getting real milk before I got them.
- They were transported five hours in a crate that was sealed all around with cardboard on a night where the temperature dropped below zero.
- They were housed for the first few days in an empty stall in the chicken coop with a heat lamp.
- ALL three had runny poop for the first week or so.
- They all kind of started eating some hay and grain.
- The bull calf (Melville) who seemed strongest got weaker.
- Moved them into the kitchen of the house I'm supposed to be restoring and kept them under a heat lamp.
- A dairy farmer friend gave Melville some Deliver (electrolytes with psyllium powder) and a shot of (I think) some B vitamins.
- The heifer (Marilyn) and the other bull (Hawthorne) have really put on some weight and their poops have firmed up. They jump. They kick. They do their little calf dances.
- I started Melville on electolytes and a three-day course of injectable oxytetracycline five days ago.
- By now, all calves are eating hay and grain and know what (warm) water is.
- Melville didn't really seem to improve that much for the three days of medication--he was still sluggish, droopy ears, shaky, not much appetite--I feel that way on antibiotics, so I just kind of took a "wait and see" approach.
- Two days ago I started all cows on two tablespoons of yogurt and two tablespoons of molasses in their milk replacer.
- Melvin now kicks, he dances, he finishes his milk replacer before the other two and tries to bang down the fence to get more. He chows down on grain.
- HOWEVER, his poop is as squirty and greenish/browish/yellowish and foul as ever.
What am I dealing with? My friend with the dairy says he suspects coccidiosis, which makes perfects sense considering I was dumb enough to house them with chickens. But why are the other two right as rain and so strong? Why are their poops firming up? Why don't I seed any blood in anyones poop (and I can tell you, I've looked)
What would YOU do at this point? Should I keep up the probiotics and molasses and just see what happens? Should I go out and get some Corid (amprolium) and treat them all? Should I feed Melville LESS and give him a midday feeding of water and electrolyes?
Help...
thanks, all