Post by njsparks on Oct 11, 2010 21:10:32 GMT -5
Our little bull calf Lenny was born at the beginning of a wicked rain storm that lasted for three days. We tried to keep dry bedding for him, but he kept following mom into the rain. Despite that, he seemed to be doing great... then at 6 days old we noticed the little bull calf panting during the day, but he was born with a heavy coat and it was in the 90's that day... by the evening he was loosing body heat and running a temp. We brought him inside and wrapped him in warm blankets and after 5 hours of warming and 10 cc of Penicillin Procain G he was up on his feet nursing off mom again. This was about two a.m. - at six a.m. he was nursing again and walking around - all seemed well. I sat down to milk Cookie and in that time he laid down in front of mom after getting his second dose of antibiotic.. by the time I was done milking he was cold again and unable to stand... we put him in the sun and got him up once more, but he refused to nurse... ended up that he passed away a few hours later - when he died a bunch of liquid came out of his mouth... clear yellow liquid. Not sure where it was but guessing it was in his lungs?
Anyway... after all that... Cookie cow is GRIEVING badly! She's screaming for him. A guttural scream that I've never heard come from her before. This is the first calf we've ever lost. What do I do for mom? She wouldn't let me milk her tonight... just stomping and screaming. Her udder wasn't super full so I didn't force the issue by putting her in a chute. Have any of you had a grieving cow before? How long do they grieve? Her loss is breaking my heart. Just looking for some advice. I gave her a good brushing tonight and that soothed her until I was done.. now she's just screaming again...
Thanks so much for the advice.
Anyway... after all that... Cookie cow is GRIEVING badly! She's screaming for him. A guttural scream that I've never heard come from her before. This is the first calf we've ever lost. What do I do for mom? She wouldn't let me milk her tonight... just stomping and screaming. Her udder wasn't super full so I didn't force the issue by putting her in a chute. Have any of you had a grieving cow before? How long do they grieve? Her loss is breaking my heart. Just looking for some advice. I gave her a good brushing tonight and that soothed her until I was done.. now she's just screaming again...
Thanks so much for the advice.