Post by rpelliottjr on May 24, 2011 20:53:24 GMT -5
It has been a very somber and traumatic week here at the farm. I had three mini jerseys - all heifers. One was born on the farm and was a Gamboge baby. Sunday all was well and we gave them their afternoon meal. Monday morning we awoke to find Mom and her 11 month old calf dead. They hadn't been sick, the day before they came running when we walked out to the field... it was a complete and utter shock.
More stunning it was Mom (Daisy) and her calf that were dead and the other heifer was fine. We have run through dozens of scenarios but nothing makes sense. Why the two that were related and not the other? How could something genetic affect a Mom who was three and a calf that was 11 mos. and cause their death simultaneously? Was the alfalfa tainted? How come the one heifer had no issues?
The cows were taken to the local diagnostic lab to try and understand. Initial tests were inconclusive and there was nothing obvious to indicate cause. They are now doing a bunch of cellular (blah blah blah) tests and should have an answer in another week or so.
I don't know. I go between pissed and just sad. It took quite a while to find my mini - Mom- was the first one I bought and I spent months looking and ultimately traveled to Florida and brought her back in a dog crate. She acted just like a good dog. Her babies entrance into the world saw us spend a fortune to keep her alive due to dehydration and other issues.
It was all for naught. Just when I thought we were going to be able to actually reach our goal of establishing a nice herd in a few years, we are back to square one. Emotionally and financially it is simply devastating; even the one heifer we have remaining has been depressed all week as she lost her best buddy and her surrogate mom.
We won't give up though. My wife has been pushing for me to find us several more mini's to get us over the grieving process... but nothing will replace Daisy.
More stunning it was Mom (Daisy) and her calf that were dead and the other heifer was fine. We have run through dozens of scenarios but nothing makes sense. Why the two that were related and not the other? How could something genetic affect a Mom who was three and a calf that was 11 mos. and cause their death simultaneously? Was the alfalfa tainted? How come the one heifer had no issues?
The cows were taken to the local diagnostic lab to try and understand. Initial tests were inconclusive and there was nothing obvious to indicate cause. They are now doing a bunch of cellular (blah blah blah) tests and should have an answer in another week or so.
I don't know. I go between pissed and just sad. It took quite a while to find my mini - Mom- was the first one I bought and I spent months looking and ultimately traveled to Florida and brought her back in a dog crate. She acted just like a good dog. Her babies entrance into the world saw us spend a fortune to keep her alive due to dehydration and other issues.
It was all for naught. Just when I thought we were going to be able to actually reach our goal of establishing a nice herd in a few years, we are back to square one. Emotionally and financially it is simply devastating; even the one heifer we have remaining has been depressed all week as she lost her best buddy and her surrogate mom.
We won't give up though. My wife has been pushing for me to find us several more mini's to get us over the grieving process... but nothing will replace Daisy.