Calf with a long tongue

[livestock 1]

We had a calf born last Saturday with a very long tongue. It was out about 10 inches or so. We gave him anti inflammatory three days the vet looked at him a couple of times he’s had the usual protocol steroid injection Selinium and vitamin e. The tongue has gone down a fair bit still looks too long especially when he sucks the bottle. He can’t suck the cow can’t get enough suction up he knows where the milk is gets the cows teats in his mouth but not getting anything out. He’s had iodide I’m just wondering if there’s anything we are missing, we’ve had them before and they have come right I thought he would have come round by now seems like progress has stopped. Tongue is out a few inches now. Just wondered if other people had come across this and what they do for it?

 

[mwj]

Did you check closely for a cleft palate?

 

[jendan]

We had a calf born last Saturday with a very long tongue. It was out about 10 inches or so. We gave him anti inflammatory three days the vet looked at him a couple of times he’s had the usual protocol steroid injection Selinium and vitamin e. The tongue has gone down a fair bit still looks too long especially when he sucks the bottle. He can’t suck the cow can’t get enough suction up he knows where the milk is gets the cows teats in his mouth but not getting anything out. He’s had iodide I’m just wondering if there’s anything we are missing, we’ve had them before and they have come right I thought he would have come round by now seems like progress has stopped. Tongue is out a few inches now. Just wondered if other people had come across this and what they do for it?

Ive had 2 or 3 over the years that were undershot and couldnt retract their tongue properly.They could suck their mother but never did right and usually died around 4 to 6 months old.

 

[livestock 1]

Yes he’s not undershot or cleft pallet everything looks right enough the only noticeable thing is the tongue. We had one last spring like this he eventually came right. Some say it’s double muscle coming through in the tongue

 

[livestock 1]

This morning spent a bit of time trying to lean him to suck the cow he does latch onto the tit but doesn’t get anything out. He latches on and off the tits on his own when we aren’t on with him he should do it eventually

 

[Whitepeak]

Look up Betterbread Beef (Joe Crust) on Facebook/Instagram. He's had a couple born like that this year, so might be able to help.

 

[harperfarmer]

Basically just takes time. I've had several heavily muscled calves with tongues like that and you almost have to cup their tongue around the teat so help them gain suction. I've had several that clicked within a few days, but also had one that I never thought would get it but eventually did after 2 weeks or so. A right pain in the arse. They seem to learn that they have to have their tongues up and clamped flat to the base of the bag rather than just around the teat if that makes sense. The one that took two weeks was a pain because he was obviously hungry and really trying but it just took a while to get him to learn.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Ive had 2 or 3 over the years that were undershot and couldnt retract their tongue properly.They could suck their mother but never did right and usually died around 4 to 6 months old.

Well that’s cheered him up no end

 

[livestock 1]

Basically just takes time. I've had several heavily muscled calves with tongues like that and you almost have to cup their tongue around the teat so help them gain suction. I've had several that clicked within a few days, but also had one that I never thought would get it but eventually did after 2 weeks or so. A right pain in the arse. They seem to learn that they have to have their tongues up and clamped flat to the base of the bag rather than just around the teat if that makes sense. The one that took two weeks was a pain because he was obviously hungry and really trying but it just took a while to get him to learn.

That’s what I’ve been doing cupping my hand around the tongue so it’s hugging the teat instead of hanging out the side. The noticeable difference is that when he’s sucking the tongue is out 5/6 inches but has a curl in the end basically doubled up which isn’t helping
I’m confident we will get him in gear we usually do with such like

 

[livestock 1]

Look up Betterbread Beef (Joe Crust) on Facebook/Instagram. He's had a couple born like that this year, so might be able to help.

Thanks I will have a look

 

[livestock 1]

We are used to some non suckers we always get them going
This is a bit more frustrating because he’s in at the job but not managing

 

[Werzle]

He will grow to match his tongue in a week or two, i had one that would chew the sides of his tongue when sucking so would let go in pain. When your tired from being up calving /lambing etc it can be very trying with these type of problems.

 

[livestock 1]

He will grow to match his tongue in a week or two, i had one that would chew the sides of his tongue when sucking so would let go in pain. When your tired from being up calving /lambing etc it can be very trying with these type of problems.

Yes you are right. Had a few similar last lambing time they seem to take up too much of the day when there’s so much other stuff to attend to

 

[M-J-G]

Myostatin (I cannot recall which gene) is usually the cause, I think it has to be a double copy, but I'm not certain.
I used to get it when I used a fairly well shaped AA onto BB× cows

A guy I know quite well who chases the fatstock job gets quite a few.
He told me his vet stitches the side of their mouth so that it can seal around the teat.

 

[livestock 1]

Myostatin (I cannot recall which gene) is usually the cause, I think it has to be a double copy, but I'm not certain.
I used to get it when I used a fairly well shaped AA onto BB× cows

A guy I know quite well who chases the fatstock job gets quite a few.
He told me his vet stitches the side of their mouth do that can seal around the teat.

This calf is sired by a double F94L mycostatin limmy which has got one calf last year with a similar tongue. The calf is very muscly now so you may be on the money with this. The dam is a pure lim from a Scottish breeder

 

[M-J-G]

This calf is sired by a double F94L mycostatin limmy which has got one calf last year with a similar tongue. The calf is very muscly now so you may be on the money with this. The dam is a pure lim from a Scottish breeder

I'm not sure if F94L is a problem when it comes to tongues