COW STOPPED CUDDING?

[bluebell]

ive been treating a suckler cow for last few weeks, not in calf had vet out, said get rid, but he always says that, anyway i thought id have a go, the animal is wanting to live goes out grazing with her herd mates, then brought in in the afternoon been treating with steriods to get the bloat down which worked, have drenched a couple of times with a mixture from vet that did at first encourage appitite and cudding, but what to do now ?

 

[Dave6170]

Molasses is a trick i ve heard to get them going

 

[Blaithin]

What’s wrong with her. Not cudding is a symptom... what does she have?

Could try and get her some cud of another healthy cow or some probiotics to see if that helps. Would really be better to know what the issue is though. Does she just feel like sh!t, is her rumen shutting down, is there a blockage, etc.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I’d honestly get rid...if it goes down the hill and you have to shoot it it’ll cost you £80 to get it removed

 

[Farmer Fin]

He’s given it steroids so can’t get rid for a while now.
Majority of adults that have recurrent bloat and reduced rumen turnover never make it, so the vet was probably correct. Does he think it’s an abscess or a wire, or did she have bad acidosis ?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

What did the vet say was wrong?
Could be vagal indigestion, but that's simple to diagnose, just seeing a beast.
Temperature OK?

 

[dogglercowman1]

Stick your fist in triangle below hip bone and see after 30 seconds if her stomach is turning over..

 

[bluebell]

yes vet diagnosed vagil indigestion, said basically get rid of ? thats all right but if i was in it for just for the money i would have packed it up a long time ago ? the cow is not suffering wants to live, yes its not an economical object but my view is the cost of my time and some drugs, stomach powder is not alot. She does of today with a stomach drench of a yeast based product seems to be cudding and eating , i view this forum for advice, comments, good bad or indiffwerent from anyone who care s to share their experiences both good and bad and hopefully learn somethink?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

I've seen a few cows with vagal indigestion, at first your think it's just "normal bloat" but when you stand behind them the left side looks like an apple, the right side looks like a pear (too normal).

You deflate them, bit of hose down the throat and a bit of kindling to bite on to save your hose; they instantly go back to eating, but in general terms the prognosis is poor, the rumen doesn't really regain normal function and they lose condition even on good grazing. I suppose it's almost like chronic Johnes in some ways, that is they keep feeding but just don't get the goodness from it that they should get.

Sometimes they blow up again if there's infection or abscess causing it, not always. Dehydration and pneumonia often get them, which is unpleasant to see.
My tuppence would be to give her your best shot until she's out of WHP and then send her off, sorry to say.
The cow "is" her rumen (with other less important bits around the outside), but without her healthy fit rumen, she cannot thrive. Fluids, electrolytes, and maybe Calcium boro. can be useful though.

There are various causes of vagal indigestion, it can be nerve damage (hence the name) as the vagal nerve is massive, it can be foreign body related (metal?) or infection. These causes greatly affect outcomes.
A vet who's seen her will probably be much better placed than a silly kiwi who's seen lots of different cows!

 

[som farmer]

we shot a stirk, last year, alternatively, normal, or as wide as long, not bloat. Anyway she was happy enough, but looked silly, waddling behind the rest. Cut her open, her rumen was completely solid, with undigested fodder, and yet somedays, she looked normal ! But she wasn't doing, and had to go, but never seen anything like that before, her rumen, had expanded, as the fodder increased !