Dead Calf

HillLuing

Member
Had a calf born here 4 days ago now, it was calved un-assissted and was up feeding quicjly from tge mother!
Heifer calf aswell..

Yet from its very first dung passing its dung has been fairly thick, gloopy and solid looking and black yet it had been feeding fine from the cow, was always pretty full and not sunken as if she was dehydrated!

Came into the shed this morning and she is lying dead at the back of the pen with her neck folded over like she was in a sleeping position!

Anyone any thoughts as to what this could be or if taking to Vet for a PM would be useful???
Thanks

Edit:Meant to say its dung gas always been black since its first passing too
 
Last edited:

HillLuing

Member
Who knows, there’s plenty of babies unfortunately die every day, you can never tell what’s going on inside them
Just had cow in the crush and she does have mastitis in her bag ans got a slight temperature!

Could the calf show those symptoms from that ????
It was suckling all 4 quarters fine but she does have greyish /bloody stuff in all her quarters!
 
Location
East Mids
Black dung is usually a bleed (in an older animal anyway), I'm told that the closer to the start of the digestive tract it is, the more black it is.

A PM may let you know what happened, but don't depend on it being conclusive, as they often aren't.

Probably just an unfortunate one off.
But in this case it may be the blood from the cow not the calf. Sounds like it was sucking but not getting any decent nutrition, full of bugs and possibly v poor quality colostrum.
 

HillLuing

Member
That is the colour of the milk from the cow,her bag is pretty soft and not overly hot!
There is no clumps in the milk either and it doesnt smell
1523797608063.jpg
 

HillLuing

Member
Front one which calve would of been on sooking is running white milk!

Blood is probably jjst from the cow and maybe it has been layn on etc and just so happens to be that one!
1523798105741.jpg
 

HillLuing

Member
Had unexpected twins during the night so instead of PM calf we skinned it to twin on!

On its side just behind rib and where hip meets this was the colour of the skin and the body!

Is this bruising probably from a kick or that???
20180416_173301.jpg
 

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