Down cow - nerve damage

[buttercup]

Got a cow gone down, last saturday after calving, was able to stand when being lifted on hip hoist. Not able to do this now, ankles just go over and legs become more spayed. Had painkillers and metacam.

Not keen on lfting any more, but when triyng to getting up legs just go back in frog splash position.
So ideas....

 

[AftonShepherd]

Shackles would help with the legs splaying but ankles going over doesn't sound promising

 

[Dave6170]

Had 1 couple of years ago, tried a ton bag slung under her for lifting but nothing worked in the end

 

[czechmate]

Got a cow gone down, last saturday after calving, was able to stand when being lifted on hip hoist. Not able to do this now, ankles just go over and legs become more spayed. Had painkillers and metacam.

Not keen on lfting any more, but when triyng to getting up legs just go back in frog splash position.
So ideas....

is the calf alive?
bloody annoying having a live calf and a down cow

 

[milkloss]

Outcome doesn’t sound good if I’m honest.

 

[som farmer]

we had a similar problem, although we were lifting her x2 day, she was improving, and trying to get up.

Unfortunately, without us knowing, we had had a vegan poking around the buildings, and had been for a year or so. We didn't have a clue about her.

Cow got herself cast, as she kept trying to get up, said lady filmed it, cruelty, animal had no food and water, she had moved from them.

Anyway, RT inspection same day, we were advised to ring them, so did, RSPCA were not interested when they heard the min vets were attending, RT insisted we did some 'courses'.

Cow didn't last long, as soon as we knew, bang. And min, or RT were perfectly happy, RT probably with the extra money they got, for x2 extra visits. In all credit to RT, when approached by a paper, they basically said, no case to answer, and we fully back the farmer, so no newspaper story.

Several things for farmers to think about.

Written procedure for 'sick' animals, that keeps you 'legal'.

you have no idea who is around, 12 months, and we didn't have clue, plus side to that, took her 12 months to find something she could complain about.

If in the same situation, if assured, ring RT, they are better on your side, if its not a real cruelty case, they will back you up.

And finally, just don't keep visibly ill stock about for long, use your written protocol, and keep legal.

You really do not want the hassle, inspections, worry stress, of it all.


Slightly different, we had a cow go down, in the lorry, on the way to abattoir, nothing wrong with her when she left here. Abattoir film cattle unloading, so on tape. They report to animal health as routine.

And we get a min visit, to inspect all our stock, of which they were complimentary, so no problem.

what we do, as stock farmers, is being increasingly monitored, by the zealots, gen public and the regulatory rules.

just be careful.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

We made a frame by a wall for one out of wood , just high enough to stand and take weight , calf could get under and suck , after a few weeks we removed the frame and it walked away , was a first calver so no to heavy mind

 

[SleepyHollow]

Is she in or out? Grip under feet is really important. Had one down for 10 days back in April, gave birth while being down then 4 days later up she got. Drugs, shackles and earth so she can dig her toes in.

 

[Pistonbroke]

Has the vet seen it? We had one years ago and were fighting for her for days. Vet came out and reckoned shed actually fractured her pelvis when she did the splits

 

[buttercup]

Thanks for your ideas, not haven't had the vet, all they do is say well you might get up, or shot her.

 

[BrianV]

We have had similar before & have found transported in a loadall bucket to a grassy area for a few days rest has sometimes helped, one didn't stand for over week but in time she fully recovered,

 

[Davy_g]

Get a vets opinion. Keep metacalm going every 5th day.

Is she eating and bright or distressed?
Can the calf suck or is she a dairy cow?

 

[Ross121]

Steroid injection for nerve damage helps that’s what our vet recommends

 

[In the pit]

Simple from what you posted incially ,get the lorry in and get rid

 

[som farmer]

We made a frame by a wall for one out of wood , just high enough to stand and take weight , calf could get under and suck , after a few weeks we removed the frame and it walked away , was a first calver so no to heavy mind

its not what you do, however sensible, its what the 'public' think of what you do, which is totally different.

l would hate, for anyone to go through, what we had to do. And, RT and min vet, both decided there was nothing wrong.

The gen public, are believers of, Wind in the Willow, Watership Down, and bambi etc. To a lot of people, they relate to stock, as in those books.

 

[L P]

Most important thing is to turn her from one side to the other a few times a day so rumen can work. If its not up in a fortnight then probably won't get up. Never quite got the whole sling it up so it's standing... not going to magically run off if it can't feel its legs. Never seen a human with temporary paralysis posted upright in hospital

 

[som farmer]

Most important thing is to turn her from one side to the other a few times a day so rumen can work. If its not up in a fortnight then probably won't get up. Never quite got the whole sling it up so it's standing... not going to magically run off if it can't feel its legs. Never seen a human with temporary paralysis posted upright in hospital

we wouldn't dare leave a cow down for 2 weeks, following on from our experience, 1 week, is the absolute max, unless she can get up, on her own, fairly easily.

Several cows would have gone on, that could be classed as 'might, or might not' respond.

just remember, its not what you/we know, its what a member of the public/vegan/veggie see, and assume to be cruel.

We were very very lucky, RT backed us up, as did the min vet.

never ever want to go through that again, and checking the news papers, on line, to see if it had got on there. And we were completely exonerated.

 

[SleepyHollow]

No vet yet!! Call them get some drugs in her vein. You will be surprised when difference it might make.

 

[bluebell]

ive got a cow "harness", that you can leave on, then you can lift her 3- 4 times a day, you can even lift the animal out and up on to a bit of grass, works well

 

[L P]

we wouldn't dare leave a cow down for 2 weeks, following on from our experience, 1 week, is the absolute max, unless she can get up, on her own, fairly easily.

Several cows would have gone on, that could be classed as 'might, or might not' respond.

just remember, its not what you/we know, its what a member of the public/vegan/veggie see, and assume to be cruel.

We were very very lucky, RT backed us up, as did the min vet.

never ever want to go through that again, and checking the news papers, on line, to see if it had got on there. And we were completely exonerated.

I disagree, it has nothing to do with some nosy do gooder. If you are tending to an otherwise healthy cow and giving it the correct attention (bed rest essentially in this circumstance), feeding, watering and bedding it adequately then that is perfectly legitimate and nothing to do with cruelty or some vegan prats opinion. Pandering to that is exactly what they want