Heifer with calf has dried up after 6 weeks why?

[Chasingmytail]

All seemed well - moving cows every few days no issues - a few days ago found calf malnourished and weak in corner of field. Called vet yesterday he wasnt overly concerned as no temp and looked ok. He thought illness but only took fecal sample just in case. Anyway brought both in initially thought cow had no milk perhaps another calf stealing it however this evening the cow is still dry.

Any thoughts on this? Havent come across this before. She looks really well too - good long grass and minerals available. Have we missed anything?

 

[borderterribles]

What breed?

 

[Chasingmytail]

AA x shorthorn

 

[Old Boar]

Have you checked the cows teats - could they have got sore from something or other, so she kicked the calf off, calf not sucking so milk dries off? Small biting flies can really make a sore teat, and the calf then gets kicked off that one and drinks from another, and so it goes on.

 

[borderterribles]

Maybe just not a milker. They aren't all!

 

[kill]

Has her had a sun burnt udder as if that happens I have seen them reject their own calf's and would quickly dry off as it's just too painful to let calf suckle.

 

[kill]

Maybe just not a milker. They aren't all!

And sometimes they are asking for a bullet!!!!!!

 

[borderterribles]

And sometimes they are asking for a bullet!!!!!!

Yes, quite.
A few years ago I calved a Jersey heifer who never really got going, and dried herself off as soon as she was served again, as she held in calf first time. When she calved again , she was sold in a bunch of fresh calvers . I told the buyer that she hadn't milked well as a heifer, but he had her anyway.
I saw last week that she's just classified VG88, as a fifth calver, so she's clearly upped her game since calving for the first time!

 

[Chasingmytail]

Have you checked the cows teats - could they have got sore from something or other, so she kicked the calf off, calf not sucking so milk dries off? Small biting flies can really make a sore teat, and the calf then gets kicked off that one and drinks from another, and so it goes on.

I had a good look myself tonight and udder is very small, teats look ok, no sign of damage. Looks like it hasnt let down??? Can I assume then that calf has been stealing milk? Its made a small recovery tonight but very skinny so can only assume it hasnt been feed in a week or so??? Can the vet in morning just to check. Been stomach tubing it lambs milk but not ideal. Whats the best action on this? I'll have to get calf milk just wondering best way to boost his system? I usually have raw milk but my Jersey is dry at mo. Thinking milk probiotics into the milk?

 

[Princess Pooper]

Main immediate priority will be making sure it's not dehydrated. Way too late for any colostrum benefits now. Can't you just get a bag of calf powder or beg a quarter / half bag from a dairy farmer? I would get it onto a bottle if it will suck the teat, rather than stomach tube as repeated tubing likely to damage oesophagus and also not possible to judge its appetite. Don't forget if the cow has dried up you can wean the calf a lot earlier than you would normally to save yourself a load of work, as long as calf is eating enough solids - can you creep feed it to get rumen development faster?

 

[multi power]

If it will suckle a teat just get it on powered milk and it will be fine

 

[Chasingmytail]

Thanks got calf milk earlier, plan to put on bottle tonight just hope its got the strength to want to suck. I have some lucerne pellets so get it building itself up.

 

[Alicecow]

They can be stubborn at that age (& at much younger than that! ) but if it's got any sense at all it will comply in the end, may take a day or 2 though. Don't let it have access to water while you are trying or it may fill up on that instead.

 

[Spartacus]

Have you taken the calf away from its dam to make sure it isnt secretly sucking the little that is there? Any photos of it?

 

[Chasingmytail]

sadly, after loads of TLC the calf passed away tonight. Quite a shock as it was walking around but weak and couldnt get it to suck at all. We had to stomach feed but it just wasnt right even though its head of bright. Assume serious issues had happened in the gut from lack of food. The vet had jabbed her but obv something wasnt right. Awaiting to hear if any issue shown in sample.

 

[Alicecow]

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately you can't win them all. Like you said, the calf had lots of TLC so you know that you did your best, just have to put this one down to experience.