Learn something every day at this job!!

[Sir loin]

Had a downer cow today out in the field calved 3 months so went in with calcium under skin. No improvement, so rang vet she came and told me it was a 'happy downer' a phrase I had not heard before( she looked bright was trying to get up but couldn't ) A Happy downer is short of phosphorus and within minutes she was up . I wonder how many more happy downers I have had that have not got up.

 

[GTB]

Never heard of that before. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jamesy]

Yip had phosphorus deficiency before, as you say they are usually happy about it - just no power in back legs! Not had a case for a lot of years now

 

[chaffcutter]

Used to frequently get phosphorus deficiency in high yielders, I think it was a dietary deficiency in our dry cow ration which we corrected iirc

(Been out of cows for 25 years !)

 

[milkloss]

Tend to walk on their knuckles too. Had plenty in the past with milkers, if cal or mag doesn't do it then always in with the phos but don't waste your time on foston if she's down:.

 

[DevonTaff]

Place I did relief years ago used to give phoston to pretty much anything that needed calcium

 

[milkloss]

It's good for long term and preventative but not acute downers I don't think.