Young Suckler Cow Down After A Hard Calving

[wr.]

My longest cow down was 28 days and she started getting up on her own during the night which we caught on the calving camera. We were lifting her twice daily with a proper sling. The haunch lifters are good for a couple of times but are hard on the hips for any more than that. If the weather is good, she'll be better off in a level field where her feet won't slip. Failing that, keep her in a shed where there is a firm bed of muck and straw.
Calcium seems to give them a boost of "get up and go."

 

[nails]

Thats the thing she is motivated as hell to get up. God knows how many times a day she tries.

To be honest, as a stockman as long as she is healthy otherwise i couldnt give up on her! Pity it wasnt a month later in the year and she could be lifted outside.

20 days - i had said to myself i would try for 3 weeks if i had to!

I would try to get her outside. If she keeps trying and slipping and falling on hard floor it won,t help . I am un decided about Hip lifters . I have had cows down a fortnight and get up without any lifting ,just rolling as much as possible but we did put them outside If she is bright and eating , no harm in keeping going

 

[C.J]

We had one which took 3 weeks - calf was 76kg

 

[Ewe2]

A chap who keeps 500 suckers once told me that as long as they are righting themselves and on a good bed of straw/muck leave them alone, lifting them every day causes more harm than good. I tried it on the last cow we had down and it worked. She got up herself after a fortnight.

 

[RushesToo]

We had one which took 3 weeks - calf was 76kg

Thats best part of 12 stone in old money. Carry that for a week or two and you would realise that she was just having a rest.

 

[Werzle]

I would try to get her outside. If she keeps trying and slipping and falling on hard floor it won,t help . I am un decided about Hip lifters . I have had cows down a fortnight and get up without any lifting ,just rolling as much as possible but we did put them outside If she is bright and eating , no harm in keeping going

Hip lifters are a god send for one man bands, use to take four of us using a sheet and frame or three with a blow up contraption

 

[Werzle]

A chap who keeps 500 suckers once told me that as long as they are righting themselves and on a good bed of straw/muck leave them alone, lifting them every day causes more harm than good. I tried it on the last cow we had down and it worked. She got up herself after a fortnight.

Nice to lift them up to strip out or let calf suck if nothing else

 

[sheep&cows&stuff]

Update - day 8 i lifted her outside (walked her slowly with hip lifters). Let her stand with the help of the loader for an hour and i milked her out. Took the loader away and she stumbled about but refused to fall. An hour later she was at the far end of the field grazing. 5 hours later she was still going. I was apprehesive as to wether she could rise again after lying (feet still tied). Watched her carefully...7 hours after she stood on her own she lay down and got up again herself when i called her.

Seems to be a success story this time although she is kicking at the calf when she tries to suck so i am going to have to put in a few days work there.

Never seen a stronger spirited animal - with every new step the leg became stronger and now you would have a job catching her!

 

[M-J-G]

Update - day 8 i lifted her outside (walked her slowly with hip lifters). Let her stand with the help of the loader for an hour and i milked her out. Took the loader away and she stumbled about but refused to fall. An hour later she was at the far end of the field grazing. 5 hours later she was still going. I was apprehesive as to wether she could rise again after lying (feet still tied). Watched her carefully...7 hours after she stood on her own she lay down and got up again herself when i called her.

Seems to be a success story this time although she is kicking at the calf when she tries to suck so i am going to have to put in a few days work there.

Never seen a stronger spirited animal - with every new step the leg became stronger and now you would have a job catching her!

Well done!
I think they stand for so long at the start because they are afraid if they lay down they won't be able to get up again.

 

[CollCrofter]

Update - day 8 i lifted her outside (walked her slowly with hip lifters). Let her stand with the help of the loader for an hour and i milked her out. Took the loader away and she stumbled about but refused to fall. An hour later she was at the far end of the field grazing. 5 hours later she was still going. I was apprehesive as to wether she could rise again after lying (feet still tied). Watched her carefully...7 hours after she stood on her own she lay down and got up again herself when i called her.

Seems to be a success story this time although she is kicking at the calf when she tries to suck so i am going to have to put in a few days work there.

Never seen a stronger spirited animal - with every new step the leg became stronger and now you would have a job catching her!

Brilliant news

 

[Cowcalf]

an old mattress makes a good bed with backside over the edge

 

[Werzle]

Update - day 8 i lifted her outside (walked her slowly with hip lifters). Let her stand with the help of the loader for an hour and i milked her out. Took the loader away and she stumbled about but refused to fall. An hour later she was at the far end of the field grazing. 5 hours later she was still going. I was apprehesive as to wether she could rise again after lying (feet still tied). Watched her carefully...7 hours after she stood on her own she lay down and got up again herself when i called her.

Seems to be a success story this time although she is kicking at the calf when she tries to suck so i am going to have to put in a few days work there.

Never seen a stronger spirited animal - with every new step the leg became stronger and now you would have a job catching her!

Watch her for milk fever

 

[sheep&cows&stuff]

Now she wont let the damn calf suck - so having to walk her into the calving gate every evening to give the calf a good suck.

On top of that, she is the most twisted f**ker of a cow you ever seen when trying to take her from the field - not wild at all but if she spots an opening she will go for it in badness!!

They would test a man

 

[RushesToo]

Now she wont let the damn calf suck - so having to walk her into the calving gate every evening to give the calf a good suck.

On top of that, she is the most twisted fudgeer of a cow you ever seen when trying to take her from the field - not wild at all but if she spots an opening she will go for it in badness!!

They would test a man

I would be getting rid of the genetics, sell them or eat them - whatever you do don't keep them

 

[Stockwell]

Sorry to tag onto this thread...

We’ve a suckler cow down after a hard calving 6 days ago. Eating and drinking very well, we lift her twice a day but she won’t even take any weight on her back legs, doesn’t seem to have any feeling in them at all. Is there a chance of recovery? Or are we just prolonging the inevitable. Thanks

 

[Cowmansam]

Nerves are slow to recover if she’s eating and drinking give her time yet

 

[Cowmansam]

Pain relief / anti inflammatory seems to help and roll the from one side to another as often as practical so not sat on one leg for too long

 

[Sharpy]

I was told a hard calving causes pressure to the underside of the spine, this causes swelling which squeezes the nerves and prevents the messages getting through. Anti inflammatory and painkiller should help but if it was a brutal calving permanent damage could have been done.

 

[Stockwell]

She’s just moved her back legs for this first time this afternoon whilst lifted. Yep, she’s been having anti inflammatory and steroids advised by the vet

 

[Cowmansam]

Long as she’s not give up I wouldn’t