Putangitangi
Well-known member
I watched a mature, well-conditioned cow calve this morning. Everything was entirely normal, except perhaps a little more violent rear foot stamping than most of them do. The calf presented well, both front feet, tongue and nose, all as usual, a little bit of a hold-up between neck and chest and the cow struggled a little to get to her feet - perhaps the stamping indicated some nerve issues? She did not stand on him. The bull calf is not unusually large, just a good size for the cow and the whites of both eyes are completely blood-shot and the right eye looks like it has a blood blister (can't really examine very closely with ease). He was slow to get up, seeming really floppy, taking about two hours instead of the usual quarter; when standing, he stood with his head a little lowered, panting with mouth open. He seemed to have a bit of a twitchy fit when lying at one stage, but stood ok again later.
Late this afternoon he was hunting for the udder and I plugged about a liter of colostrum into him to give him the energy and encouragement to keep looking for the real source. So far he seems just slow to do everything. I went back to my photos to see if he came out funny or something, but nothing looks odd.
Maybe he'll come right. Has anyone any similar experience to share?
Late this afternoon he was hunting for the udder and I plugged about a liter of colostrum into him to give him the energy and encouragement to keep looking for the real source. So far he seems just slow to do everything. I went back to my photos to see if he came out funny or something, but nothing looks odd.
Maybe he'll come right. Has anyone any similar experience to share?