Calving 2020...

[Chanda]

First live calf of the season today.   I haven't seen it, so no pictures.  Shayne said it's tiny, so may be touch and go.
We did have a couple late term abortions, and one that may have been born alive, but we missed it (if I recall correctly, it was quite small).

[dcwolcott]

YEAH!  Come on, little one.....GROW !!

[Chanda]

Well, I posted too soon, he didn't make it.  We might still be a bit early for calving to start.

[dcwolcott]

Sorry to hear that, but it happens.  We'll hope for the next one -- a bit later.   

[Anna]

Oh what a shame Chanda, I suppose it is still rather cold where you are? Hopefully the next few to be born will stand a better chance if the weather warms a little.

[Ryan]

Thank goodness for some good news 

[Chanda]

Whew!  Finally some alive and lively calves; although, still more problems than usual this early in the season.   Hope it gets better soon.
It's been very cold the last few days, so I haven't tried any pictures.  The cows are just goofy this year, and all wound up for no good reason.

[dcwolcott]

They're probably a bit goofy like we all are in these crazy times.  I know I don't respond to things like I normally would, so maybe they are feeling something is "off" when normal chores are being done.

Hope you are all good out there!   

[Chanda]

some things are getting better, some things are still difficult.  Still too many slow to start calves this.  Best we can tell, talking to the vet it's likely a mineral deficiency; really not surprising after two years of drought, followed by a very wet year, so the minerals were limited and then washed out.
I have two bottle calves, the stronger one will hopefully go on a cow soon.  The second one has a broken leg; we splinted it and now only time will tell if it's going to heal.   I'll keep giving it a bottle 3x daily, and moving it to get some strength in it's other three legs, and we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

[dcwolcott]

No rest for the weary!  Sorry about the calf with the broken leg.  I'm hoping he heals, as baby's heal so well and so fast, I'm praying that baby bone just knits together.   

I remember the first time I had a Selenium deficiency here -- out of 10 expected foals, got 3-4, I think, that made it through pregnancy and to the ground safely.  Made me a crazy person about the need for selenium. Made me the  "Purina? Free Balance? 12:12 Vitamin & Mineral Supplement" guru since it has the highest selenium value I have found anywhere, except via shot from the vet, and I never had another problem or loss through pregnancy. Gave everyone a selenium grain boost once a month with this supplement.   This supplement has 35.0 PPM, while Mare/Foal feed 0.60 PPM and "regular" grain / senior fee has only 0.30 PPM.  Quite a difference minerals can make in the overall health of an animal.

[Chanda]

Vet suspects copper.  We are in a selenium sufficient area, rarely is a shortage a problem, but it's always a possibility when conditions aren't normal.
Regular equine feeds, especially those offered nationwide, often have just minimal selenium, so as to be safe in a broader range of conditions; since not all areas in the US are selenium deficient.

[dcwolcott]

I'd of never thought of copper.  Hmmmm....

[Chanda]

I'd of never thought of copper.  Hmmmm....

I never would have either for this; but we've never experienced this before, so it is what it is, and hopefully the mineral supplements help and we'll start doing more minerals in the future.
I know forages can have high iron which interferes with copper and zinc, at least in horses; so you need to supplement Cu and Zn to balance that, but had no idea it could cause this with cattle.   After two years of drought and then a very wet year, it's no wonder our minerals are out of balance and the hay quality just isn't there.
Hoping this year's hay season is better than the last three.

[Chanda]

With the driveway finally fixed, we made a trip to town to the vet with one of the recently deceased calves for a necropsy, so we can hopefully find out what is going on.   Vet will do the gross exam, and then send off samples for testing for disease and mineral levels, and hopefully in 10 days or so we'll have some answers.

[Ryan]

Oh Chanda, I have just been back thru this thread ( I clearly had not read thru it correctly) I'm really sorry it hasn't been such a good start to calving season.

Wishing you both a really good hay season !!