Cow died with prolapsed uterus

GoodMan55985

Hi All,

Just looking for advice. I had a cow die today from a prolapsed uterus. She was 10 years old. Maybe I kept her too long. She calved herself fine at 10 last night with a fine charlois bull calf. I was watching and no excessive straining, got the calf sucked and all and went to bed at 1. Checked again 4 and she standing but hadnt cleaned. Checked again at 7 and calf bed out and fully out at that. Got the vet straight away and he it got in it ripped when putting it in and had to stitch it. She wasnt right since all day died at 4 today. I was reading she probably went into shock as an older cow. Feeling depondent with myself maybe if I got up at 5 instead of 7 she would have had a better chance.

I was giving the cows pre calving minerals on the silage every day. I read that calcium defiency can be a problem. Is there something you get to give the cows?

Also just wondering would I better off trying to sell the calf after a week or so then feeding him on? Do I need to give him colostrum replacer for 4 days and then milk replaced? It will be a bit hassle feeding night and morning for a few months. I work also off farm.

Any advice appreciated. thanks

Muckit

Sorry to hear about your cow. Look sh*t happens. It was not your fault. Things like this just happen. I'd be the same beating myself up about 'if only I did this'.

Re calf off to the mart with him. You will get on well with him. Only a waste of time messing with milk replacer. Plenty of hassle and he won't thrive. He needs to be gotten onto a cow that's just calved.

Genghis Cant

GoodMan55985 wrote: »

She calved herself fine at 10 last night with a fine charlois bull calf. I was watching and no excessive straining, got the calf sucked and all and went to bed at 1. Checked again 4 and she standing but hadnt cleaned. Checked again at 7 and calf bed out and fully out at that.

I can tell you here and now you went above and beyond the call of duty checking the cow so often post calving. I would think there's very very few men that would get back up at 4am and 7am to check a cow that's already after calving.
There was nothing more you could do. We had 2 out within a couple of months, never before or since, lost one cow, she droped dead putting it back in, and saved the other cow a big PB Charolais cow.
These things happen, don't beat yourself up over it. Redouble your efforts and keep looking forward.
Best of luck.

sea12

Sorry to hear about your cow. Yea as some lads above said you did everything u could. I doubt too many would get up at 4 and 7 after vow calving. It's just one of those things. Take it on the chin. These things balance out.,

Take the calf to mart. Ul probably make as much out of it now as u will get after paying for milk replacer. Plus u won't have the hassle of trying to get it to feed.

FYM

Very sorry to hear about your mi-fortune, the only way to keep the calf is to train he it (if it is cute enough) to suckle a number of different cows. This is easier completed when cows are still indoors. If not of to the mart.