heifer won't lay down on slats.

tellmeabit

Have one girl that won't lay down on slats.but she has no access to a lay back area. Only spotted after putting camera up for calving. She is in 3 days now and yet to see her lay. She must be tired at this stage. See her rocking and shifting today. Not in calf only 12 months old. Any cone across this before?

_Brian

Like a lot of calves that seem to last days without sucking, I’d say she’s lying at some stage, or will.

It might be worth checking temp etc just to rule out anything else makeing her look so uncomfortable.

Lady Haywire

That's a bit strange alright! Wonder if she slipped when getting up on them before & has scared herself on them.
Have you any bit of carpet or that which you could put in one corner for her & see if she lies on it?

tellmeabit

I was going to put her out the back tonight and watch her. And long term get the old milking shed ready for her and a few more. With access to a round feeder outside.

tellmeabit

Thanks

tellmeabit

So she is lying now. Totally flat with legs out from her. Seems like she doesn't want to lay down until she has to and then she is panned out. Never seen it before

Lady Haywire

tellmeabit wrote: »

So she is lying now. Totally flat with legs out from her. Seems like she doesn't want to lay down until she has to and then she is panned out. Never seen it before

That's really weird. Would be interesting to see if she lies down normally elsewhere.

grassroot1

closer inspection required methinks

tellmeabit

What should I check for? Actually gave a look at feet last weekend. Was trimming tail hair and looked at feet too. When she was in calf creep area last jan she used to sleep in an old bathtub I was using to feed them hay. Will have another look tomorro. Will see if she is stiff in a while.back on her feet now

tellmeabit

Have her in the creep area. And curled up nicely. She seemed a little stiff. Will see if she as stiff tomorrow. Can't know what it is.

Lady Haywire

Highly unlikely as she's lying down now but we had similar with a cow that had tetanus, she didn't want to lie down at all as her joints were seizing up.

tellmeabit

sorry to drag this back out, but had this girl out over the last few months and thought she was grand again. but have noticed that when she is passing water that it comes in spurts rather than one big flow. so suspect a urinairy infection. and is still quite still now i have her in the layback of the shed. any ideas. feet look good. she isnt putting on condition for a big 15 month heifer like she is. and seems quite humpy.
any ideas?

tanko

Has your vet looked at her?
Maybe a blood sample could be taken and tested to see if a problem shows up.

tellmeabit

He gave me bottle for laminitus and she did get livelier after but same again and he flow when passing water never improved

tellmeabit

so treated for laminitus and improved a bit but still not right, then treated for uriary infection, no difference. still passses water in spurts and frequently,she doesnt seem tobe able to straighten her tail when she passing water, lifts a bit and curls to the side. she has been out all winter around the yard, same issue with passing water, still a bif stiff. no thriving. going to try vet again at weekend, would like to get her right as wanted to breed from her.
any one got any ideas of advise. thinking of asking another vet

Lady Haywire

I'd be suspecting a back injury at this stage, just when you mention the tail being weird and if she's not humping herself up to pee like a normal cow.

greysides

Lady Haywire wrote: »

I'd be suspecting a back injury at this stage, just when you mention the tail being weird and if she's not humping herself up to pee like a normal cow.

Snap.


At this stage hoping to keep her for breeding is asking a lot. If she fattens I'd put her in my pocket.

tellmeabit

she does hump the back but maybe seems restricted alright,ill have to see what he says. if its a hurt then its goin on a long time now.. what are her prospects you think?

Mooooo

Tbh may not want to be what you want to hear but may be better off cutting your losses and buy another heifer to breed from and cull her. It can be hard to do and god knows we spent e much time with cows getting em right etc but you don't want replacements from cows with issues or cows calving that may not be able for it. Will only be bother next spring or continuing an issue down the line with the daughter. Now to listen to my own advice

greysides

If she has a back problem how well could she calve.......

tellmeabit

Mooooo wrote:

Tbh may not want to be what you want to hear but may be better off cutting your losses and buy another heifer to breed from and cull her. It can be hard to do and god knows we spent e much time with cows getting em right etc but you don't want replacements from cows with issues or cows calving that may not be able for it. Will only be bother next spring or continuing an issue down the line with the daughter. Now to listen to my own advice

That's what I'm thinking too. Would sudden me as small numbers and she is a right pet but that's the way it's looking at this stage. Will hold on to her a while anyways and see how take comes on a bit of grass but like that can't see how I woukd go through another winter of her supervising the other cows from .y side of the feed barrier