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"OLD FASHIONED MOM"
Posts: 6334
   
Location: Toto...Im finally HOME!!! | We had a calf born Monday a.m. early (thank god he waited till we got back from the weekend). He is a huge boy approx 100 lbs. His legs are curved as you might say and he cant get up by himself yet. He does seem better yesterday. We are milking the mom (pain in the *** )but at least he is getting the best that nature can provide. We have given him a selenium plus A & D shots. I put SMB boots on his front and back and it seems to be helping him. My AI guy said he feels it was due to him being so big he didnt have a chance to move around inside mom. My question is have has anyone had good success with calves recovering fully from this? He will not be a bull as his size is so large as a calf, but my son is already talking using him for a project for next year spring fair. Do these calves have leg problems later if they straighten out? |
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 Friend To All
Location: OK, KS STATE LINE | He will be ok , we have calves born that way and with time, depends on how bad ,they get straight and have no problems. Ours is usually the front legs. |
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 Whiplash the Monkey
Location: Oil Center, OKLAHOMA, USA | We have had this problem several times. We raise Angus cattle, and they have a tendancy to throw some big calves occasionally. Give him some time and keep working with him to get him up. My husband ALWAYS breeds for low birth-weight for this exact reason. Those little bitty 40-50 lb. calves will be up and running in no time while those big ole 100 lb.-ers are a lot slower. We have even had some that walked around on their fetlocks for a day or two. As long as he is trying to get up, keep working with him. Best of luck! My mother-in-law "TAUGHT" a "dummy-calf" how to walk AND suck last week so I'd say their is hope! |
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"OLD FASHIONED MOM"
Posts: 6334
Location: Toto...Im finally HOME!!! | Thanks Circle Bar. They can sustain there weight when they mature then? This is a first for us obviosly but hoping for a promising future! Guess I need reassurance on it! I keep thinking how hard it would be if we had to put him down! Its amazing how quick you get attached to those big brown eyes.! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
Location: Wyoming | I think what you are saying is that he is knuckling over? We had big calves do this to. Put some splints on him, as his ligaments and tendons get stronger he will straighten out. Sometimes it only takes a day or two and sometimes almost a month. Good Luck with it. He wouldn't happen to be a Gelbvieh would he? |
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 Heart of Orange
Posts: 13226
Location: At The End of The Red Dirt Road | I remember my dad having a charlois (SP?) calf that he had to have the front legs cast on -- it turned out fine in a few weeks - so I think your smb boots are a great idea. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 397
Location: IL. | Saw a piece of 2" pvc pipe longways and duct tape to legs for splints. done this many times. |
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Friend To All
Location: OK, KS STATE LINE | We have dairy and stock cattle both and dont do anything and they come out of it. Putting them where they can walk and move we think helps also. Its always the big calves. Have same problem sometimes with the big foals but they always grow out of it. |
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"OLD FASHIONED MOM"
Posts: 6334
Location: Toto...Im finally HOME!!! | Thanks for all the info everyone! Its really funny how things are. These are Simmentals! Not the old tradional ones either! This calfs half sister born 3 weeks ago was ideal weight (appr. 65 #) and he just turned out huge! He is not knuckled over but actually his legs are bowed forward like a U I guess you could say. We have taken a bale of hay to set him up on and getting him to nurse on mom! He seems very healthy in all other aspects. The calf actually wabbled half way around the stall yesterday! But what a work out for us! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 518
Location: Wyoming | Hopefully the little guy will come out of it. I use little loosely. I absolutely loved calving, it sure was alot of work but I still miss it. Those newborn calves in my opinion are about the cutest dang things ever created. It would just break my heart when we couldn't save one no matter how many cows we calved out. I was always proud that I could get them to nurse out of a bottle when no one else could. Woops almost broke my arm patting myself on the back. |
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"OLD FASHIONED MOM"
Posts: 6334
Location: Toto...Im finally HOME!!! | Just wanted to give an update.. the little guy is coming around I think! After setting him on our lap to help him stand and nurse on mom and he preceded to pee all over my leg I think he is on the road to walking. He is up to 2 pints 3 times of day of mommy's milk. And he is trying to walk and can almost get up on his own! My son says he looks like a baby fawn! Dang it I hate it when they are so cute and have to grow up. |
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