Big Time Cold!

[Muttley]

I had problems a few years ago with weak calves, couldn't stand so they didn't suck and got weak.
The vet figured we had BVD or a disease at least. We purchased some pretty expensive medicine.
Well it turned out to just be a selenium problem. Started giving shots and our problem ended.
As for mold, we use a processor, this way if there is poor feed in a bale one or two cows will not pig out on it.

[corine]

Thanks for the replies.
Yep, tubing for 4 days seems about the start of it. Like Cowman, the problems are in a pretty specific group, only in cows that have been home-raised and never vaccinated before, so that's why we think this may be it. The cows are getting 16-16 (which has selenium) mixed into their ration at the recommended amount, and also get salt blocks with selenium in them. Whatever it is, it is pretty frustrating. And the cold doesn't help either Hopefully, things will warm up soon.

[bombay_43]

Corin, just like cowman, we had a wreck some 10 years ago. 2 years in a row,we lost 16 calves during or right after calving. Weak, stupid, not wanting to suck, some died from infections although we were using clean needles. Many calves from the heifers, were born with a heart beat, but too weak to take their first breath!

Turned out to be BVD in both years! Only way to test for sure,is to send a dead calf away for testing. Results take a long time. Somewhere around 4 to 6 weeks.

After all the info that we sorted through, I believe BVD to be a much larger problem than people think.

Although our vet was involved in a vaccination program the first year, it turned out that the second dose was not administered far enough in advance of breeding season, to allow antibodies to develop in the cows blood.

Also found out that a certain percentage of cows become carriers of BVD, and will never develop imunity. Not through vaccine, and not through having the disease.

We culled really heavy the second year. Anything that lost a calf. Also give a booster shot every spring now to all our cows! We have had the odd adverse effect from the BVD vaccines used on pregnant animals,if they calved shortly after it was administered. Not many thankfully. The risk of the vaccine outways the risk of not using it.

Do not let anyone tell you that one year of vaccinating them is sufficient! They do not retain immunity, and we have found a booster shot every year prevented further outbreaks. Never used anything but the killed vaccine.

[corine]

A few questions about some items in this thread, as I'm always trying to find new ways to do things:

When you tape the ears on a calf, do you use duct tape or the white tape used when you paint?
Also, about the peroxide, what type and how much would one use? I've heard of people using virkon as a treatment for viral scours, but I haven't heard how it is used or what dosage to use. Has anyone heard of this too?

We have used an egg from time to time (together with the usual treatments), with mixed results. Now we are giving them a bolus of First Defense, which are antibodies against e-coli and rota/ corona virus and this seems to work OK.

[cowman]

Corine I use just plain old masking tape. Not duct tape although that would work too. The masking tape doesn't have to be removed as it breaks down in about a week. As far as the peroxide thing I don't know what kind it was. He buys it at a health food store and he tells me it a food grade peroxide. He also tells me that all the "Kentucky fried chicken" is soaked in this peroxide to make it white!