down cow

[oldboy]

Just suppose you missed seeing a heifer calve and she was at it too long, and now she can't get up, what are some suggestions? She can get partially up except for on hind leg. She let's her calf suck while she's laying, but I'm afraid too leave her any longer, it's been 3 days now, and have to haul water too her. What about a sling? She we try to drag her to a more comfortable place? She's in a large feedlot, but it's rather open, and now the weather's on the change again?? Any homegrown suggestions??

[nakodo]

try mainlining a litre of calmagphos into her and see if it gets her going. She may need a jolt of cal or phos after calving depending on the feed she's been on.

[farmerboy]

You can't rule out a broken hip at this point. A lot of cows you find down are the result of them trying to get up, staggering, and then falling heavily breaking either the pelvis or the hip. If nothing is broken and its just a stretched ligament then its just a matter of time til she gets up. If this is the case then you have to go and hobble her hind legs, tying them about 2 feet apart or so so she doesn't split herself when she does get up and staggers around. This is what we were advised to do many years ago and we didn't think it necessary and we ended up with a wreck.As long as she has bedding and isn't in the cold muck or water she probably is okay.

[Muttley]

Ask around if anybody's got a cow lift and get her up. Her legs will get to the point where she won't be able to get up if you leave her to long. Even just turning her from side to side will help.

[surespendalot]

How is that cow this am?

[oldboy]

We skidded her too a little better place in the feedlot, gave her some multi vitamins, calcium, etc. She looks very alert but still not getting up yet. Put a sling on her and raised her up for a while, just letting her feet touch the ground. Don't know yet what too think. The calf stands in front of her and she looks after it, cleaning etc. Not too bad for a heifer!! Just wish I could say she was really improving, but can't say that yet. Thanks for asking.

[surespendalot]

Just keep after her with the sling a couple of times a day for a few days and probably within a week, at the most, she will walk away. I have only ever had one that didn't respond. Good luck.

[mbfarmer]

Is your heifer any better yet??? Does she try to get up herself or only when you make her try??? We had a heifer that went down when we pulled the calf. She would look after the calf but seemed to have given up. We try everything but nothing seem to work. Finally we brought in the dog...had the dog stand between her and her calf. This got her mad enough to try and stand. Of course the dog took off...so we got her back into the barn and help the heifer as she tried to go after the dog. Two days later she was outside walking around...not to graceful but walking. It is surprising what they can do when they get mad. Good Luck.

[mbfarmer]

An old trick we used a couple of times. We dug 4 post holes for her legs just deep enough so she could belly down when tired but not so deep she couldn't stand. With the holes the right width her back end soon healed and she eventually walked out. Course we kept beeding in the back hole regulary.

[oldboy]

Well, by the grace of God, or somebody, this poor soul of a heifer decided she did'nt like drinking out of a water trough, so she got up in the night, and walked to the waterer. Took her calf with her and all seems fine now. Thanks for all the advice.