O/T Update on heifer down

Just before Christmas we had a heifer get tangled up in a hay feeder. I want to thank everyone here who gave advice about what to do for and with her.

Here is the update. The day after this happened, an unexpected personal tragedy happened. We did get this heifer moved into a warm, dry part of the hay shed and were able to keep hay and water in front of her. We also gave her a little bit of grain (which she had not been getting) as an energy supplement. The personal business I had to attend to was much more important than this heifer, so even though I had wanted to do more for her, I didn't. She was down for twelve days. Then one morning she was back on her feet! Very shaky, and she didn't stay up long, but she was up.

Well, she started doing better day by day, but as time went on, I saw that she was walking wrong on her right rear hoof (the one which had been trapped). Well, she survived the crisis, but who knows whether she'll make it further. At least I could sort of finish her and get something out of her. I let her have time and low and behold, she has started walking correctly! She was the best looking and doing heifer out of that group and I had really wanted to keep her. Perhaps I still can. She looks skinny and awful. But she is alert, healthy and getting around well. I guess I'll just be patient for a couple of more months and see how she is doing by springtime.

Christopher

Crossroads with crisis coming both ways forces decisions that can't be helped. I feel that. You saved her, and are to be commended. I hope the other issue is at least as good. Jim

Great.

I had a heifer that was from large boned stock, but got bred by a Charlois bull and birthed a huge calf. It pinched a nerve or something and she didn't get up from the calving for a little over 6 months....lied on the ground, ate, drank, did the rest but never got up. I got the calf to nurse her on the ground. Worked just fine.

One day I came home from work and she was standing and I saw her walk off. Couldn't believe it. Thought surely that being down that long her joints would have deteriorated to the point where she couldn't support her own weight.

So, you just never know.

Mark