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Beef cow question

M

M Nut

Well-known Member
Had a young cow (2nd calfer) calf late this year, about two weeks ago. Did fine with allowing the calf to suck at first, but in the last couple of days she kicks at the calf when it tries to suck. Bag looked fine and appeared to be being sucked out, until tonight. Now it appears full, except for one back quarter. I've never had to deal with it, but is mastitis a possibility now? Or milk fever? If so, what are the treatment options? I'll call the vet on Monday if I can't get things figured out tomorrow, but thought if I could do something on my own before, I'd try it.
 
Milk fever usually occurs on onset of lactation. Is a depletion of the body's supply of calcium. Cow goes down, typically very rapidly. Treatment is an IV calcium suppliment, sooner the better. Cow usually makes a spectacular recovery. If it is milk fever, don't fool with it - call vet NOW. Symptoms you are relating would more likely be an injury or mastitis. Again, you would do well to get the vet sooner the better.
 
If we have a problem like that we usually get the cow in the chute and milk her and get the teet down to a size where the calf can suck. Then ,while the cow is in the chute, bring the calf up and let it suck. Usually have to do it for a few days until the cow gets use to it then all is well.
 
She could have mastitis in one quarter which is not that unusual, especially in heifers with a small bag and agressive calf or other calves trying to suck her, if it hurts she will kick him off that teat. Not a real big deal for a healthy 2 week old calf, he will find what he needs, he will miss out on some milk but as long as you are creep feeding and/or have good grass he will grow normal. Control of flies and grass pasture are the best mastitis control. I personally would not spend money on a vet for the simple reason that most cases of mastitis in beef cattle clear up on their own and may never come back in the same cow if she doesn't injure her udder or get it from cross sucking by other calves.
 
It sounds like mastitis. Get some Today at the feed store and treat every quarter. If it were milk fever she would be down and her ears would be cold and her head would be held to the left of her body. Does she have a fever that is a sign of masitis. Probably the quarter that is small is the one the calf has managed to nurse on. gitrib
 
Get her in a squeeze chute. If the teat is swollen and hot to the touch she most likely has mastitis. Very painful so she won"t let calf suckle. Need to milk the teat if possible, use antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Read labels related to withdrawl times.
 
I was thinking mastitis, so I'll treat her along those lines. I pulled her from the pasture and have her and her calf in a dry lot with just hay and water, so that should slow down her milk supply for a few days too. I'm thinking the less milk production, the better until she gets over it.
 
If the cow's kicking the calf away,are you sure the other 3 quarters aren't just full of milk? Possible that the calf is just sneeking up behind and getting ahold of one teat.
 
I thought of that too, but I know the calf sucked on all four for a couple of weeks, and then she started kicking. Figure there has to be a reason why she started now. They do have milk in them, and the milk looks normal. No discolor or anything. Does the milk discolor with mastitis? I can tell her bag is sore for whatever reason.
 
Yes,there are different kinds of mastitis,from clear liquid to cottage cheese. It's rare for a beef cow to get mastitis. It's generally caused by either staph or strep. I've got a few late calvers here too that look like they haven't been sucked on but one or two teats,but I've got a hunch there's just so much milk with the cows on good grass,the calf is satisfied with that. If the cow is kicking the calf away,I'd say a REAL good chance the calf is only getting her from behind when he can sneak in. Her udder would be sore from not being milked out.

With milk fever,by the way,the cow goes down soon after calving and can't get up. That's caused by a calcium deficiency.
 
I was reading the thread last night, got confused. I grew up learning calves 'cured' mastitis. Seen it happen. I'm with the guys thinking it is something else. Could have cut the bag on wire or ? Hey some cows kick their kids like the news is full of humans that drown theirs, so yea, if it's not a virus, go teach her a lesson on being a good mom.
 
Hey, thanks for the information on both mastitis and milk fever. Had no idea what milk fever was, just had heard of it. Calf seems to be nursing better today with the cow in the dry lot on some course grass hay for feed. I'll keep her off green pasture for awhile.
 
Why are you keeping her off pasture? Dry lot dirt and flys are the worst thing for bacteria. Green pasture and sunshine are natures antiseptic.
 
Because when she goes out in the pasture and her milk production goes above what the calf can handle, that's when the problems with her bag arise. Once the calf is old enough to handle the milk she produces, I'll put her back out. My "dry lot" may not be an accurate term either. It's a grass based coral that is eaten down close to the ground, so I use hay for feed in it too. It's not dusty, dirty, and full of flies.
 
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