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Post by willowgirl on May 7, 2019 19:18:47 GMT
There's a sweet li'l cow named Edwina in the herd that I milk who suffered a spinal cord injury during her last lactation. (Google "crushed tailhead syndrome" -- it describes her to a T.) Her case is not as severe as some ... her locomotion issues resolved; she can walk normally but still has flaccid tail paralysis. She was already pregnant when she injured herself (we never figured out how she did it) and her calf was due yesterday! I'm terribly worried as while she is bagged up, she hasn't shown any signs of going into labor thus far. The only other cow I've ever seen with this ailment never showed signs of labor or distress, but evidently was unable to calve normally and died on the dry lot. We're trying really hard not to let this happen to Dwee! My boss has palpated her 3x yesterday but her cervix hadn't dilated yet. She's acting normally, eating and ruminating. We're going nuts!
Please keep a good thought that she'll be able to calve or at least show us some sign she's in trouble so we can get the vet. I had a phone consultation with him a couple of weeks ago; he said not to attempt to induce her because of the increased risk of a prolapse. So for now, we're stuck playing the waiting game! Losing my mind here, lol.
Never a dull moment on a dairy farm ...
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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 8, 2019 2:04:04 GMT
Hey willowgirl, First off, wanted you to know that I "liked" your post so you would know that I read it and I care. I certainly don't like what is going on with Edwina and the worries in regards to the such. And that is such a sweet and colorful name for a girl - I must add. Girl, I have been "Googling" that on and off while working on my post and rereading yours. That's sort of a lot to take in! Yeah, hoping she will soon exhibit signs of calving while ya'll are there so you can take whatever action is necessary. And hey, good thoughts and a few prayers for ya'll and precious Edwina. I may sound like a nut but you probably know how close I am to our animals and I don't hesitate to say a prayer for them (and us) and ask for guidance in regards to what to do when they are ailing, etc. You seem to be so caring and compassionate in regards to these large lovely ladies who give so much to keep us in milk. I can certainly relate to you on occasion and often times I wish we were neighbors. Once upon a time I helped our dairy farmer friend - I cleaned the milking parlor after the AM milking, scraped the holding barn - very good exercise though - it was all manual! Strawed in various places. Helped with all of the bucket calves... Believe it or not I actually caught a few calves that he was pulling while the cows were standing... gee, some lovely memories are flooding back... me covered in lots of goo with a calf in my arms and silly/emotional tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face... Good thoughts and little prayers coming your way... please let me know how it goes... Take care! ~Mari
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Post by willowgirl on May 8, 2019 3:19:57 GMT
Aww, thanks Mari! Yeah, this dairy life really ropes you in. I took a break from my "real" career and took a farm job as a lark, intending to milk cows for a few months and then go back to being a journalist. That was 15 years ago! Anyway. STILL NO CALF! She was chowing down at the feed bunk when I check on her just prior to leaving for the night. (My boss will check her later after he finishes feeding.) I don't think her bag can get any more full -- she looks ready to burst! Nothing going on at the back end, though.
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Post by dustawaits on May 8, 2019 23:21:08 GMT
If you have the correct date.....induce her. She may not have feeling of impending birth. ..or labor pains. Otherwise you are likely to have another dead cow.
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Post by feather on May 8, 2019 23:52:32 GMT
Now? now? now?
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Post by mzgarden on May 9, 2019 0:12:02 GMT
Prayers and good thoughts sent your way. Hoping for good news.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 9, 2019 1:38:52 GMT
Hey ya willowgirl , You and Edwina have been in my thoughts and little prayers on and off today... Soooo wondering how she is doing... Hope you had a good day by the way... A journalist-huh? Maybe some time you will clue us in... Take care, Mari
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Post by willowgirl on May 9, 2019 11:29:52 GMT
"It's a boy" is the text I received from my boss while on my way to my first job of the day yesterday. The good news is that Edwina and the calf are both doing fine. She hadn't cleaned as of last night, but she's up and about, and looks good. The bad news is that my boss had to pull the calf. He said her water had broken but she didn't seem able to push at all. (Dustawaits, the vet advised us not to attempt to induce her labor with drugs because of the increased risk of a prolapse. He suggested just keeping an eye on her and intervening if her labor wasn't progressing.) So I think this will be her last calf, and she will be retired at the end of this lactation. Numb says we need a bigger barn!
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Post by mzgarden on May 9, 2019 11:50:29 GMT
All in all, this seems like good news in that baby and Momma came through ok. A bigger barn sounds like a wonderful idea, lol.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 10, 2019 3:29:20 GMT
"It's a boy" is the text I received from my boss while on my way to my first job of the day yesterday. The good news is that Edwina and the calf are both doing fine. She hadn't cleaned as of last night, but she's up and about, and looks good. The bad news is that my boss had to pull the calf. He said her water had broken but she didn't seem able to push at all. (Dustawaits, the vet advised us not to attempt to induce her labor with drugs because of the increased risk of a prolapse. He suggested just keeping an eye on her and intervening if her labor wasn't progressing.) So I think this will be her last calf, and she will be retired at the end of this lactation. Numb says we need a bigger barn! That is awesome to hear... I do hope that they are both still doing well... Oh law... just thinking of prolapse makes me cringe girl... certainly won't go into much detail here but I have seen the like-happened to another neighbor's cow-talk about beyond terrible-she didn't make it... Sooo, I'm taking it sweet Edwina may end up with you and Numb? Take care! ~Mari
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Post by willowgirl on May 10, 2019 11:38:31 GMT
Yes, we'll buy her when she milks down. She's a strong milker so that may be a year or more in the future ... gives Numb time to draw up plans for that addition to the barn! In the meantime, she cleaned and is milking well and looks good, so I don't think the birth was too traumatic. Thanks everyone for sending thoughts and prayers! They seem to have worked.
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Post by mzgarden on May 10, 2019 14:41:52 GMT
Love a happy ending with an even happier ending on the horizon.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 10, 2019 18:04:53 GMT
That's great that she cleaned and ya'll didn't have to mess with that. I'm so glad to hear that they are both doing well! Yeah, and what mzgarden said... Take care, ~Mari
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Post by countrymom22 on May 10, 2019 20:49:25 GMT
I'm so glad that everything turned out fine. And that crushed tail head will probably turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to her if she joins your herd at home!
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Post by willowgirl on May 11, 2019 4:54:32 GMT
LOL, yeah, that will be her ticket to freedom for sure!
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Post by aoconnor on May 13, 2019 3:06:29 GMT
Aw, so glad to hear Miss Edwina calved safely (well, with a little help!), and that she will be retired after this calf. You are such a sweet and caring Cow momma willow girl, and I am happy the "girls" get to have you in their lives. They surely, surely appreciate it, I'm certain of that:-)
Here's to a new barn!
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Aug 1, 2019 2:55:26 GMT
Hey willowgirl, I just so happened to be rereading through this thread and I cannot help but ask - How is Edwina?? ~Mari
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Post by willowgirl on Aug 4, 2019 13:19:51 GMT
Thanks for asking, Mari! She is doing fine. She made over 100lbs. of milk on test day last month; a little less this month but then it was awfully hot on test day. For a small cow she's a really good milker! I haven't had a chance to talk to my boss about whether he wants to breed her back again. I'm hoping he will decide not to roll the dice and just leave well enough alone there. We got lucky this time and had a good outcome but I'd hate to push our luck!
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Aug 4, 2019 20:52:53 GMT
Hey willowgirl, Thanks for taking the time to reply... That is awesome to hear that she is doing well. From what I have read - 100lbs ain't too shabby! I hope she gets to retire to your wonderful Home For Wayward Holsteins someday. Ya'll take care! ~Mari
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