We Lost Another Calf
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- Опубликовано: 12 май 2024
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About Gold Shaw Farm: Gold Shaw Farm is more of a farm-in-progress than an honest-to-goodness farm. Our dream is that someday, we can transform our 150+ acre parcel of land into a regenerative and productive homestead and farm. 
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Morgan when our females birth we seperate them from the rest of the herd only for a few days 5 -10 mother and calf are stalled on clean straw etc we give the mothers a full bucket of warm water steaight after birth ensure they get the colostrum, im really worried about your yard area /winter area , im not being mean at all but the environment is not consistent with healthy calves /livestock, its not your fault, its an experience thing we learn as we live . Much love to you and Alison ❤
Agreed. Not to mention nights are still pretty dam cold where he is, and he’s got the new Borns outside soaking wet. Hopefully he will learn from his mistakes the same as many of us have had to.
The area was an issue when he had like 5 cows. I hadn't watched for a while and so I was surprised its the same way, only now has like x3 the herd. Yet somehow a giant place to park a car and tractor were more important. Sorry Morgan, everyone else is defending you, I'll play devils advocate, without playing.
Same with horses.
@@TheKruxed I'm right with you on this. His cattle yard is nowhere calves should be wandering around. He has plenty of space for a better paddock and he could make a path with fresh straw for the cows to get to their barn. A bit of work & expense, but losing 2 calves like this harms his mid-to-long-term business plans.
He had four healthy calves in the same area two years ago. It looks mucky but Morgan regularly cleans up the cow patties and throws down hay to reduce the mud. The cows and calves do have access to go indoors and based on earlier videos there are plans to create stalls in the lower section of the barn.
Have them tested for cryptosporidium. It can be passed by poultry which is how one of our calves got it. We had a calf that showed the same symptoms and he had a 50/50 shot of making it. Calves infected with Cryptosporidium parvum can become weak and lethargic and have diarrhea that can be mild or severe in intensity. Feces can contain mucus, blood, or undigested milk. Feces are yellow or pale and watery. In some cases, persistent diarrhea may result in marked weight loss and emaciation. It can live in the soil for a VERY long time and usually affects calves one to four weeks in age. The signs your calves have are SUPER similar to what ours was exhibiting. I know you are doing your best. Good Luck Morgan. Sorry for your losses.
this….
Commenting to get this higher up the comments thread!
Some sort of gastrointestinal infection would make sense. The calves seemed to be up and nursing and doing fine, but if something was messing with their ability to digest and absorb the nutrients from the milk, that would lead a calf to go downhill fast.
Excellent point. Would you know of any antibiotics that would be useful? I am still figuring out who’s who in Vermont as a transplant. But in CO we had access to a vet supply business as a rancher/farmer. You could buy tetracycline in five pound bags over the counter. We bought “Boutt” for the horses over the counter. I got my insulin for my dog here as well. It was more cost effective for many of us who knew what was needed without having to drag a vet thru every detail.
Our over reaching government banned over the counter sales of antibiotics in June of 23. Now you must get directly from a vet!
This summer maybe hold off introducing the bull to the ladies another few weeks so they are having the calves on pasture and not in the winter holding pen.
I was just going to say maybe plan their next birthing season for when they are back in the field.
New babies of any species can develop sepsis through their umbilical cord. With the muddy pen, making sure the umbilical is dipped in iodine multiple times is important. And once sepsis sets in, it is near impossible to treat. So sorry for the loss of both calves.
That was my first guess in the video of the first calf. Joint ill, Navel ill ect.
Yep, my thoughts exactly...
True, but that would have shown up in the necropsy, if not the live blood tests given to the first calf.
Same. Dip them. Sorry for the loss😢
in a previous video he did use iodine and said he makes sure to do it pretty quickly.
I agree with the couple of people saying get them to the fields asap! The grass may not be 100% ready, which means moving them around faster, but it gets them away from possible yard contamination. Yes, I am being an armchair farmer. Just seems like a good idea!
Even if not the fields, a pen with fresh, clean bedding is great for preventing infections.
Having it dry and warm and not shit where you eat seems like a pretty basic concept.
Maybe also not having the calves born in winter, when there is no fresh grass for the mothers to eat?
Morgan probably put in a good deal of study before starting his herd, but he still has to work with what he has.
P.S.: and maybe not mention that they will go to the freezer anyway and think of them like dead rock stars the moment they are born? Not sure whether they pick up on the vibe, but just in case… - the opposite of Placebo is Nocebo, and it’s a thing.
@@Stadtpark90 It's not winter, it's spring. Calving in May is actually somewhat *late* compared to most operations. Many places want calves born in February or March, when the herd is still close to home and on hay so they can be easily monitored.
Edit: also, fresh spring grass is low in nutrition. Animals put out on spring pastures from winter hay tend to lose weight. That's not something you want to happen to mothers in milk with their calves.
@@IcicleFerret That’s the good thing about comment sections: people who know stuff come out and correct people who don’t know stuff. Thanks.
@@Stadtpark90 The other things you said, though, I agree with. :)
Put them out on pasture
The barn is already contaminated
If its a sickness
Get them out of the area
Agree 100% with Anthony
Exactly!!
I thinknit can be a couple things of not just bacteria/parasite/virus but also failure to thrive due to core body temp issues. Feeding animals while they are cold can kill them. Perhaps he will need to make a calving area that is easier to sanitize and quarantine. Its not incommon to have pregnant and birthing animals separate for a time due to lowered immunity risks.
Why was the antibiotic stopped when Elliott went back to the farm? A couple days of antibiotic is not enough to stop a vicious bacteria. You can extra fluid until all your cows are gone, that does no good if an antibiotic is needed STAT.
@@NewNostalgiaexactly no idea why they did that
On the dairy farm we clean every day, the whole barn, cow beds, stalks, calf pens etc. Then lime the whole place. We have better milk records, award winning cell counts, and less losses. I’ve raised hundreds if not a thousand calves from birth to two years. These losses are devastating but don’t let it stop you ❤
U r right.
"Calcium oxalate crystals."
In layman's terms, your steer calves had kidney stones.
So ether they weren't getting enough water or something was wrong with their kidneys. Given their lethargy I'd propose the latter may be the issue. The role of the Kidney being to clean the blood and flush out the crap that would sicken you. Allison can probably fill you in on what happens with Kidney failure.
It's ugly.
If the kidneys weren't functioning properly then yeah, them not cleaning out the dirty blood would result in well... mixed results.
I really hope Morgan sees your comment. I worked in Healthcare and when I read your comment, I thought "BINGO!". What are your thoughts regarding the banding? My gut is telling me there was an added complication. 😮
Commenting to boost this one.
I was thinking it had something to do with the castration process! Which would make sense since it was both of the steers! I hope he reads this and the comment that I mentioned! If this is the case he may have to wait until the males are older to castrate.
This. Plus, from what I found on this one site, calcium oxalate can be created by fungus found in leaf litter and muddy soil, which sounds a lot like the pen he’s keeping the cattle in. It’s been extra muddy this year so I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case
Guys. Like this comment so Morgan can see it.
Hey Morgan, none of this please 3:42 we all have your back, you're as great of a farmer as you are a youtuber and a person, you're nowhere near a failure because your videos carried me through such a hard part of my life, and no failure can do that I promise you.
I've watched you go through hardships before, and this one isn't any different, you GOT THIS Homie
Well said! I love how you worded this and how positive that you are!! (to show my age for a second) You totally rock, my friend!
Morgan, as the OP said, we have your back!
Both male calves. Could be coincidence 😢😢
I agree!! Very kind words of encouragement @katschrodinger954
Add me to that list! And disregard that inner critic in your head. He's overreacting and jumping to simple conclusions. You've been very careful and methodical and you love your animals. What more could they want?
Coccidiosis ... it eggs grow in old poo ... it's a nightmare.. you can't let them roam free as they will spread the eggs all over the fields .. but staying on that infected old poo mountain is also bad.
Since it was both boys, I wonder if it had to do with the castration or genetics from dad.
I was thinking exactly the same thing.
That was my first thought as well. Maybe something went wrong with the banding??
I agree, I had a vet tell me the genials need to develop or they will have problems urinating. Kidney are in urinary tract. Poor baby's. I wanted to see Prince grow up....being a Minnesota girl and all.💜💜
I think any issues with the castration would have been found by the vet by now
The castration was my thought. Banding on a newborn bull is a potential infection vector. Given the amount of mud, they are essentially swimming in a soup of muck. The heifers aren't in danger if that is the case, given that they don't have the need to be banded.
They need to get out of the muck and into a drier space. Then, clean the hay and mud out the lot and let it get dried out.
I have been working with livestock a long time. The first thing I would do is move them out of that lot. Maybe try to schedule calving for when the cows are out on pasture. I would probably have a good cleaning around the yard and spread several bags of lime real heavy. Don't be too upset, that's part of it.
Well said 😊
Good comment.
Hey Morgan, there's a saying in farming. "As soon as you have livestock, you have deadstock." It's a tough pill to swallow.
I echo what some have already said: get the cattle off the manure and onto fresh/clean ground. If not the fields, then another area with clean, dry bedding. Wet conditions are breeding grounds for all sorts of nasty things, and calves don't have the same level of immunity as the adults.
My thoughts exactly.
I heard that exact same phrase from a Montana rancher. Now that I have a hobby farm with chickens, goats and Dexter cattle, I can say it's true. I've had a few goats just die for no apparent reason. I've been very fortunate with the cattle though. The only ones I've lost were because they met my butcher.
Good saying I will tuck that away. As a hobby farmer I learned that all too quicjly
Morgan it is extremely important to keep calves inside in a clean area that you clean out and disinfect regularly.Keeping this area clean will greatly reduce disease levels..And another thing is the muck that your scraping up should be placed outside the pen so that cattle cant come in contact with it
He piled it up and before allowing the cows back in the area he will bring it out by tractor. All winter long he removed the frozen patties by sled so that pile is recent.
@@SharonRepici Frozen is not as much a bacterial issue. Even trying to remove manure from mud is not complete and does not address urine. There was no clean place to calve and no clean place for moms and calves to lay. Their udders pick up waste and mud, then calves drink. The calves are breathing ammonia laying on the ground. The hay is fed from the mud and muck. The waste pile and unwrapped moldy hay are in close proximity and can spread contamination. A re-think re: the winter yard, especially with the larger number of animals, is warranted. Also, keep an eye on the moms who lost calves for signs of mastitis.
@@SharonRepici cleaning up during the winter is a good idea, but in springtime the calves need to be far away from the muck, and out on good grass. I grew up with cattle; my father wouldn't have dreamed of having calving and nursing heifers penned up in muck like that. But then, my father grew up farming; Morgan and Allison are learning things the hard way. They're good people, and I think they'll take advice from more experienced people in a good spirit. I hope so.
@@lspthrattanLearning the hard way? Jeez, it doesn’t take a genius to know that that muck is full of bacteria which may be good for the soil but for open wounds and small animals like the calves which haven’t a developed immune system yet it’s death sentence. His wife is a practitioner nurse, jeez….
So sorry that you lost Prince, Morgan. You and Allison have done everything possible to get both Elliott Smith and Prince returned to good health. Hopefully, the vet will be able to provide some answers as to what went wrong. Please don't get down on yourself. You're a very caring and capable farmer.
So sorry Morgan, that's awful. I'd not calve in that paddock area next time. It's too small for the number of cattle to keep it clean enough. Babies need it clean, or out on pasture where the contaminants are more sparse, else they're very susceptible to scour from Rotavirus, which will kill them very quickly like that. Perhaps you could house the heavily pregnant girls on deep straw in the barn when they're due.
You're not failing, you're learning, there's a big difference. Keep strong x
Your wife is so lovely and gentle when she's mothering the babies. I know this is more of a sad, concerning video but it really is a treat whenever we get to see Allison interacting with the animals.
She's an RN.
@eric2500 I believe she's actually a nurse practitioner
Have you got bacteria lurking in the yard. Get them out in the field ASAP.
Agree and sanitize the whole farm
Agree...asap!
Yep. Should have been on grass from day 1.
My thoughts, also. That mucky, black, "pit of manure" is disgusting. Green grass is MUCH nicer.
Yeah I was thinking the same thing and if ya need to catch them you take some of the corral fence and bring it up and set it up to have on hand. But first wash the panels before bringing them up. But I really am sorry for your loss it's never easy Morgan it's never easy and we can all see you are trying your hardest.
You are being way too hard on yourself. Because you are a small operation, you are so much more connected and invested.
You are learning and you give the very best to your animals.
YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE
You are a success story in the making!
You have done everything right Morgan. As soon as you noticed Elliot was sick you took him to the vet. When he died you got his body tested. When Prince got sick you immediately jumped in to help him. And now you got your vet out for a health check on the herd and the cattle got their vaccines.
It’s really hard when the animals gets sick and dies so suddenly and especially the not knowing what’s causing it but you are clearly doing all the right things to try and protect your herd
Its been both the male calves that have been affected, the common denominator is the castration process. That's my thoughts.
I was wondering that too
I was thinking that as well
Can you move the mom calf pairs to another paddock. It's really muddy in there and so many things grow in those conditions.
Thinking the same thing
I second this opinion.
Plus their food is straight in the muddy, wet ground. Adults are probably not affected because of build up immunity but those babies are still trying things with their mouths and they are not strong enough.
Also Im wondering if the calves might ingest some of the mud from the outside of the udders of their moms. Dont know how often cows lie down though
@@papuzka0when he put it in the feeder the cows pulled it out and ate off the ground as cattle have been doing for hundreds of years.
You won't learn much without failing. You're doing great. Look at how much you've achieved. I've been watching you since 2018. You inspire me. Keep up the good work 👏
Okay, stop.
You're not a failure. Please don't punish yourself for the deaths of your cattle. It happens and until you find the reason, you've done everything in your power as a farmer and keeping everything working and moving forward.
Stay safe and if you need to take a break from social media, we're good and we'll be here for you.
❤
I wish I had the words to take your pain away. Loss of your animal, pets people are never easy to take. I love watching you work your farm. Please put a smile back on that face. We love you.
76-year-old grandma from Chicago
I love seeing you in the comments. What a joy you always are. Good day to you!❤
My heart dropped at the naming. Oh no, Morgan, I am so so sorry. Haven't watched the video yet, but you need the results of the autopsy and probably get the babies out of the mud.
Yes it is just like a feedlot and those animals are pumped full of antibiotics
Hi non-farmer and non-veternarian, casual viewer here. I saw a comment on one of the videos of Elliot Smith's decline that spoke against banding him, citing that as a possible cause of decline. I'm wondering: Was Prince banded too? I'm wondering this because it seems like only the male calfs are affected by whatever is going on in your herd. The female calfs + the mothers have a clean bill of health and I'm wondering if there's a link between banding and the calcium oxidate crystal formation in the kidneys.
If any farmers and/or vets want to educate me, you are all free to do so!
Also curious if there's a connection there. I hope the rest of the herd stays healthy in any case ❤
I Googled and couldn’t find any correlation to banding and kidney problems. There can be infection, usually after the scrotum falls off, but the necropsy ruled out infection. One article said to vaccinate against tetanus but didn’t give details.
@@SharonRepici it can cause urinary tract risks in goats if done too early
So sorry you lost Prince too, good lord that's gotta hurt. Hope you can move them out on the field sooner than later. Can't believe they have no answers between the autopsy and the labs, that's really frustrating. But common sense by moving them into a less muddy environment seems to be a sensible thing to do. Again sorry Morgan, but thank you for letting us know.👍❤️
If you’re committed to having a cow/calf operation I would put serious thought into the layout of the area around your barn. Honestly, where your birds are should be incorporated into a winter yard for the cattle. As others have noted where you have the cows contained to now is small with a ton of mud/manure, which unfortunately can be a recipe for disease and bacteria.
I'm so sorry, Morgan. You put your heart and soul into these cattle and to lose two of them in such a short time is heartbreaking. I hope that's the end of the tragedies for you. 💔
We got a couple calls out to the farm last week & again today asking if we'd lost any cattle, if they'd been tested for Bird flu. It's a hard spring on the farm.
Please know you're doing everything by the book and the reason for death may never be found. Just keep going. In the meantime, I agree with everyone saying the calves and moms should be elsewhere just as a precaution.
It's hard to hit the like button on this. My heart hurts for you guys.
You aren't a failure. This is farming. It's trial and error. We do our best for our animals but sometimes things don't go the way we hope. ❤
Compassion, kindness, and doing the best we can with what we know is all we're all capable of. I believe too that Morgan has always done his best and every animal is lucky if Morgan has tried for them. He can feel like a failure, but you're absolutely right, we don't see him as one. I hope he can learn even more from this, that he's willing to document. We can all seek invaluable data from his experiences. It might save another farmer if they learn from this!
Sorry to hear about your calves. I live in N.S. Canada, similar climate to yours. When we raised beef cows we always moved the cows that were with calf out of the winter pasture well before birthing time. The winter pasture has a build up of manure and urine and moldy hay tramped into the ground. No madder how careful you are you can't keep the winter pasture clean in the spring. More chance of parasites, bad milk from the mothers, and our cows layed in the mud and got al lot of Mastitis which is passed on to the calves. Some calves are just stronger than others. After we moved them every spring we lost fewer calves. JUST A THOUGHT.
OMG, I am so sorry. I am devastated and hope that the girls are still healthy.
So sorry for your loss. RIP Prince. You are not a failure. Last spring I was losing a lot of birds because of rats, wildlife, and humans killing off my birds. I worked on my farm. Going back to your videos. I got barn cats because of your videos. I know how you feel. But when we noticed that several of our birds were killed by humans because wildlife can erase SD cards from cameras was heartbreaking. I had tell my kids that their chickens are dead because they would come out to feed and water them and see that they are gone. So important to know that you are not a failure. Farming is not easy. And again so sorry for your loss.
You're not a failure, Morgan. You have helped so many people and your willingness to share the ups and the downs of farmlife inspires so many of us. Hang in there; better days ahead.
Thank you.
So sorry to hear about another calf. My Uncle and Grandpa were farmers and as a kid I experience farm death but have forgotten that feeling. I hope getting them out on grass will solve all the problems. Thinking of you.
Might be a bacterial outbreak in the lot as it is mud season so the conditions are prime for it to happen get them out into the main pasture asap to get them out of the muddy mess
I can't imagine guys. I'm so very sorry.
I’m so sorry, Morgan!! Please don’t beat yourself up. You’re not a failure. You’re doing the best you can with the information you have at the time. Hang in there!!!!
So sorry for the two calves you lost - know that it's a hit for you financially as well as emotionally.
Grew up on a dairy farm, and remember losing whole pens of calves to 'scour' (type of diarrhea, I think) in a day or two.
Oof. Thank you for making it through that much loss. It makes you a very calm source of experience for those of us that panic when it happens. Much appreciated for you not giving up and still talking about it. Gotta be tough to remember but a comfort to know we aren't alone. Thank you, genuinely. ❤
Oh no!!! I'm so sorry! 😞 those poor sweet little babies 😢 you and Allison are wonderful people doing the best you can.
Sorry for your loss, Morgen. I know how much you care about all your animals .
First of all, absolutely no failure on your part--every farmer goes through this, and every good farmer will question themselves when they do, but it's just the luck of the draw, unfortunately. You tried as hard as you could, and love your animals deeply. We only can do what we can do, the rest is 'a simple twist of fate'.
Secondly, I am SO SORRY about both your little guys, it's freaking heart-breaking, and most of us don't have the courage to even think of those losses, much less experience them. You're a brave, caring farmer who's suffered losses, and you did the smartest thing, to find a vet to test and check out your herd.
I know that people are run down as they come out of winter, after being cooped up for months, and I imagine animals suffer some of the same effects that way. Probably eating some green grass would be a wonderful thing right now for your cows. All the best, Morgan and Alison
So sorry for losing Prince. Glad the vet was there.
You are doing your best and providing loving care ❤
Oh my gosh!!! That’s so horrible 😢😢
Edit- I’m glad it ended off somewhat on a good note. But like I said, losing two in a week is horrifying.
Nooooo so sorry for your loss Morgan
You're not a failure, Morgan. You're an incredible person. It's o.k. to mourn the losses. Remember who loves you: wife, baby B, and cat.
Potentially, if it ends up not being disease or infection, it could be genetic. Since its happened to just the male calves so far, that's my theory.
Oh nooo!!! 😥 Morgan & Allison, I am so sorry for your loss of Prince!! 💔
That sucks Morgan hope it gets better man
❤ this sums up how everybody's feeling
As many people have voiced, I think there’s a bacteria or virus in the soil. I imagine after the winter the waste of all the cows has defrosted and that’s where the infections are coming from. I would move them out as soon as possible, the ground looks like a WW1 battlefield. I wish you all strength in these hard times!
He regularly picks up the frozen waste and pulls it on a plastic shed to the compost area away from the corral. Once it’s no longer freezing he rakes it into a pile and throws down hay to help with the mud.
Bringing 3 new cows into the mix may have something to do with it
Morgan I'm so sorry.... You know that we all care and give her condolences. Love and light for your future. 🤍🕊️🤍
I am so sorry for your loss. It's not your fault. You've done everything you could. Did your vet check for septicemia? You can't know everything. I look forward to your videos because you are so open and informative. Thank you for being you.
Thanks for the updates.
Hang in there Morgan, it is just the trials that all Farmers go through, don't beat yourself up. Hang in there you have all our backing, your
fans are with you.
It's nice to see you and Allison working together as a team through a hard time. Wishing you and yours a better turn here soon.
I am sorry for you, your wife, the mama cows, and the little ones. However, I am happy to hear that you have a vet now. Hopefully, things will turn out better soon. Letting them go on the pasture will bring a positive change to their environment and get them out of whatever might be out there in their current place.
He had a vet from the beginning. The video about the decline and death of the first calf tells how hard he worked to get veterinary input and care. He really did everything he could despite the cost and effort.
Your wife is so kind to help. I’m so sorry. Im heartbroken for you both.❤
Oh, Morgan and Allison, I'm so sorry for your loss! You have really had a trying past week or so. My heart just breaks for you. But you are amazing and I truly enjoy your sharing your farm experiences with us. It's real life, whether it pleases us or not. You are a champ, and we appreciate you.
So sad. Glad the vet came out. You're doing your best.
Oh nonono. Omg no 😔
I'm so sorry Morgan and Allison.
You're NOT a FAILURE or INCOMPETENT!!! You care for those farm animals better than some parents care for their children!!!
And THAT'S A FACT!!!
It's good that your vet is coming to check out the herd... I hope that you get some answers and they receive a clean bill of health...
Thinking of you during this difficult time...💕💕💕
Oh I am so sorry! This is so stressful for you and Allison! Big hugs and I’m praying for you all!! You are not a failure! You are a kind and caring farmer.
Oh Morgan, my heart dropped 🙁 when I saw the title. Another baby boy gone! Thank God the girls are thriving. Yes, get them to pasture - hopefully the rain will make the grass grow faster. It looked very green on your neighbor’s side. Crazy day, you did look spent. Prayers for everyone and every animal 🙏
Mother animals seem to know when their baby is not viable. I am sorry you are losing your calves. Many blessings to you and Alllison. Morgan, it is nature.
Have you tested for HPAI H5N1, the avian influenza that's spreading? It's airborne, and starting to spread human to human , too, with a lot of asymptomatic spread, too. Even if it seems unlikely, please test for it, to protect your entire farm.
oh im so sorry, wishing you lots of love.
You are not a failure. Being a farmer is not easy. May God Bless you
I understand your frustration and pain. We have been through pretty much everything possible in our time as farmers. This seems like something that is hard to diagnose.
Really sorry to hear about another calf but happy to hear that the rest seem fine. It's not your fault, it happens. Chin up and don't stop!
Maybe its because of the castration, they could get an infection. I think its pretty weird that it only hits the bull calves
Oh noo!! Another one!!! So sorry for your loss
Morgan and Allison, you two are some of the most caring, observant, and farm animal raising. Please do not give up what you do, you are doing your best for all of the Barn Babies…. Sending Hearts, Hugs, and Healings from NJ
Hey!I don't usually comment but I wanted to say, I am so sorry about losing your calf's, please know you are not a failure , these things can happen and sometimes all you can do is nothing until you actually know what is going on. I know how you feel, I have animals myself. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your wife!❤
I am so sorry for your loss. I know it has to be heartbreaking. Hang in there, you will figure it out and you will do better next year. You are always trying to figure out ways to help your animals you will figure this out too.
I'm not here to bash you or be negative , but i commented before of the barn being dirty and muddy not good for calves and some poeple didn't like it, i still believe that the deaths is cause by bacterial infection from the muddy, wet and dirty barrn they were barn in, can you imagine the mother lying in that muddy poop and the calv sucking in all that bacteria.
To avoid more death please remove them and please clean always and keep the area dry before the cows start delivery.
A few weeks ago I heard that there's been an issue with some cattle getting bird flu. I have no idea where or if that's been confirmed.
Oh no, that is bad news. You can see it in his eyes that he is not doing fine. I hope you will find out soon what is/was going on. R.I.P. Prince...
I am sorry about the boys Morgan. It's very sad but sometimes these things happen. I am confident everything that could be done, you did. HUGS
I'm so sorry about your loss Morgan, sending you a hug
I'm so sorry, you're going through this, i hope you find out what's going on so you can deal with it ♥
Oh Morgan I’m so sorry ❤ I can’t imagine your pain now, i hope the other calves stay healthy, and you figure out what’s causing this ❤
Sorry to hear about Prince. Hope you can put them into the fields soon and this helps the cattle develop healthily. Agree with the comments that it is probably worth a thorough deep clean of the barn area over the summer, even if it is worthless except for giving you reassurance.
So sorry to hear about the loss of another calf, it sucks to no end. Morgan I would strongly suggest you work the cattle through the squeeze and chute more often. Even if they don’t need anything done if they are use to it they wont fight you about doing it.
Morgan, it’s really sad that another calf passed away, but hopefully the other two will fare better. I’m also really glad you’re back on with a vet for the cows, i remember asking you about it a few months ago not having anything solid yet 😅. In any case we can all see how hard you fought and the real pain in your voice with the previous video and this one, keep up the good work and things will work out. Love your channel ❤
So sad to hear, hope things get better & you can work out what's going on ❤
I’m so sorry to hear about the second calf. Have you contacted the people you got the cows from? Don’t give up! You are not a failure at all!!!! I’m praying for you and the animals.
Heartbreak for certain. Not the update I was hoping for y'all. So much love you you guys, that's a terrible happening, but I know it will not be in vain. You'll get answers and learn along with us. So much peace to you.
The mounds of mud that form in that winter yard seem to be the culprit. Its a breeding grounds for deseese all that stagnant moistness, the poop thats feeding the bacteria. Compared to the inside the barn where it's dry and the ground is solid the outside is straight up looking bad.
When you put them in the pasture, you rotate them so they don't trample the ground so they are not "knee deep" in dirt and poop but this tiny yard is kinda the hot spot for trouble.
Please ask the vet ti perform a necroscopy to the second calf. Only doing so you might understand more.
I am so sorry you lost both of your steers. I hope you and Allison are doing okay, as well as the mother cows. I do agree with the others to move them out of the cattle yard (you probably did this by now) to get the herd away from any contamination. You are probably cleaning the winter yard as best as you can (farmers and ranchers can give you tips on how to do this if you need them). Kidneys are fickle things at times. Goodness knows what caused the crystallization. Virus, bacteria, genetics, etc. You might want to contact the people you got Randy and the girls from to see if they have had any issues like this with their herd. I pray the hefers stay healthy. I will keep you, Allison, and all of your animals in my thoughts. You and Allison are such caring people and take good care of the animals. You are not a failure, Morgan. Unfortunately, no matter how well we take care of our animals, these things happen. I hope you, since time has passed, are not being as hard on yourself. Take care. Godspeed, little Prince and Elliot.
I am so sorry, Morgan. Praying for you and your farm. ❤
I’m so sorry.
It’s so hard to have this happen. Especially when they are a baby.
What you want to do is look at their poop. If they are scouring they are not good.
You are doing right by getting those tests.
Sometimes things just happen and you aren’t a failure. Think of it like being a doctor or something. Doctors can’t save everyone. They just do what they can how they can with what they know.
Same with animal care. You are doing the best you can, how you can with what you know
Omg I’m so sorry for your loss
I'm so sorry for your loss. You are doing everything you can for your animals and are one of the most wholesome farmers for real!
Morgan, once again I am so sorry to hear this. You lost two golden kids here. But you have to keep your head up. I know the stress. Staying with the cow all night to make sure the north goes well and the colostrum gets into the system. When I had wild turkeys, I lost several in a week. Mom informed me of grandpas recipe of hard boiled eggs and nettle chopped up. He was a black marketeer after the war in east Germany. So livestock was gold! It worked!!!! I also began using 1 teaspoon of tetracycline in the chick water for the first month. Also two tablespoons sugar in the water for two weeks. When we brought calves home, we often had scours. Here we bottle fed purina calf milk along with an antibiotic the vet supplied. I know elk moms disappear to give birth alone. They remain alone for a week or so to kick start the immune system and have mom and calf bond.
The worst thing about Vermont is the muddy season. Large critters can make quite a mess. And it’s a potential germ bed. You did not mention if the necropsy included any cultures.
It’s important to find out what happened. Highlands are high value cows. Ralph L. Wants to sell me a black waiygu cow. So plans are to get highlands and waigu cattle. So WE will have to march forward and learn from this. Any resources from the University of Vermont? They were quite helpful with my maple syrup issues.
Heads up and Forward. It’s the green mountain boy way of life!
Also might want to look into the age of banding and the size of urethra...something to think about...makes a difference in goat kids...
The farm life has its ups and downs, it ain’t easy. You and Allison will get this figured out, your farm will thrive. If it was easy we all would be farmers.
Highland cows are built for outdoor large open fields/hills with places to shelter when needed. They do not do well in small enclosures that are muddy and dirty. I am from the north east of Scotland with family history in rearing highland cattle for Aberdeen Angus meat. We love our wee beasties and take great pride in providing the best of care and environment for them. They are tough, sturdy beasts, if they are ill then there is something serious wrong!
Poor baby. I'm sorry for your farm family's loss. 💗 It's hard to not think, what could I have done differently. But I've been watching your videos for a long time -- I know I'm just an internet stranger, but you give those animals an excellent, excellent life. It's obvious you care a lot. Thanks for sharing with us.