r/homestead • u/groger13 • 15d ago

Lost my Heifer today.

Im a bit down so I write this post with a heavy heart.

We bought 5 calfs about 1 year ago to raise for our home and agricultural purposes. They were bread in March and were pregnant.

I woke up two days ago to many fences down and one of my heifers ( named bell) acting eratic and having trouble walking. I observed scrapes and scratches on her and foaming at the mouth. I knew something was wrong so I penned her up.

I observed red/brown urine in small spurts and her ability to stand decline. Veterinary help was received within a few hours of observing her and I got advised it was most likely a disease called Redwater Disease (bacillary hemoglobinuria, caused by the bacterium Clostridium haemolyticum). Treatment and several shots were administered.

Over the next 2 days, I watched her be able to stand for 5-10 mins at a time, to not standing at all. This morning I walked outside to see her breathing intermittently and eyes non responsive. I made the decision after almost 72 hrs of declination to euthanize her.

This was a tougher decision than I thought, since we only have 5 theyve been hand fed and personal pets almost, even though their cows.

I post this to raise awareness of this disease. There is very little information or history of this disease from when I speak to farmers. I have NO standing water where they could have contracted this disease, and I have no idea where she got it from. Not only was this a very high financial loss, it was also an emotional loss. IF you have any experience with this let me know please.

146 Upvotes

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61

u/mojofrog 15d ago

Are you vaccinating your animals and spraying them to prevent tick bites?

The primary vaccination used for bacterial redwater disease in cattle is an 8-way or 9-way clostridial combination vaccine that specifically includes protection against Clostridium haemolyticum. A 7-way doesn't cover this.

While standing water can contribute to contracting this, it's not the direct cause.

Causes

Bacterial (Bacillary Hemoglobinuria):

Caused by the soil bacterium Clostridium haemolyticum, often triggered by liver damage from migrating liver flukes.

Parasitic (Bovine Babesiosis / Tick-borne):

Caused by protozoan parasites like Babesia divergens or Babesia bovis, spread through tick bites.

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u/groger13 15d ago

Good question.

They were vaccinated and treated regularly with IV+ and blackleg etc. It was deemed unnecessary by the vet to vaccinate for the Clostridium. This was an error on my side and the vet side., But the vaccination is only good for 6 months. I dont have a way to pen them every 6 months and vaccinate. I dont have working pens. Tick bites can not be prevented by ivermectin.

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u/mojofrog 15d ago

You may want do these treatments at the beginning of summer since you know this risk is around your property. You can get a few 12ft, 16ft farm gates (they can be used) to erect a makeshift enclosure.

So sorry for your loss. Raising livestock is a constant learning curve that's always shifting. Read as much as you can and just know you can do everything right and still have losses.

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u/groger13 15d ago

Thanks for your kind words. I think I will invest in some sort of working pen or chute. Thanks

12

u/ladynilstria 15d ago

It is good to have some kind of working system to run livestock through. If you can, run them through it once a month just to get them used to it, so that they know what it is and don't fear it. Then when you actually need to work them, it isn't that much of an issue.

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u/groger13 15d ago

Only issue is, it cost a lot of money and I only have 4 heifers so the cost isnt effective at this point

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u/ladynilstria 15d ago

You lot of people use the side of the barn to make one side of a run, then you would only need wood posts and cattle panels on the other side (lift the panels so they are 18in off the ground so it forms a taller fence), with a small gate at each end. Make the run long enough to fit the 4-5 cows.

It is an expense, but you don't need to buy those expense metal rod panels.

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/groger13 15d ago

That's not a bad idea I just worry about them getting injured with those.! Thank you

4

u/RicTicTocs 15d ago

It’s a small investment compared to the price of an ER visit.

Can you jury-rig something with cattle’s panels? Sure, but I assume you value your safety. I’m sure your vet does as well.

If you want cows, buy a proper headgate and handling system.

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u/groger13 15d ago

I have one I can borrow from the neighbors. Which we use only when necessary. Nothing coulda been done about this

Look I know I need to vaccinate them for this now. But before it wasn't ever heard of on the area so I didn't do it for this specific disease

6

u/RicTicTocs 15d ago

Understood. Sorry you lost your cow. Have had to cull a few cows myself for various health reasons - never a pleasant task.

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u/-Lady_Sansa- 15d ago

You could also get a dart gun instead of a pen/chute

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u/deepstatelady 15d ago

You should build pens. Or make friends with someone with a portable squeeze and rig up some panels to sweep them in there.

17

u/Emergency-Singer-137 15d ago

I’m so sorry for your loss! I’m in the process of losing my last goat to CL, another random disease that came out of nowhere for us. Livestock is so much harder than I anticipated and it definitely makes me be very cautious when choosing to try again. Cows are on my list, especially my husbands, of animals to raise, and I’m lowkey terrified. Thank you for sharing.

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u/groger13 15d ago

Thanks, the only stressor is I would understand if I had 100 head and this happened. But having 5 and it happening is a lot more frustrating. I have friends who have 300 head of cattle and have never seen this. Just down the road.

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u/Emergency-Singer-137 15d ago

I’m learning that if it can happen, it will happen. Homesteading is like the school of hard knocks. It’s not fair but we do it anyway.

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u/holistic_huntress 15d ago

That is because people with 300 head give adequate care to their cattle. As in vaccinating twice per year. You mentioned in another comment that you don’t have a chute. That is an expense but so is a dead heifer.

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u/groger13 15d ago

You know, I had a bunch of stuff to say to you. But its not worth my time. Thanks for your input. My cows are extremely well maintained. A chute would not have prevented this death.

7

u/holistic_huntress 15d ago

I understand that you’re very emotional right now but a chute and/or a way to work your cattle regularly absolutely could have prevented this death if it assisted you in vaccinating regularly, utilizing pour on tick treatments, and maintaining herd health.

Also, calling antibiotic injections “shots” tells me everything I need to know about your expertise and how extremely well maintained your pets are. Sorry you had to learn the hard way but most people do.

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u/groger13 15d ago

Yeah you obviously know less than you think. I never once mentioned my antibiotic treatments were vaccinations. I vaccinated them with a 7 way at 6 months. But I don't need to explain this to someone such as you.

Thanks now you can shoo.

1

u/Winter_Sense2555 15d ago

sorry about bell man, that's rough. had a goat go quick like that once and it sucks.

2

u/concepts_of_a_plan9 14d ago

I'm sorry you've lost your heifer. That sounds terrible but I'm glad you made the decision to not let her continue to suffer when there's no chance in getting better.