Cattle question

The wife & I been rasing 6 black angus cows here for 5 years or so. They are all natural, rotated every 3-4 days between 5 small pastures. They are pretty tame & pampered & show it. We started rolling out & and spreading hay across the pasture to distribute organic matter evenly. Problem I'm having is last 2 years some calves are born with a cough, we assumed it was from birth process but doesn't seem to be the case & quickly give a shot of antibiotics. We haven't lost one yet but the one born yesterday looks weak & only nursed once after birth. We mixed up some clostrum mix ,tried to give it to her but she wasm't interested at all. I'm wondering If we're gonna have to start a vaccination program. Any advice appreciated , thanks,  keith so. va. 

5 years and no vaccinations for cows or calves?!  That would be where I start, but I guess you do you.  

I don't think the unrolling of hay has anything to do with it, I just mentioned that as part of trying to improve pasture. Although mama cows 2-3 years ago, once in a while would start coughing but seem to go away on it's own. It would come & go but they never seemed distressed, no labored breathing, coats look good, look like they are ready for show! If the hay made the cows cough, would that make a new born calf cough?? Doesn't make sense to me, my parents both smoked & coughed but I don't think I was born coughing.... 64 yrs. ago I can't remember!! We do use pour-on wormer & a little fly spray & fly block in summer. Tbone your opinion regular vaccinations would fix this???  If so is this something we can do or have to call the vet.? We have a headgate installed at the loading chute. thanks keith ,so.va.

I have a friend that keeps a top notch bull,I rent from him. It'll be a different one this year.

tractorboy wrote: I don't think the unrolling of hay has anything to do with it, I just mentioned that as part of trying to improve pasture. Although mama cows 2-3 years ago, once in a while would start coughing but seem to go away on it's own. It would come & go but they never seemed distressed, no labored breathing, coats look good, look like they are ready for show! If the hay made the cows cough, would that make a new born calf cough?? Doesn't make sense to me, my parents both smoked & coughed but I don't think I was born coughing.... 64 yrs. ago I can't remember!! We do use pour-on wormer & a little fly spray & fly block in summer. Tbone your opinion regular vaccinations would fix this???  If so is this something we can do or have to call the vet.? We have a headgate installed at the loading chute. thanks keith ,so.va.

Edited by Tbone95 - 20 Mar 2023 at 10:35am

tractorboy wrote: I don't think the unrolling of hay has anything to do with it, I just mentioned that as part of trying to improve pasture. Although mama cows 2-3 years ago, once in a while would start coughing but seem to go away on it's own. It would come & go but they never seemed distressed, no labored breathing, coats look good, look like they are ready for show! If the hay made the cows cough, would that make a new born calf cough?? Doesn't make sense to me, my parents both smoked & coughed but I don't think I was born coughing.... 64 yrs. ago I can't remember!! We do use pour-on wormer & a little fly spray & fly block in summer. Tbone your opinion regular vaccinations would fix this???  If so is this something we can do or have to call the vet.? We have a headgate installed at the loading chute. thanks keith ,so.va.

Viruses and bacteria can be passed to chicks from the hens so I would think it could be in cows as well. Also happens in humans. Dealing with that in this flock as a matter of fact.

My cows are diametrically opposed to angus, Guernseys, but it is rare but not impossible for a calf to be born with a respiratory issue. Vacination is important for brood cows but also make sure the cows are calving in a clean dry disinfected place. I like triagle 10 as an injectable twice a year. If you are calving in yearling or first calf heifers maybe a pre natal vacine might help but that seems to help. I have used enforce three as nasal for new borns but again, that is more for protection in the first couple of days not right at birth.

Maybe the beef guys can add in here but it sounds to me a little more nutritional. First thing that came to mind for me was white muscle disease or low selinium(vitamin e) A dose of mu se two prior to due date for the other mothers at this point might be a good place to start

dr p wrote: My cows are diametrically opposed to angus, Guernseys, but it is rare but not impossible for a calf to be born with a respiratory issue. Vacination is important for brood cows but also make sure the cows are calving in a clean dry disinfected place. I like triagle 10 as an injectable twice a year. If you are calving in yearling or first calf heifers maybe a pre natal vacine might help but that seems to help. I have used enforce three as nasal for new borns but again, that is more for protection in the first couple of days not right at birth. Maybe the beef guys can add in here but it sounds to me a little more nutritional. First thing that came to mind for me was white muscle disease or low selinium(vitamin e) A dose of mu se two prior to due date for the other mothers at this point might be a good place to start

Edited by Tbone95 - 22 Mar 2023 at 9:01am

The cows teats are clean, they stay in a pretty clean enviroment with the 5 pasture rotation . Thanks for everyones opinion , I'll do more research after the other 3 are born. thanks! keith , so.va.

I will add one more reason to not spread rolled hay all over --- and never spread manure on your pasture fields --- NEVER --- unless you want weeds spread all over.

I have to agree with Tbone95. I run 50 cows/calf pairs. Sometimes I will background an additional 120 steers, depending on how much hay I have. Rolling my hay allows me to do it all by myself. One man operation.

To address original question. I recommend consulting a local vet. They know specific viruses, bacterium, and deficiencies that are present in the area and can recommend vaccination/mineral program tailored for your herd. Conditions and strains of disease are different depending on what part of the country you’re in. Just my advice, hope it helps. Thanks

Cattle update, The other 4 births went fine no coughing. Only thing we came up with for the other one was,  1.the mom had an abnormal amount of ambiotic fluid & the calf got more than her share in her respitory tract, 2. it was a wind chill of 24 when she was born. We do raise some of our own hay, bout 200 squares each year, put up right & the cows love it. The round bales come in handy as we both work full time. We have a ring but only use it when the bull comes to keep him happy. I roll out & then spread by hand the round bales to evenly distribute the organic matter. This is the 2nd year for rolling & the pastures look much better already. I don't think a small operation can afford a vet. Ours are terrible here. One came out cut out an abcess on her foot $450.00 , should have rushed her to the sale but wife was attached. What got me was he cut on her hoof & put nothing on it, let her out of the headgate where she stepped immediately into a fresh manure pile !  Oh well , thanks for all the input & I will be getting a moisture meter to check the hay before I buy! keith, so.va.

I would agree there can be a lot of waste with round bales, especially when they are left right in the field. But i think all of us can agree it doesn't really matter if hay is round or square, if you make it correctly it can be great and if you don't crap is crap. But thinking you can make enough small squares to feed a big beef herd, you either need a highly specialized equipment or a very fertile wife