fairfarmhand Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I lost my very favorite cow in the whole world a couple weeks ago. She had a disease that is fairly contaigous, that she likely caught from the dairy where she originated. My other Jersey cow and my Holstein heifer calf both came from other places, but they have to be tested for the same illness. If they are positive, there is no cure. They must be sold for slaughter, as they can/could pass the illness to our beef animals. Yesterday, I took a vial of blood from both of my cows and this morning I dropped it off at the vets. Won't have the results till mid-week next week, The killer thing is this. Even if there's a negative result, we will ahve to wait a few weeks to get a definitive result while they test the feces with a culture to be sure. So I'll be potentially waiting for weeks to get the all clear. If they are positive, then they will have to go. We will also have to test our fall calves from the last couple years, and sell the ones for slaughter that come up positive. I'm very nervous about all of this. I think a positive result will make me sick. The Jersey is worht about 1200-1500 right now as a milker. Selling her for slaughter will give me maybe half of that. The Holstein baby (this is the one in my siggie) is my daughter's bottle baby. She loves that cow so much. She'll be heartbroken. We will make our money back on her, but that's not my main concern. Not to mention the exposure of our other valuable beef animals. Positive results in our beef herd could set us back years. I'm a wreck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icollectkids Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 :( We are just starting accumulating animals. (city folk trying country living... lol) I'm so afraid of something like that happening! Right now we just have 18 chickens. Soon (in a month or so...) we'll be adding dairy goats. :-S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I am clueless when it comes to cows but sounds like you need a :grouphug: sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 I am clueless when it comes to cows but sounds like you need a :grouphug: sorry! thanks. I'm trying not to think about it. But the more I try not to think about it the more I think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I'm sorry. I have some experience with what it is like to depopulate a place--and I know what you are dreading. I'll say a prayer for your animals right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajfries Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Ugh, that is awful, I'm so sorry! My grandpa & dad both raise beef (on a small scale; they usually have about 20 head or so). The waiting is the hardest because there's nothing you can DO. Obviously positive results would be devastating, I always do better if I have a course of action. I do hope you get the all clear and can get back to your normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I never feel eloquent in writing but wow, I'm really sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I am sorry you lost your favourite cow. :( Waiting for test results can be agonizing. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 I am sorry you lost your favourite cow. :( Waiting for test results can be agonizing. :grouphug: Thanks. Here's the blog post I wrote about it. http://www.grit.com/animals/cattle/losing-lady.aspx It was one of the worst farming experiences I've had. I still miss her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Oh farmhand, this is hard, the waiting, caring for the animals. Not only are you facing financial losses (potentially) but also the animal itself. If there are positive results, is the illness too contagious to keep your dd's cow even if she is separated from the beef animals? Or would it be just silly to keep a large animal when it cannot produce either milk or meat? Praying for negatives results across the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 well, got the results today. My yearling Holstein heifer is negative. My mature milk cow, Blossom, who is just now getting in to the prime milking years, who I trained, worked, and finally behaves right. Who finally has teats long enough to hand milk. is positive. Previously, I could get 1200-1500 for her. Slaughter value? I'll be lucky to get 800 for her. Here's the kicker. Vet says that Valentine, despite her negative, could possibly still have it. She may not have been to the point of the disease where she's shedding the bacteria. ugh. What to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Oh, that's terrible. Can you quarantine Valentine until she can be retested? So sorry about Blossom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 We have hand reared hand milked cows. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I would rather something happened to the dog than the cow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I talk to the trees Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: I am so sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Oh my goodness. :grouphug: I am so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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