Calf issue - cough?

dhermesc

Well-known Member
We currently have three beef calves that the kids are raising as 4H projects. Two are black angus and the third is a great looking red calf of unknown breed (short horn?). One of the black angus calves and the red calf developed a cough a month ago - at first it was just after they sucked down a bottle and then they started to cough while standing around in their pen. When that started I gave both calves 6 days of LA200 and they seemed to quit.

A couple days after I stopped treatment they both started to cough again after eating their bottle. Eventually the angus quit coughing all togather while the red calf seems to be getting worse - for about two weeks now. I just went through 4 days of LA200 again and its had no effect. Do I have a bigger issue and need something more powerful or do I let her get through it on her own? She's a great looking calf and is almost 2 months old (well developed with muscle and very "slick" looking). She's not off her feed and is extremely strong.

They were just turned out on a couple acres of grass to get them out of their pen.
 
Could be lungworm, calves usually get it when first turned out on grass, might want to consult your vet and get an appropriate wormer, can result in pneumonia or death.
 
Why are you using LA200? Are they running a temperature? Are they having difficulty breathing and standing stretched out?
Have you treated them for worms?
 
I would hold off on pumping them full of LA200. This time of year and (and without know the back history of the calves) I would give them a dose of wormer and then keep a check. If not better after a week then check with a vet.

Use Ivomec or Cydectin wormer.
 
Another thought you said this calf is being fed a bottle.How big is the hole in the nipple? My vet had a fit about using nipples with big holes, they allow to much milk in the throat at a time and some can end up in the lungs and cause a cough.New nipples especially for smaller calves and alot of our coughing stopped.
 

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