Scottish Highland calving

Michelle Forrest

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Mar 14, 2019
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
17
I went out to check on our two Scottish Highland heifers. They were bred this summer, although we never saw any action from the visiting bull. Anyway, they were bagging up and such. When I went out to check, I was checking over the one I thought would calve sooner. The other stood up and I noticed what seemed like afterbirth hanging. But no calf. I then started walking back to the barn and spotted a calf under a tree. He was dead. His eyes were open and he had blood in his mouth. It looked like the mother didn’t clean him up much and his body was already stiff. Any idea what might have happened? I’m thinking he was born alive but might have been neglected. His mother was across the pasture from him. Does it seem like she’s the issue? Now I’m watching the other like a hawk. So sad because this was the calf I could feel kicking in the mother’s belly.
 
Top