So dissapointed :(

[copperhead]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to talk to my vets tomarrow and ask them about the necropsy route. I have no aversion to eating an animal that I have raised on this farm, I just don't know whats wrong with her and do have an aversion to eating a sick animal. We don't have a place to hang her for a couple of weeks while I wait on results and the local butcher won't take an animal over 30 months because of the mad cow regs, says it's just too much trouble. My vets are pretty good guys and I'll ask them about whats best, I'll let you know what I come up with............thanks again, it's nice to know folks who care about all our animals.

[littlecowfl]

Since "Mad Cow" was mentioned, I thought it would be good to describe the symptoms of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).


Nervousness or aggression
Change in attitude and behavior
Abnormal posture
Coordination problems
Difficulty in walking or getting up off the ground
Reduced milk production
Acute muscular twitching
Unexplained loss of body weight in spite of a good appetite
Severe moaning and ultimately death

It can go undetected for years in cattle until they begin showing signs. However, seizures would be more of an end stage type symptom, accompanied by the inability to get up and proceeded by some of the other symptoms described.

From the description given, I doubt copperhead's poor cow has it.

[cddexter]

and you might add that the final stages (a) DON'T last for months and months, and (b) do get progressively a lot worse, with the cow attacking trees, posts, barns, people, other cows, etc. major staggering, a dazed look, and difficulty in controlling motor muscles--none of which were symptoms ever raised here.

with north america paranoid about bse, and the power of the gov't to take measures into their own hands with no comeback (a) because they can, (b) in the interests of protecting the industry, and (c) because the individuals involved want to make sure they have their personal backsides covered just in case,

To bring up bse as a potential issue was ill informed, profoundly ill thought out, and actually a lot more dangerous to copperhead that the disease. If she has an overly zealous usda official in her neighborhood, 'just to be safe' he has the authority to take the cow, and even before any tests are done, to have her entire herd destroyed, all in the name of public safety. That could extend to any animals she has sold on, too.

VERY dangerous to toy with fear coupled with power. c.

[copperhead]

I'm with you on that, Carol, I sure don't want the govt in on any part of this. this ol girl doesn't have bse, her symptoms are more like epilepsy, she's fine then all of a sudden it hits, then passes, and everything is fine, till the next one. She's been to the vet at least 10 times, they don't know what it is, but, I think, would know if it was bse, or maybe even suspect. I'll talk to them tomarrow, then make a decision about her fate.

[Maple View Farm]

Sending you a hug! I am so sorry. Will pray for your comfort and peace.
Take care

[littlecowfl]

I completely agree about not calling in the cavalry over seizures in a cow. It's overkill.

How you get some good answers soon, copperhead.

[Olga]

Please accept a second hug. Hopefully it will be over soon.

[copperhead]

You guys make me feel all weepy, thanks, hugs are good, I'll give them to Jade.

[ssrdex]

These little cattle are so sweet natured & easy to love. Sorry you're going through this.

[copperhead]

Well, it's over. Vets said there was too much liability for the school involved in taking a cow with seizures, so we just put her down.