We have been having quite a few hardships in the last couple months, not able to find answers and basically just ready to give up...
It all started with a steer we found dead one morning. At evening milking everyone looked well, then there he was in front of the gate dead and bloated only 8 hours later. We passed it off as bloat, fenced off the excess alfalfa in the field they were in and left it at that. A week and a half later, we pushed the remaining steers out of that field and out with the horses because they were caught drinking on the milk cows (these are 1-2 year old steers). The next day I took a trip to deliver birds and my hubby called me to say that one of the steers appeared blind. Was walking right through fences. So we pushed him back out with the cows because he knew that field, but just started turning circles. I contacted a vet and he said maybe Alkali poisoning, there was some in the horse field so figured yes must be it and sent him off to be butchered since he was the right size anyways.
Well now 2 1/2 weeks after that we get home from our Anniversary weekend away and find my milk cow Hayley, very thin, and blind. We have now figured out it is our water, very high in TDS (which we already knew but was told it was ok for cattle) and after the flood last year we knew our well had some issues but didnt know how extreme. The salinity in the water (sulfates) has increased and has caused Thiamine Deficiency in these cattle, causing the brain to swell and them to go blind. I treated her yesterday, sent in blood samples to ensure it is not lead poisoning (which presents most of the same symptoms and since we had the other one butchered for consumption need to know). She is still blind, but she did get up and drink on her own last night, she had lost that reflex so we were very happy when she had a drink. But this am she will not drink again. I will go out now and medicate her again, vet says it could take up to 5 days for her to resume on her own without medication. Many that are huge cattle ranchers probably dont understand my dilema, this cow means a lot to us and I will do what I can, if she ends up for the worse I will do what needs to be done to end her suffering but right now I feel I need to help her if I can.
Hubby and I were up till after 1 am this morning moving cattle, the neighbor has graciously allowed us to move our cows that need to be bred into his breeding field he had only a few head in, and our steers into his other field with his steers he is fattening up. Our horses and sheep we are starting to haul water for because they dont consume as much as the cattle do. We returned the bull we were renting and hopefully now we can just focus on getting Hayley better and hopefully no other cows get like her now they are on good water we have high hopes they will all be ok.
I have a very heavy heart knowing that if we cannot find good water I will have to sell all these cows, most likely my sheep as well. The birds we have already been hauling water for last year and this year, and another reason I need to downsize some, summer is ok but winter is hard to keep the water tank warm enough and yet accessible enough.
It all started with a steer we found dead one morning. At evening milking everyone looked well, then there he was in front of the gate dead and bloated only 8 hours later. We passed it off as bloat, fenced off the excess alfalfa in the field they were in and left it at that. A week and a half later, we pushed the remaining steers out of that field and out with the horses because they were caught drinking on the milk cows (these are 1-2 year old steers). The next day I took a trip to deliver birds and my hubby called me to say that one of the steers appeared blind. Was walking right through fences. So we pushed him back out with the cows because he knew that field, but just started turning circles. I contacted a vet and he said maybe Alkali poisoning, there was some in the horse field so figured yes must be it and sent him off to be butchered since he was the right size anyways.
Well now 2 1/2 weeks after that we get home from our Anniversary weekend away and find my milk cow Hayley, very thin, and blind. We have now figured out it is our water, very high in TDS (which we already knew but was told it was ok for cattle) and after the flood last year we knew our well had some issues but didnt know how extreme. The salinity in the water (sulfates) has increased and has caused Thiamine Deficiency in these cattle, causing the brain to swell and them to go blind. I treated her yesterday, sent in blood samples to ensure it is not lead poisoning (which presents most of the same symptoms and since we had the other one butchered for consumption need to know). She is still blind, but she did get up and drink on her own last night, she had lost that reflex so we were very happy when she had a drink. But this am she will not drink again. I will go out now and medicate her again, vet says it could take up to 5 days for her to resume on her own without medication. Many that are huge cattle ranchers probably dont understand my dilema, this cow means a lot to us and I will do what I can, if she ends up for the worse I will do what needs to be done to end her suffering but right now I feel I need to help her if I can.
Hubby and I were up till after 1 am this morning moving cattle, the neighbor has graciously allowed us to move our cows that need to be bred into his breeding field he had only a few head in, and our steers into his other field with his steers he is fattening up. Our horses and sheep we are starting to haul water for because they dont consume as much as the cattle do. We returned the bull we were renting and hopefully now we can just focus on getting Hayley better and hopefully no other cows get like her now they are on good water we have high hopes they will all be ok.
I have a very heavy heart knowing that if we cannot find good water I will have to sell all these cows, most likely my sheep as well. The birds we have already been hauling water for last year and this year, and another reason I need to downsize some, summer is ok but winter is hard to keep the water tank warm enough and yet accessible enough.
i hope you guys get everything figured out there and praying a miracle happens for your haley 
. And by the way, if anyone can solve this problem, its you- there is a reason so many people look to you for advice. Hang tight and take advantage of the offers to help. You will get through this. 
) 
