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Thumb of Michigan | Need some of NAT’s expertise. A neighbor of a neighbor (NB) bought 26 calves from around 250 miles away out of state a couple weeks ago. I’m told these calves were around 300#, but (red flag) he bought them from what appears to be a cattle jockey of some sort and paid cash even. Within a few days the new owner (NB) had 4-5 dead stock, he (NB) had a vet tech out and IDK what diagnosis/treatment was. Apparently, they would look OK in morning or evening and dead 12-24 hours later. NB now only has 4-5 live calves and 20+ buried calves. Was talking to first neighbor today, they thought maybe ‘shipping fever” might be a possibility?
First neighbor were dairy farmers forever (as dad and grandpa were), just switched to beef a couple of years ago. My background is dairy (as my dad and grandpa were), until about 5 decades ago, but neither of us has ever been around/exposed to ‘shipping fever’.
My question is if those calves died from shipping fever, should we be concerned, being are cattle are as close as ½ mile (neighbor) and 4 miles as the crow flies for me? If there is a potential problem, what, if any steps to take. My cows/calves are out on pasture, neighbor smaller pastures/with some hay, they won’t start calving for another couple weeks.
TIA
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Dying calves - help-expertise needed
