RIP Rocky ~ Brahman bull calf

[meadowb]

Sadly our family suffered another loss. It isn't a horse but he was loved none the less. Rocky was a 6 month old registered Brahman bull calf. He belonged to my oldest daughter and was to be her show animal for this comming fair season. We had the vet out on Friday the 14th to have Rocky dehorned. a short time later he died of shock. Brahman are VERY sensitive animals and have to be treated like horses. He was sedated lightly to reduce stress but it just was to much for him I guess. We are new to the brahman and this is DEVISTATION to our herd, but most importantly our hearts (he was our first calf born).








He was sedated with 1 ml of Xylazine. Does anyone out there have any expierence with this?

Meadow

[NanciK]

Oh, no! My heart goes out to you and your family, and rest in peace, sweet Rocky. He looks just like a little angel. Your daughter must be overcome with grief. There are just no words when things like this happen. I'm so sorry.

Perhaps share this poem with your daughter:

~ I’LL LEND YOU FOR A LITTLE WHILE ~

I'll lend you for a little while
My grandest foal, He said.
For you to love while he's alive
And mourn for when he's dead.

It may be one or twenty years,
Or days or months, you see.
But will you, till I take him back
Take care of him for me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief
You'll have treasured memories
As solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught on earth
I want this foal to learn.

I've looked the wide world over
In my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes
With trust, I have selected you.

Now will you give him your total love?
Nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come
To take him back again?

I know you'll give him tenderness
And love will bloom each day
And for the happiness you've known
Forever grateful stay.

But should I come and call for him
Much sooner than you'd planned
You'll brave the bitter grief that comes
... And someday you'll understand.

[kivasgirl]

So sorry to hear of this loss. What a shock this must be for all of you.
Do you have any other contacts (folks with Brahmas)?
I know there is a farm with Brahmas in Clackamas county, right off of Hwy. 212 at the Carver exit. Been there for years. I can try to locate a name/number for you if that might help for info.
You, and Rocky, are in my thoughts and prayers.

[sunlightslady]

soorry to hear that I like the breed I think they are beautiful animals

[swissgrl]

Sorry you lost Rocky. He was a cute little guy.

[Admin]

So sorry to hear of your loss! He is a cutie.

Here is some info for you:

Xylazine hydrochloride (Rompun) is a medication commonly used in laboratory animal anesthesia. It is an alpha2-agonist with sedative and analgesic properties.

First synthesized in Germany in 1962 for use as an antihypertensive agent, it was found to have potent sedative effects. Specific actions are related to CNS depression mediated by stimulation of alpha2 receptors.

Muscle relaxation is caused by inhibition of intra neural transmission within the CNS.

In several laboratory species (i.e. rodents, rabbits, ruminants, ferrets) xylazine has proven to be a safe anesthetic adjunct when coadministered with ketamine to induce short periods of surgical anesthesia. When combined with ketamine, muscle relaxation and visceral analgesia are improved, and emergence from anesthesia is smoother. Other anesthetic agents (i.e. butorphanol, guaifenesin, benzodiazepines) have also been combined with xylazine to obtain surgical anesthesia.

Major effects develop in approximately 10 to 15 minutes after intramuscular administration of xylazine and within 3 to 5 minutes following intravenous administration. When administered alone intravenously, xylazine induces bradycardia and a brief period of hypertension (5-10 minutes) followed by a longer period of decreased cardiac output and blood pressure.

The initial hypertension is caused by xylazine’s action at peripheral postsynaptic adrenergic receptors, which produces vascular smooth muscle contraction and vasoconstriction. Eventual reductions in blood pressure are due to decreased sympathetic tone resulting from xylazine’s activation of central and presynaptic sympathetic neuronal alpha2 adrenoceptors. Intramuscular administration of the drug does not produce this dramatic initial increase in blood pressure and vascular resistance.

The most commonly encountered arrhythmogenic effects of xylazine include sinoatrial block, atrioventricular block, bradycardia, first- and second-degree heart block, AV dissociation, and sinus arrhythmia.
Respiratory rate decreases with the administration of xylazine. However, arterial pH, PaO2, and PaCO2 remain unchanged or are only minimally altered. Various alterations in gastrointestinal function have been reported following xylazine administration. These include hyper salivation (ruminants), prolonged gastrointestinal transit time (mice), and vomiting (dogs and cats—due to central alpha2-adrenoceptor activation).

Xylazine causes transient hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia in several species. The magnitude and duration of these actions appear to be dose dependent. In ruminants, xylazine increases myometrial tone and intrauterine pressure.

Mydriasis is commonly observed after xylazine administration. This effect is caused by central inhibition of parasympathetic tone to the iris and/or direct sympathetic stimulation of alpha2 adrenoceptors located in the iris and CNS.

Xylazine has a wide margin of safety. Increasing the dose does not in general increase the degree of sedation but rather the duration of effect.

[ll]

What happens to the critter when the show season is over?

[meadowb]

he sits in the pasture getting fat and sassy till the next show season than after that he becomes a breeding bull (as you can't show a bull over 2 at fairs.) The lady that we bought our herd from shows all over the country and she was going to use him to go to the Cow palace show in San Francisco in April. (in case you were wondering we don't eat our Brahman). They are show and pet animals.

[watermarkfarm]

I am so sorry for your loss. Brahmas are such beautiful animals.

[meadowb]

kivasgirl said:

So sorry to hear of this loss. What a shock this must be for all of you.
Do you have any other contacts (folks with Brahmas)?
I know there is a farm with Brahmas in Clackamas county, right off of Hwy. 212 at the Carver exit. Been there for years. I can try to locate a name/number for you if that might help for info.
You, and Rocky, are in my thoughts and prayers.

I think the family you are talking about are the Gilberts. I know them but haven't talked with them much. The lady we bought our herd from lives in Oregon City and has raised Brahman for 25 years. She was as shocked as I was that he died as she has never had that happen either. Since I don't have a Brahman knowledgeable vet out my way, I am just going to start loading up the cowl and driving them to her house and having her vet come see them in the future. It is about an hour and 15 min drive 1 way but I think it will be worth it in the future.

Thanks you to everyone for your thoughts and nice notes.

Meadow

[agilitygal]

So sorry. So unexpected. Hugs to you all.

[jenm]

I'm so sorry for your loss. This must be difficult for all of you to cope with. I'm sending hugs to you and your daughter.

[ll]

meadowb said:

he sits in the pasture getting fat and sassy till the next show season than after that he becomes a breeding bull (as you can't show a bull over 2 at fairs.) The lady that we bought our herd from shows all over the country and she was going to use him to go to the Cow palace show in San Francisco in April. (in case you were wondering we don't eat our Brahman). They are show and pet animals.

Glad to hear!

[lorsadoon]

Meadowb, who did you buy your bull from? If you do not want to say here, could you PM me?

[earlybp]

RIP Rocky. I'm so sorry for your daughter, Meadow!

[mykingdomforahorse]

I just read this -- I'm so sorry, Meadow. He was such a beauty!

Here's to the cloud lifting off you and your family -- for a heartbreak-free 2008. There's always enough sadness and heartbreak to go around, but I think y'all had your share for awhile.

{{{{{{{{{{ you and your family }}}}}}}}}}}

Em

[meadowb]

lorsadoon said:

Meadowb, who did you buy your bull from? If you do not want to say here, could you PM me?

We bought our starter herd from Barbara Stadstad of B-A Ranch Brahman. She is an AMAZING lady and has been a huge help to us in this endeavor. Rocky was the product of a bull and cow from Barbara. She had them when he was born and showed Rocky and his mom extensively and he did REALLY well as a young bull calf. We had high expectations of him being our herd sire in a few years. The one bringt spot in all this is that we own the mom and dad still and she is rebred (a repeat breeding of Rocky). My friends down the road borrowed one of out other bulls last year and got 2 beautiful 1/2 Brahman heifers out of him and I think they are going to let my daughter use them for the fairs this year.

I really appreciate everyones kind thoughts. It really means a lot. You don't think of a COW as a pet but you really have to think of Brahman as horses. They act like horses and they have skin like horses and you have to treat them like horses in the way you feed, vet and generally care for them.

Meadow

[mykingdomforahorse]

I don't know, I think of ANIMALS as pets. Regardless of what kind.

Rocky is the first brahman I've ever seen. He took my breath away. He looks sort of like a reindeer/deer/cow combo. So beautiful.

Em

[lorsadoon]

meadowb said:

lorsadoon said:

Meadowb, who did you buy your bull from? If you do not want to say here, could you PM me?

We bought our starter herd from Barbara Stadstad of B-A Ranch Brahman. She is an AMAZING lady and has been a huge help to us in this endeavor. Rocky was the product of a bull and cow from Barbara. She had them when he was born and showed Rocky and his mom extensively and he did REALLY well as a young bull calf. We had high expectations of him being our herd sire in a few years. The one bringt spot in all this is that we own the mom and dad still and she is rebred (a repeat breeding of Rocky). My friends down the road borrowed one of out other bulls last year and got 2 beautiful 1/2 Brahman heifers out of him and I think they are going to let my daughter use them for the fairs this year.

I really appreciate everyones kind thoughts. It really means a lot. You don't think of a COW as a pet but you really have to think of Brahman as horses. They act like horses and they have skin like horses and you have to treat them like horses in the way you feed, vet and generally care for them.

Meadow

That is who I thought you might of been talking about when you said you bought them from a gal in Oregon City. I have known Barb for over 25 years.

[paintedlady]

RIP Rocky so sorry

[mickeyfan3]

I'm so sorry....he was absolutely adorable.....