*Sigh*
Madeline went out to feed her fancy chix today and came back to report that the calf we call Art was laying on his back with his legs in the air. I knew right away what was going on. Called the vet, knowing there was probably nothing he could do.
Tetanus. Again. Banding them leaves a small open wound, vulnerable to tetanus.
If you’ve had horses on your farm anytime in the past 100 years, chances are you’ve got tetanus. It can live in the soil for a coon’s age. We had the male calves vaccinated for it this time, but apparently it hadn’t had time to build up immunity in their systems. And the vet says there is no such vaccine for swine. (We lost a piglet to tetanus this spring.)
My brother says, “If you’re going to have livestock, you’re going to have dead stock.” We’ve certainly proved that point.
*Sigh*
In an earlier time, farmers and their children were also vulnerable to tetanus. I have an aunt who died at the age of 12 due to tetanus. She was skipping acros a wooden porch and the bottom of her foot was punctured by a splinter. That was before toddlers were routinely vaccinated. Sorry to hear of your loss.