Lift Pillow Keeps Cow Upright To Prevent Bloat

Lift pillow keeps cow upright to prevent bloat LIVESTOCK Dairy (17) 17-3-23 "Our new Cow Pillow keeps a downed cow in an upright position so she won't bloat," says Bill King, Winnsboro, Texas. The "Cow Pillow" is a 2 1/2 ft. wide, 5 1/2-ft. long inflatable rubber tube that's inserted into a large vinyl bag. The pillow is placed on the ground next to the cow and on her right side. Straps are attached around the cow's body just ahead of the back legs and behind the front legs. The pillow is then inflated which tightens the straps. "It works better than stacking bales be-side the cow because the bag stays with her all the time. She can't slide away from it," says King. "I came up with the idea one night after trying to find a way to keep a sick cow up. Cows get tired of holding their body up and lay down on their side and bloat. If they're weak, they can't get back up. They can eventually suffocate from the pressure on their lungs. Cows generally lay on their right side because their digestive system is on that side. They can roll over on their left side, but usually they don't stay there for long. In their weakened conditon they're not likely to flop back and forth from side to side. "The vinyl bag is very thick and durable so it'll last. It lies loose on the tube so you can flip it inside out to repair it. Two straps will do the job on most cows. However, a third strap in the middle can be used on short or long cows." Sells for $299. Contact FARM SHOW Followup, Bill King, 210 N. Main, Winnsboro, Texas 75494 (ph 903 342-3514 or 800 343-2912).

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