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3 Day Old Cow Wont Eat
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<blockquote data-quote="farmerjan" data-source="post: 1464809" data-attributes="member: 25884"><p>You've had all the basic advice, and if you take care of human babies then you should have a little common sense. ALL MILK and NO SOY milk replacer. Read the label. Should have dried whey, dried milk that sort of thing. NO soy protein. </p><p> Most dairy farmers that have calves in real cold weather use a calf coat. As you said, even if you have an old bulky sweater, front legs in the "arms" , button on the underside, tie it around her so it is fitted but not too tight. But calves can get overheated so I would say a doggie or calf "coat" if it gets real cold. Once she is eating better, a deep bed of hay and the bales around her on a couple of sides like you are doing will cut the drafts. Unless you can be 100% sure of the safety, I would not use a heat lamp. It's not that cold yet. Especially if she can get into the sun during the day. DRAFTS and WET will get a calf alot quicker than just cold. Babies....human, cattle, sheep, goats, piglets.... all sleep alot the first few weeks. Sure we see them out running and playing, but if you watch, that's maybe 10-15 minutes out of every hour or two.... Much more sleeping time than "up" time.</p><p></p><p>You said you changed the nipple. I do not use a regular calf nipple, even for my normal baby calves. I use the "goat or lamb" nipple that snaps on the calf bottle. Just my way. I also do not make the hole bigger unless it is real hard to get the milk out. Some are just too small. The thing I find is that the little air hole that lets the air into the bottle as the calf sucks, so it is not like a vacuum, often is the problem, not the hole in the nipple. Too big a hole in the end of the nipple can cause a weak calf to get milk into its' lungs because it is running out and they are not swallowing, which closes off the windpipe as they suck and swallow. </p><p></p><p>Using an electrolyte feeding inbetween milk feedings is fine. If she is only taking 3 pints at a time now, then 3 times a day with the electrolyte feeding in the middle is good. Smaller calves need MORE OFTEN NOT MORE MILK, at a feeding. Their smaller stomachs cannot handle too much at a time. A little bit runny manure is not the end of the world as long as it is not like water, and doesn't have blood in it. If she is drinking, not squirting it out the other end as fast as it goes in, and is getting up to come eat.... then she will do okay. If you are near a feed store, or a Tractor supply; they make a paste/gel that has lactobacillus and probiotics that you can give once or twice a week.... helps the gut tract. Full directions on the tubes.</p><p></p><p>Don't overthink it. Sure, you want to do good, but also accept that sometimes your best is not going to be enough. There might be some other issues that you can't see, and no matter how perfect you do it, she might have internal issues that might be against her. It does sound like she is coming along, and you have made progress from the first day, so don't get too caught up in "doing it perfect". Consistent feeding is as important as anything.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="farmerjan, post: 1464809, member: 25884"] You've had all the basic advice, and if you take care of human babies then you should have a little common sense. ALL MILK and NO SOY milk replacer. Read the label. Should have dried whey, dried milk that sort of thing. NO soy protein. Most dairy farmers that have calves in real cold weather use a calf coat. As you said, even if you have an old bulky sweater, front legs in the "arms" , button on the underside, tie it around her so it is fitted but not too tight. But calves can get overheated so I would say a doggie or calf "coat" if it gets real cold. Once she is eating better, a deep bed of hay and the bales around her on a couple of sides like you are doing will cut the drafts. Unless you can be 100% sure of the safety, I would not use a heat lamp. It's not that cold yet. Especially if she can get into the sun during the day. DRAFTS and WET will get a calf alot quicker than just cold. Babies....human, cattle, sheep, goats, piglets.... all sleep alot the first few weeks. Sure we see them out running and playing, but if you watch, that's maybe 10-15 minutes out of every hour or two.... Much more sleeping time than "up" time. You said you changed the nipple. I do not use a regular calf nipple, even for my normal baby calves. I use the "goat or lamb" nipple that snaps on the calf bottle. Just my way. I also do not make the hole bigger unless it is real hard to get the milk out. Some are just too small. The thing I find is that the little air hole that lets the air into the bottle as the calf sucks, so it is not like a vacuum, often is the problem, not the hole in the nipple. Too big a hole in the end of the nipple can cause a weak calf to get milk into its' lungs because it is running out and they are not swallowing, which closes off the windpipe as they suck and swallow. Using an electrolyte feeding inbetween milk feedings is fine. If she is only taking 3 pints at a time now, then 3 times a day with the electrolyte feeding in the middle is good. Smaller calves need MORE OFTEN NOT MORE MILK, at a feeding. Their smaller stomachs cannot handle too much at a time. A little bit runny manure is not the end of the world as long as it is not like water, and doesn't have blood in it. If she is drinking, not squirting it out the other end as fast as it goes in, and is getting up to come eat.... then she will do okay. If you are near a feed store, or a Tractor supply; they make a paste/gel that has lactobacillus and probiotics that you can give once or twice a week.... helps the gut tract. Full directions on the tubes. Don't overthink it. Sure, you want to do good, but also accept that sometimes your best is not going to be enough. There might be some other issues that you can't see, and no matter how perfect you do it, she might have internal issues that might be against her. It does sound like she is coming along, and you have made progress from the first day, so don't get too caught up in "doing it perfect". Consistent feeding is as important as anything. [/QUOTE]
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