Bottle calf! Some say I'm crazy...

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

His legs and umbilical were two different issues. My guess is, while he was sucking (you said he had sucked), he fell down or knocked over and dam stepped on him.
"Normally" legs like that will straighten out by themselves - especially if the calf gets to remain with the dam.
You did all that you could do.

 

[MurraysMutts]

His legs and umbilical were two different issues. My guess is, while he was sucking (you said he had sucked), he fell down or knocked over and dam stepped on him.
"Normally" legs like that will straighten out by themselves - especially if the calf gets to remain with the dam.
You did all that you could do.

Yep. Two seperate issues for sure.

He was just getting up on the front tip toes too. Poor lil guy.

 

[Warren Allison]

Yep. Two seperate issues for sure.

He was just getting up on the front tip toes too. Poor lil guy.

I went to the sale today to see if I might run up on a nurse cow for coach. Two 3-day old Jersy bull calves sold for $60 each. A black bull calf the same age and size, brought $110, Then a black steer calf that was 200- 250 lbs... brought $810.00!!! They had sold pairs first, and this calf was part of an Angus pair.. cow was 1400-someting pounds. The man paid $2300 for them. When they started out of the ring, the buyer said " Sell that calf while it is in the ring". The auctioneer said " We will just put it in the bottle calf pen". An hour later that calf brought the $810.00 And the buyer had a 1400 pound, 4 yr old cow for $1500! Cull cows were bringing $1.15 to $1.40, so he could have weighed her today too, and made a nice profit on the pair.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I went to the sale today to see if I might run up on a nurse cow for coach. Two 3-day old Jersy bull calves sold for $60 each. A black bull calf the same age and size, brought $110, Then a black steer calf that was 200- 250 lbs... brought $810.00!!! They had sold pairs first, and this calf was part of an Angus pair.. cow was 1400-someting pounds. The man paid $2300 for them. When they started out of the ring, the buyer said " Sell that calf while it is in the ring". The auctioneer said " We will just put it in the bottle calf pen". An hour later that calf brought the $810.00 And the buyer had a 1400 pound, 4 yr old cow for $1500! Cull cows were bringing $1.15 to $1.40, so he could have weighed her today too, and made a nice profit on the pair.

And that is why they split a lot of pairs here!

 

[kenny thomas]

I went to the sale today to see if I might run up on a nurse cow for coach. Two 3-day old Jersy bull calves sold for $60 each. A black bull calf the same age and size, brought $110, Then a black steer calf that was 200- 250 lbs... brought $810.00!!! They had sold pairs first, and this calf was part of an Angus pair.. cow was 1400-someting pounds. The man paid $2300 for them. When they started out of the ring, the buyer said " Sell that calf while it is in the ring". The auctioneer said " We will just put it in the bottle calf pen". An hour later that calf brought the $810.00 And the buyer had a 1400 pound, 4 yr old cow for $1500! Cull cows were bringing $1.15 to $1.40, so he could have weighed her today too, and made a nice profit on the pair.

Im gonna bet he did weigh her. Out of his name into a slaughterhouse name. Probably at a good profit.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Remember this dumb lil jersey steer?

It's been a year....
He's getting some shape, but still ain't worth a lot! I had to take a pic. I guess he's come along a bit.
Don't belong to me and ain't my pasture!!
I know it looks like crap!

 

[MurraysMutts]

I forgot to update. My buddy had to change directions suddenly and ended up selling the jersey steer. He weighed 560lbs and brought $716 bucks.

Good beef calves of that weight are bringing double that!! And right off the cow no less!

I'll never have another one. I knew better when I did it, and was fortunate to get out of him what I did. I broke even on him. My buddy fed him quite some time. Probly lost money on him honestly. But I don't keep his books.....

 

[MurraysMutts]

So last Thursday a good friend of mine bought a little 45lb red heifer to bottle.
Shes been tube feeding it because she absolutely would not suck!! She would try to nurse the 100lb calves like it was going outta style tho. She tried everything. Different style bottles, goat nipples for the bottles. Honey, sugar, etc.
She even tried skipping 2 normal feedings in hopes the heifer would nurse once she got good and hungry!!

Well this morning was finally the day!!
Bless her heart for hanging in there and getting 'er dun! Looks like this lil feral heifer is gonna live.

 

[A.J.]

So last Thursday a good friend of mine bought a little 45lb red heifer to bottle.
Shes been tube feeding it because she absolutely would not suck!! She would try to nurse the 100lb calves like it was going outta style tho. She tried everything. Different style bottles, goat nipples for the bottles. Honey, sugar, etc.
She even tried skipping 2 normal feedings in hopes the heifer would nurse once she got good and hungry!!

Well this morning was finally the day!!
Bless her heart for hanging in there and getting 'er dun! Looks like this lil feral heifer is gonna live.
View attachment 47115

That’s a great feeling when the lightbulb finally comes on for calves like that, and you don’t have to fight them to feed them anymore.

 

[MurraysMutts]

That's a great feeling when the lightbulb finally comes on for calves like that, and you don't have to fight them to feed them anymore.

Light bulb! Exactly.

That's all we could talk about for like 6 days. When is the dang light bulb gonna come on!

Yesterday she only took about a pint. This morning she took a full quart. Waiting to hear about tonight. I know she's quite small. But I've seen calves that size take full bottle from the get go. Poor kid.
She will get her on a schedule and things will be so much better!

 

[MurraysMutts]

Full quart again tonight!
Ain't they all so stinkin' cute!!

 

[MurraysMutts]

It was just a matter of time....
Looked like a 50 dollar calf to me. We will see! Pink nosed charolais bull calf.

Hehe!

 

[Hpacres440p]

Was it a 50 dollar calf?

 

[MurraysMutts]

Was it a 50 dollar calf?

Yep
No luck with a bottle so far. Just might be tubing him to start.

 

[Hereford2]

Nice looking Calf!

 

[MurraysMutts]

Nice looking Calf!

He's very hollow and a bit weak.
Tubed a full quart of colostrum.
He's had a very rough start. Mama had no milk.
Gonna let him rest. He's on his feet anyway.

 

[bird dog]

I guess you checked to make sure he is not dehydrated? Seen him pee? Might want to tube some water with electrolytes.

I just got through working with a dummy calf that was born in a monsoon. Didn't really notice it wasn't eating until day three. He was hollow like that one.
He had a sucking instinct, just couldn't figure out where to suck even after getting the cow in the chute and pushing the calf to the udder. He would suck when forced too but would not approach the cow to suck when they were loose in the pen together. The cow was standoffish. Confused becasue the calf wasn't acting right. To make matters worse he was sore in the front like he had been stepped on. He could barely push up with his front legs to stand. Moved real slow. I called him Biden. Luckily his Brangus mom was patient with me and him even though she was tired of being pushed into the chute twice a day for the first three or four days. After about 5 days I let the cow out but she would come back to the pens morning and evening like she was waiting for me to get he calf up and shoved underneath her.
It took almost two weeks before the light bulb came on. The calf started walking to the mom to nurse and the cow would lick it toclean it. It was like a two week old new born.

He is still smaller and slower growing than he should be but stays up with the herd and seems healthy.

 

[MurraysMutts]

I guess you checked to make sure he is not dehydrated? Seen him pee? Might want to tube some water with electrolytes.

I just got through working with a dummy calf that was born in a monsoon. Didn't really notice it wasn't eating until day three. He was hollow like that one.
He had a sucking instinct, just couldn't figure out where to suck even after getting the cow in the chute and pushing the calf to the udder. He would suck when forced too but would not approach the cow to suck when they were loose in the pen together. The cow was standoffish. Confused becasue the calf wasn't acting right. To make matters worse he was sore in the front like he had been stepped on. He could barely push up with his front legs to stand. Moved real slow. I called him Biden. Luckily his Brangus mom was patient with me and him even though she was tired of being pushed into the chute twice a day for the first three or four days. After about 5 days I let the cow out but she would come back to the pens morning and evening like she was waiting for me to get he calf up and shoved underneath her.
It took almost two weeks before the light bulb came on. The calf started walking to the mom to nurse and the cow would lick it toclean it. It was like a two week old new born.

He is still smaller and slower growing than he should be but stays up with the herd and seems healthy.

A bit of success!
Got the other quart of colostrum in him via tube. He's drank some water. Peed and pooped.
He put up a pretty good fight this time around so I'm pretty hopeful he will be sucking a bottle soon!

 

[MurraysMutts]

He's still alive!!

 

[Hpacres440p]

Went to a sale today since I had the day off. 3 day to week old split calves were $625-675, one a little older with a swollen front ankle was the least at $430. Glad yours is staying alive for you!