MurraysMutts
Well-known member
U got a 3 qt bottle?
I've heard of folks feeding 3qts twice a day. All I have is 2qt bottles.
They will almost ALWAYS act like they want more. A hungry calf is a happy healthy calf!
Calf poop
- Thread starter Down in Dixie
- Start date
I've heard of folks feeding 3qts twice a day. All I have is 2qt bottles.
They will almost ALWAYS act like they want more. A hungry calf is a happy healthy calf!
My Trusti Tuber bottle is 4 liters, which is 4.226 quarts. Bought it specifically for tubing (BEST EVER!!) but comes with a nipple for bottle feeding.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZV8XH62/?tag=cattletoday00-20
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
THAT is an awesome piece of equipment!
Tubing a calf is essentially foul proof. You can adjust the length according to the size/weight of the calf, the calf automatically grips the mouthpiece, and the tube slides right in. The bottle has a vent, so no awkward squeezing, just hold it up.
OP
OP
Down in Dixie
Well-known member
The bottle I’m using is 3 quarts. I’ve just been feeding to what the bag of milk say. Will I be safe to get her up to 3 qts? Just don’t want to mess her stomach up. Would a third mid day feeding be better than two larger ones?
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
I've never done it.
@Buck Randall turned me on to it. I guess a lot of dairies are doing it. Perhaps it's 3 feedings of 2qts. I've always wanted to try it. But since I've gotten the milk cows, I've let them do it for me.
Perhaps he will drop by...
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Buck Randall
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2019
- Messages
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Going up to 3 quarts shouldn't be a problem. If you're able to space the feedings out enough, 2 quarts three times a day is ideal.
OP
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Down in Dixie
Well-known member
Thanks. I will try 2 quarts three times a day and see what happens. Should be able to do a 6am noonish and 7-8pm feeding.
coachg
Well-known member
For now I would stick with 2 feedings of the recommended amount. One concern is the price of milk replacer . I know you want the calf to grow and do well but I always worry about how much $ do I have in that little one . As it gets bigger you can add a feeding or start providing a calf starter feed .
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Down in Dixie
Well-known member
I agree on not pouring to much money into her. Going to see if she will take a small bottle after lunch. Need to build a calf feeder to giver her a chance to eat some starter feed without mamma trying to get the feed. One good thing is when I sell momma in January it will pay for the milk and feed.
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
And it's fun!!
farmerjan
Well-known member
3 time a day feeding is better for the calf instead of upping the amount twice a day. It follows more closely to what they would get in nature. That said, I have several dairies that have gone to 3 qts a feeding twice a day and their calves seem to do fine. I personally do not feed the 3 qts when I have bottle calves. I prefer they get started on feed a little sooner so they can get nutrition from both the milk and the feed and the rumen will start to get stimulated. But I also raise most on the nurse cows too. They get to eat many times a day and the true stomach where the milk goes never gets "flooded".
One thing, in the colder winter weather, I would feed extra at the night feeding so they were good and full and warmed up before going through the cold night. I think it helped... but it was about an extra half bottle.
One thing, in the colder winter weather, I would feed extra at the night feeding so they were good and full and warmed up before going through the cold night. I think it helped... but it was about an extra half bottle.
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Down in Dixie
Well-known member
Update is everything was going good till yesterday. Took a bottle good in the morning. Mid day bottle only took a little. Last night didn’t want to take one at all. Tried 3 times this morning and didn’t want anything to do with it. Still looks and acts normal other than her gut looks a little thin. Saw her head butting mommas bag but never saw her latch on. Should I tube her and get the vet out tomorrow or is there something else I can try?
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
Is it still nice and warm in your part of the country?
How's the calf acting? Energetic? Droopy ears? How's her poop? Temperature?
Perhaps she got a tit a working?
Sometimes a bottle baby will, for no apparent reason, just flip a switch for a day or 3. Then go right back to normal....
So are you doing 3 bottles a day???
Of so, I'll bet you hit that adjustment period wall, as I call it.
It usually happens a few days in to getting them started. But if you've just made the switch to 3 bottles a day, I'll bet that's what's happened. Adjustment period.
I would most definitely not tube her.
Yet!
OP
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Down in Dixie
Well-known member
She isn’t as energetic but ears aren’t droopy. Been doing 3 bottles a day for a few days now. Haven’t checked her temp yet. Air temp has dropped to the 30s last night. It would be nice if she did get a tit to work. Haven’t seen her poop only pee. I will keep trying and see how it goes.
OP
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Down in Dixie
Well-known member
This is her right now. Hoping she is just adjusting. Mommas bag is smaller just not sure if she is drying up or if she is milking
coachg
Well-known member
She doesn’t show any outward signs of being sick but they can go south in a heartbeat. I’d keep offering the bottle at normal feeding time and watch her poop . If she’s peeing and pooping she’s getting milk from somewhere. 
Have you stuck your finger in her mouth? If she latches on and starts sucking, she's hungry (plus, if her mouth is cold or seems exceptionally hot, you have a problem). Sometimes, I'll get a calf latched onto my finger, then slowly guide to the teat, removing my finger and shoving in the teat. If the calf is going from teat-to-teat, it's time to get the cow in the chute and figure out if she has mastitis, teats are plugged, or just hasn't let down.
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
@TCRanch this is the cow that has no milk.
But I'm with ya on that!
Usually when they ain't hungry they kinda just play with the bottle/teat. Kinda roll it around in their mouth and generally just play with it. Don't suck. Finger works too.
I'd be checking the cow again for milk for sure. If that calf has unplugged something that could be good or bad!!
If the calf is getting nasty infected milk from the problem cow it will cause issues! Now your blood in poop starts to make a lil sense too. If she's gotten infected milk from that cow, ya need to get the cow in a chute a check all 4 quarters well. If that's the case, cow needs to be separated or sold off or fixed at the vet.
Edited to add..
Her tummy don't look full in that last pic. But as @coachg said. Keep an eye out for poop and pee...
But I'm with ya on that!
Usually when they ain't hungry they kinda just play with the bottle/teat. Kinda roll it around in their mouth and generally just play with it. Don't suck. Finger works too.
I'd be checking the cow again for milk for sure. If that calf has unplugged something that could be good or bad!!
If the calf is getting nasty infected milk from the problem cow it will cause issues! Now your blood in poop starts to make a lil sense too. If she's gotten infected milk from that cow, ya need to get the cow in a chute a check all 4 quarters well. If that's the case, cow needs to be separated or sold off or fixed at the vet.
Edited to add..
Her tummy don't look full in that last pic. But as @coachg said. Keep an eye out for poop and pee...
OP
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Down in Dixie
Well-known member
Tried to give it a bottle 6 times today. Tried to milk the cow and couldn’t get anything out. Got a friend coming out tomorrow and see if he can get any milk from the cow. Going to try the finger and take its temp. I get the nipple in it’s mouth but it just pushed it out and won’t suck. Doesn’t want to even play with it. Just want the calf a little older before I take the cow to the sale.
