SmokeStackFarms":2w1k7079 said:
The news:
The calve did not make it.
She was too weak -faded away.
An old timer called me this morning, giving me some good pointers--a bit too late for this one--but good for the future.
On a calve not wanting to suckle-----on his dairy cow farm-he notice when moma went to the rear of the calve and began licking from the balls up the tail--after a series of that the calve was out stretched sucking and bawling. Of course he doesn't do licking but he does steroke up that area (sometimes he gets a little poo) but his stroking has proven to be a sure winner.
He thinks that I should have never given these 1st time heifers any sweet feed--as that advanced the growth--helping to make faster,bigger calves. (of course genetics works in this too)
I continue to listen and learn..
I've got to get moma to leave the calve now--will return later.
well everyone is going to have an opinion on what has worked for them. i will give you mine.
when i have a calf that is a little slow and is discouraged cause the momma is kicking and circling and wont let it suck. i wait , then if it doesn't change, i don't let the calf wear itself down, by trying. i tube feed it with a nice bag of warm colustrum, then calf will laydown and gain energy, while i figure out what to do with the cow. there are a number of things for the cow, as you have read.
everything has to be just right for some calves to suck, i have put the teat in their mouth and had them just hold it and not suck. first they have to be strong, then they have to be hungry, then the cow has to be willing, or made willing. what has worked for me is put the cow in the chute and take the side walls down and if the calf is strong, by now, just let it find the teat, without being kicked to death. hope maybe this has helped a bit.
putting horse hobbles on hind feet, also works, had one heifer wear them for a week, before she got the idea. course their's always lots more, but this is some ideas