Any tips on how to get REALLY stubborn cows to accept calves

[Keren]

Okay here's the story (not cows, goats but its the same concept):

This doe (not a maiden) had twins a few weeks ago. They went in a pen, appeared to mother up, then went out to the paddock after a couple of days. Well we noticed last week that the kids were really, really thin and trying to drink off other does. We brought them in and realised she's just not feeding them. She mothers them and all but doesnt like them sucking. She doesnt have mastitis or anything so she's got no excuse.

So we have been separating them, and tying her up periodically so she has to feed them. Pretty normal stuff - we usually do this with a few does every kidding season because we foster extra kids on singles, or we have maidens that dont quite get it etc. But this doe, after a week of being tied and held, is getting even worse!

Dont get me wrong, she will NOT be staying.

But damned if I am going to raise two poddies when there is a perfectly good milk supply there.

Any ideas, anyone? We are at a loss what to do.

 

[hillsdown]

All I can suggest is keep doing what you are doing and when you tie her are you rewarding her with feed while she stands for the twins?She should eventually get to know her routine.
Another thing is perhaps there is an infection or something that is making her not feel well?

So this is my suggestion:
You will have to tie her up for each feeding and reward her while she stands for the babies to drink.You will have to do this for each and every feeding(very time consuming and a lot of work), and like I said she will (should) eventually get used to the routine and stand for you without being tied.Keep rewarding her until you see her standing for them when she doesn't know you are around.

That is what I do and the last one took twice a day for 3 weeks its very time consuming but what a sight it was when I went out and saw her standing for her calf.

As soon as she saw me she kicked her calf away but she new she was "busted".

Can you guess she is a Holstein sometimes they are too smart for their own good.

Good Luck.

 

[Keren]

Thanks Hillsdown.

But the thing is, I'm doing all that. We have been doing all the normal things to get her to feed them. I'm looking for a suggestion out of ordinary.

As far as the feeding thing goes, she will not stand still for them even when eating, and to get her to stand for them I have to pin her against the fence with her head jammed up so yeah, the eating thing doesnt happen.

At the moment we are thinking that as soon as a couple more does kid with a singles we will foster them. This doe is just not getting any better and I'm sick of dealing with her. She will be a pleasure to send off.

Baxter - I like your option. Except there is no market here for shoebox kids (and no thanksgiving). Our market is for a 25 kg liveweight wether for the speciality restaurant sector in metropolitan areas.

 

[hillsdown]

Sorry Karen, some aren't meant to be moms.Have you tried the heavy stick approach?

If you do find a fail safe solution trademark it; you'll make a killing on it. ;-)

 

[novatech]

Sell the doe, eat the kids. Best bar-b-que you will ever eat.

 

[Keren]

nova -

they weigh 2 kg each!

I dont know about you, but I prefer to have more than one mouthful of meat.

Actually I prefer to grow my own killers out to about 18 months. Bigger carcase, more meat and more flavour. When they are young they just taste like lamb or beef. But when they are that bit older, you really get the best flavour. Not to mention a better carcase, more meat, bigger cuts.

 

[jkwilson]

My understanding is that oxytocin causes a strong affection for the calf. Might talk to a vet about giving her some while the calf is around and see if that kick-starts things.

 

[dun]

nova -

they weigh 2 kg each!

I dont know about you, but I prefer to have more than one mouthful of meat.

Actually I prefer to grow my own killers out to about 18 months. Bigger carcase, more meat and more flavour. When they are young they just taste like lamb or beef. But when they are that bit older, you really get the best flavour. Not to mention a better carcase, more meat, bigger cuts.

We used to butcher the buck kids like a rabbit and cook it like a rabbit stew or bar-b-q it in a slow cooker. Tanned kid hides are kind of neat.

 

[Keren]

Tried the oxytocin thing, but thanks jkwilkson.

Sorry dun, no one will ever convince me to stop eating 18 mth olds and start eating shoebox kids! Not enough of em and they dont taste good enough :lol:

We tan a few skins each year, off the ones we kill for our own meat. They really are a high $ product. My favourite are the angora skins with the fleece still attached. They are gorgeous, and even more so when they are dyed.

Think I will end up fostering the kids.

Doe will become jerky.

 

[novatech]

nova -

they weigh 2 kg each!

I dont know about you, but I prefer to have more than one mouthful of meat.

Actually I prefer to grow my own killers out to about 18 months. Bigger carcase, more meat and more flavour. When they are young they just taste like lamb or beef. But when they are that bit older, you really get the best flavour. Not to mention a better carcase, more meat, bigger cuts.

At this point I would have to agree. You will have to put some weight on. Milking the doe out every day and bottle feeding the kids may help. It will put the weight on and may actually help the doe get use to being handled and will allow the kids to nurse after a few days of this. This process has worked on a cow I had.

 

[*Cowgirl*]

I think you're gonna get stuck with some bottle babies (stinks don't it) unless you've got a nurse nanny

 

[Keren]

Ha! Guess what!

We got sick of looking after the kids so the other day we just let them out into the pen and thought well if they die, they die. After about a day and a half of not eating they were determined to get that milk, and the result is she is now feeding them. Only for short moments, but they are looking good and healthy now.

So it all turned out okay. Cant wait for her to wean them so we can cull her. :lol: