Bottle calf reflux?

[Jess]

Hi!
I have a 4 month old heifer who just started today regurgitating a tiny bit of milk replacer near the end of the bottle. She is normal other than this vomiting and slight diarrhea. Her stool is normal color, but pretty loose. The milk is a milk replacer product being fed twice daily 4 pints each time. I have slowly decreased the powder, I'm down to 1/3 the usual amount. She eats grass well and has been for some time. I introduced grain awhile ago with no interest, she just started eating it a few days ago. She still will not drink water from a bucket by herself, my hand has to be there and even then not much is swallowed. Otherwise she would have been weaned long ago!
Others have suggested no milk replacer in the bottle, just straight water, or reducing the amount in the bottle. I'm worried that until she learns to drink by herself, she could get dehydrated. Let me know what y'all think, she's doing fine but I'm concerned!

 

[alisonb]

If she is eating grass and grain I would wean her. Put her in a camp with food and water and believe me, when she is thirsty she will drink on her own. If you really are worried about her dehydrating, put your hand in the water let her attach to your fingers, once she is drinking take your fingers away -she will learn how to drink on her own very quickly.

Good luck

 

[Double R Ranch]

I would get her weaned as stated above. She's plenty old enough. I normally have grain out from the start and hay when theres no grass available. They usually go to it pretty early. I would take what you have left in the bag of milk and have her weaned by the time the bags empty. I usually decrease from 3 times a day to 2 then take them down a pint a week both AM and PM or so until the replacers gone.
Are you sure she isn't drinking water? Seems odd to me a calf that age surviving without drinking water.

 

[Jess]

Thanks for the replies! She's still doing it occasionally, so I've lowered the amount she gets in the bottle and how much powder is in it. And made her drink it a little slower! Almost out, so she is really just going to hafta deal! Was just freaked out by it, and wondering what could cause it?