Calf Help

[milkmaid]

OK, so one of my heifers ended up dying (got stuck in the mud). I'm trying to bottle feed her calf thats about 5 weeks old but he wont take the bottle but will drink it up if i put it in a bowl. my question is does it have to be bottle fed or is it ok for him to take the milk in a bowl(mixed with a little feed)? Thanks for the help

The short answer is no.

He'll probably make it on just feed. At 5 weeks he should survive.

Beg to differ on that one. A calf *may* grow better on a bottle versus a bucket, but I know a 5 week old calf will grow better with grain and milk (even if the milk is in a bucket, horror of horrors!) as opposed to just grain and hay.

Most dairies nowdays DO feed all their calves from buckets, and yes, believe it or not, we do know about the flap that sends the milk to the abomasum vs. the rumen. However, when we have calves growing every bit as well on the bucket as on the bottle, we don't worry about it too much. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[preston39]

.... The buckets with nipples on the side don't do it either. They'll survive on them, but you won't be getting the most benefit for your time and nickels spent on manna"...
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Help me understand how a bucket with nipple is different than teat nursing?

 

[backhoeboogie]

Help me understand how a bucket with nipple is different than teat nursing?

27.71 inches of water column is 1 PSI static head. That is also a linear equation. They squeeze the nipple and drink. They don't form the same vacuum like they do with a bottle or nipple.

Ever feed with a bottle and see the vacuum the put on it? They cannot do that with an open top bucket with static head.

 

[novatech]

Help me understand how a bucket with nipple is different than teat nursing?

27.71 inches of water column is 1 PSI static head. That is also a linear equation. They squeeze the nipple and drink. They don't form the same vacuum like they do with a bottle or nipple.

Ever feed with a bottle and see the vacuum the put on it? They cannot do that with an open top bucket with static head.

When a calf sucks on mom or bottle, salava develops in the mouth. This salava has the necassary microbes for the rumen system to break down the milk. As backhoe stated , there is a vaccuum with mom or bottle. This vac. is what causes the salava to form. Bucket has no vac. therefore no salava and no microbes, which can result in milk belly.

 

[dun]

which can result in milk belly.

Or not! No one wants to hear it, but dairymen have been bucket raising calves for years. I've rarely seen any pot bellied calves that dairymen raise, seems to be more of a back yarder or beef raisers problem. Don't know why, maybe dairy genetics, or maybe the more intense managment of a dairy calf raising program.

dun

 

[backhoeboogie]

which can result in milk belly.

Or not! No one wants to hear it, but dairymen have been bucket raising calves for years. I've rarely seen any pot bellied calves that dairymen raise, seems to be more of a back yarder or beef raisers problem. Don't know why, maybe dairy genetics, or maybe the more intense managment of a dairy calf raising program.

dun

And that's fine. Dairymen or anyone else can run their programs the way they want to.

When someone asks, they ought to be made aware that minimal vacuum, and neck position opens the flap and allows the milk to go to the right place.

 

[dun]

which can result in milk belly.

Or not! No one wants to hear it, but dairymen have been bucket raising calves for years. I've rarely seen any pot bellied calves that dairymen raise, seems to be more of a back yarder or beef raisers problem. Don't know why, maybe dairy genetics, or maybe the more intense managment of a dairy calf raising program.

dun

And that's fine. Dairymen or anyone else can run their programs the way they want to.

When someone asks, they ought to be made aware that minimal vacuum, and neck position opens the flap and allows the milk to go to the right place.

The point being that wether it's the right way or the wrong way, it's a successful way.
Based on apparant health their isn;t a difference.

dun

 

[preston39]

Help me understand how a bucket with nipple is different than teat nursing?

27.71 inches of water column is 1 PSI static head. That is also a linear equation. They squeeze the nipple and drink. They don't form the same vacuum like they do with a bottle or nipple.

Ever feed with a bottle and see the vacuum the put on it? They cannot do that with an open top bucket with static head.

When a calf sucks on mom or bottle, salava develops in the mouth. This salava has the necassary microbes for the rumen system to break down the milk. As backhoe stated , there is a vaccuum with mom or bottle. This vac. is what causes the salava to form. Bucket has no vac. therefore no salava and no microbes, which can result in milk belly.

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I seperated the open bucket feeding. That stands alone.

No problem with getting the saliva and neck position with the bucket and teet. The angle is almost as with mom. Bucket with teet at knee level is our approach.

 

[Cowdirt]

Help me understand how a bucket with nipple is different than teat nursing?

27.71 inches of water column is 1 PSI static head. That is also a linear equation. They squeeze the nipple and drink. They don't form the same vacuum like they do with a bottle or nipple.

Ever feed with a bottle and see the vacuum the put on it? They cannot do that with an open top bucket with static head.

When a calf sucks on mom or bottle, salava develops in the mouth. This salava has the necassary microbes for the rumen system to break down the milk. As backhoe stated , there is a vaccuum with mom or bottle. This vac. is what causes the salava to form. Bucket has no vac. therefore no salava and no microbes, which can result in milk belly.

Y'all have gotten way over my head on this. I usually pass an orphan calf along pretty quick to someone else. I do know that I've altered the nipple hole to the extent that the milk pours out. Don't think much vacuum is pulled by the calf.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Y'all have gotten way over my head on this. I usually pass an orphan calf along pretty quick to someone else. I do know that I've altered the nipple hole to the extent that the milk pours out. Don't think much vacuum is pulled by the calf.

It doesn't take much vacuum.