For the benefit of both cow and calf get them in the barn and bed them down and wash the cows bag and check to see if she has milk or is plugged up. In a few hrs or less try to get calf to nurse, if it drank a whole bottle it is hungry. It is worth trying all ,and you will fell better too. Good Luck
Calf just born, hasn’t nursed
- Thread starter ksmit454
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TexasJerseyMilker
Well-known member
My old Jersey's udder is at hock level and the newborn calves are searching for a teat up by her flanks where nature intended the teats to be. Plus the cow gets udder edema so bad I just tube the colostrum to them. No fighting, no refusal, and you know they got her colostrum before it is too late with none of this fretting about did they get colostrum or not
Last calf she had she hid her heifer calf in the pasture. By the time I found her the belly button cord was dry, must have been a couple of days old. Well, she must not have gotten enough colostrum because she died in a week for no apparent reason like a cut flower from the grocery store.
For future reference tubing is not difficult with the setup. You back the calf into a corner, hold their shoulder between your legs, lift their chin with one hand and insert the tube all the way down their throat with the other. Someone can hold the bag of milk. Then raise up the bag and the colostrum quickly drains into the calf's stomach.
Last calf she had she hid her heifer calf in the pasture. By the time I found her the belly button cord was dry, must have been a couple of days old. Well, she must not have gotten enough colostrum because she died in a week for no apparent reason like a cut flower from the grocery store.
For future reference tubing is not difficult with the setup. You back the calf into a corner, hold their shoulder between your legs, lift their chin with one hand and insert the tube all the way down their throat with the other. Someone can hold the bag of milk. Then raise up the bag and the colostrum quickly drains into the calf's stomach.
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coachg
Well-known member
Is it a bull calf ? They can be lazy and a pain to deal with . Open up the nipple on the bottle so it flows out and he doesn't have to suck . If you can get milk from momma that's the best to try him on . Good luck ! We've all had one like that .
Travlr
Well-known member
I like @MurraysMutts idea. Pen them separately for several hours and see if the calf wants to get back in with mom. If they are separated for several hours, maybe 8, the calf will be interested in dinner if it is nursing.
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
Correct!
I mean the lil guy downed a whole bottle. He obviously knows how..
I mean the lil guy downed a whole bottle. He obviously knows how..
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ksmit454
Well-known member
You all have been spot on!! I talked with my vet and we had set up for me to bring him to them this evening. Well went out to the barn to milk out mama and take him to be tubed. Guess who was trying to nurse?? And yes he's a bull calf. It's like he's lazy. He was searching around all over mama for a place to eat and just couldn't figure it out. I stepped in and got that teat right in his mouth! He isn't super vigorous about nursing but he nursed a good 10 minutes! Now he's showing some spunk. I think the little guy finally got hungry enough! He's a super chill calf but like you all have said, the bull calves can be like that. I had 2 heifer calves born back in Oct and wayyy different. Also this cow is very short so I think he was having a hard time finding the teats so low.
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ksmit454
Well-known member
Best sight ever! Phew thank you Lord.
A.J.
Well-known member
That's a beautiful sight. You will sleep much better tonight!
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
I would get some Selenium (BoSe or Multimin) from your vet and give him a dose. Lack of SE at birth makes a dumb calf. Ask your vet. I give ALL newborns SE at birth.
WFfarm
Well-known member
It would be good to get a stomach tube and learn how to use it. It's not hard once you've done it a few times. Sometimes you just need to get some milk in them the first few days so they get some energy and perk up. Plus you can use it for electrolytes to keep them from getting dehydrates.
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
I agree its important to know how to use one. BUT it's also important to know WHEN to use one.
I'd have never used it on this calf going by the descriptions the o.p. gave us. I outlined how I'd a went about it earlier. Now being there, and being on the internet are 2 different things.... so it may have went differently.
I'm so glad it all worked out!
I'd have never used it on this calf going by the descriptions the o.p. gave us. I outlined how I'd a went about it earlier. Now being there, and being on the internet are 2 different things.... so it may have went differently.
I'm so glad it all worked out!
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ksmit454
Well-known member
That is a great point. I know we live in a selenium deficient area too. Thanks!
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ksmit454
Well-known member
Yes great point! I do want to learn how to tube because it's a valuable thing to know how to do - I agree!
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ksmit454
Well-known member
Thank you! I was so so happy and relieved to see him up and trying to find a teat! With a little guidance he was right on there.
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ksmit454
Well-known member
And this morning we got the normal calf poops! Isn't it funny how people like us are happy when we see a calf nursing and having good poops?
Well said!
coachg
Well-known member
Awesome news ! So glad he's nursing momma . Not all bull calves are lazy but I have found they are usually born later than their due date and either are a tad lazy or dumb . Please , no comments from the ladies about a typical male . 
There are more experienced folks on here that agree or disagree with what I said about bull calves. Good looking calf ! I love black baldies .
There are more experienced folks on here that agree or disagree with what I said about bull calves. Good looking calf ! I love black baldies .
It is something you should know. And it's scary because you can kill a calf if you get the liquid (colostrum replacer/supplement, milk replacer, electrolytes) in the lungs. My vet walked me through it the first time.
There are numerous esophageal feeders available, but my favorite (by far!) is the Trusti Tuber. It makes drenching a calf virtually foolproof. I even bought one for my vet a couple years ago (he also has cattle) and now, that's all he'll use. The length of the tube can be adjusted according to the weight of the calf. The calf clamps on to the mouthpiece or there is a clip you can attach to secure it to its mouth, and you simply slide in the tube. The bottle has a vent, so no awkward squeezing, and also comes with a nipple similar to the peach teat.
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Rancher
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This calf has had to nurse by now or he would be curled up in a corner limp and shivering. At 3 days old they normally start to hop around a bit like a little pup and will sniff at what mom is eating.
just read above post by coachb
just read above post by coachb
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
Exactly!
I had one sired by a dumb char bull that would search all over mama for a teat. Then finally said hell with it and started grazing!
I got him fixed up tho. Mama had sausage teats. And I spent at least a week getting him to nursing.
They are both gone now. Money in the bank
