Calf questions

[4hfarms]

Ok, we had a calf born tonight, just at dark. Mom, first calf, walked away! Have never had this happen so I'm kinda lost. She has a huge bag but no interest. I saw the calf because she didn't come to feed but laying 50ft from the newborn. Calf was laying in a puddle of birth fluid and unresponsive but breathing. Never licked clean. I put him in the warm bath and rubbed his muscles until his ears went up and he tried to stand in the tub and used a blow dryer while my wife prepared the colostrum. It stood a couple times and will take the bottle but not drinking much. Starting to fall asleep. How much should it drink at first.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Get mom locked in the chute and get calf on the cow if at all possible. Some heifers take some "forced love" to figure out the ways of the world.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

I’m not nearly as experienced as many other folks here, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt…

If I were in your shoes, I would make sure the calf got the recommended dose of colostrum replacer (not supplement) whether through a bottle if he’ll take it or through a tube if he won’t. The replacer package should tell you the recommended dose.

I would also put the mother in a chute and try to get the calf nursing then pen them up together and hope she decides to claim him.

 

[GoWyo]

Ok, we had a calf born tonight, just at dark. Mom, first calf, walked away! Have never had this happen so I'm kinda lost. She has a huge bag but no interest. I saw the calf because she didn't come to feed but laying 50ft from the newborn. Calf was laying in a puddle of birth fluid and unresponsive but breathing. Never licked clean. I put him in the warm bath and rubbed his muscles until his ears went up and he tried to stand in the tub and used a blow dryer while my wife prepared the colostrum. It stood a couple times and will take the bottle but not drinking much. Starting to fall asleep. How much should it drink at first.

What does the calf weigh? Usually I start with just a single bag of colostrum replacer (seems it makes a quart) to get them going. Then a second an hour or two later. I would've getting the cow in the chute and milk colostrum from her though or get the calf on her if it's up and ready and not have to use a second bag of colostrum. Cow seems to be missing the maternal instinct, but sometimes it kicks in a few hours later. Need to get the calf going first - sounds like it's not real vigorous.

 

[4hfarms]

I’m not nearly as experienced as many other folks here, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt…

If I were in your shoes, I would make sure the calf got the recommended dose of colostrum replacer (not supplement) whether through a bottle if he’ll take it or through a tube if he won’t. The replacer package should tell you the recommended dose. I would also get the mother in a chute and try to get the calf nursing on her then pen them up together and hope she decides to claim him.

Bag says 2 bottles, they are as big as him? Well almost, was a 40lb calf.

 

[4hfarms]

Get mom locked in the chute and get calf on the cow if at all possible. Some heifers take some "forced love" to figure out the ways of the world.

There is no way to catch this cow in the dark. I tried and it avoided the coral like death. It ran to the back of the pasture multiple times as soon as she saw it.

 

[4hfarms]

Drank about a 1/4 bottle and laid down. Trying to sleep. Do I force it to continue?

 

[4hfarms]

Get mom locked in the chute and get calf on the cow if at all possible. Some heifers take some "forced love" to figure out the ways of the world.

Will try again in the AM when I feed the rest.

 

[GoWyo]

Premature calf? That is really light unless it's a mini. Most newborns once they get warmed up a little are hungry and looking to suck on anything they can find. How long is its body hair?

 

[4hfarms]

Premature calf? That is really light unless it's a mini. Most newborns once they get warmed up a little are hungry and looking to suck on anything they can find. How long is its body hair?

We have longhorn, average is between 40-60lbs

When we warmed it up it had a strong suck reflex. It drank about a pint and now refuses the bottle laid down, alert, ears up, normal temp... just not hungry anymore? Try again in an hour, force it, or tube it?

 

[farmerjan]

Any colostrum replacer is better than none.... If the calf seems satisfied, and is acting like normal, no thrashing or anything... keep it warm, and feed as soon as possible after a few more hours. I would put a calf coat on it in these cold temps... It will hopefully be up and wanting more after a couple hours... As long as it is sucking/drinking, do not tube it... it may take less at a time, but that is better than overwhelming it's system...
You can refrigerate and reheat the colostrum replacer....1 time.... if you can't get it on the cow.... do NOT use a microwave.... use a hot water bath, put it in a bowl,,, mix so it doesn't separate as it warms up....
I'd get her in the chute in the morning... and use a flank rope if necessary to get her to stand for the calf to nurse... agree on the "force her to submit" and it might help to kick in the mothering instinct. If the calf is a premie, then it is a strike against both... as the hormonal changes happen, when they get close to calving tends to kick in the mothering instincts... But if she is not going to co-operate.... then you can make other choices... I'd work hard on "making her" feed the calf for several days time at least...
Once HER colostrum and milk starts going through the calf, the manure will smell right to her and help her to claim it..
NOT every one is a good mother... strike 1, and strike 2, for CULLING....

 

[4hfarms]

Any colostrum replacer is better than none.... If the calf seems satisfied, and is acting like normal, no thrashing or anything... keep it warm, and feed as soon as possible after a few more hours. I would put a calf coat on it in these cold temps... It will hopefully be up and wanting more after a couple hours... As long as it is sucking/drinking, do not tube it... it may take less at a time, but that is better than overwhelming it's system...
You can refrigerate and reheat the colostrum replacer....1 time.... if you can't get it on the cow.... do NOT use a microwave.... use a hot water bath, put it in a bowl,,, mix so it doesn't separate as it warms up....
I'd get her in the chute in the morning... and use a flank rope if necessary to get her to stand for the calf to nurse... agree on the "force her to submit" and it might help to kick in the mothering instinct. If the calf is a premie, then it is a strike against both... as the hormonal changes happen, when they get close to calving tends to kick in the mothering instincts... But if she is not going to co-operate.... then you can make other choices... I'd work hard on "making her" feed the calf for several days time at least...
Once HER colostrum and milk starts going through the calf, the manure will smell right to her and help her to claim it..
NOT every one is a good mother... strike 1, and strike 2, for CULLING....

He's in the house right now with me. We are laying on the shower floor. LOL! Gave him a cushion to reduce the cold floor. Stood a few min ago and adjusted, laid back down.
This just sux...this is my 3rd black cow I have to cull. First calf, will be 3yo next month. Last black 3yo, tried to kill my milk cow about a month ago. Had her first calf last spring, she was almost 4. Both were born here under our last bull.

Ill reheat it in a bit, try to feed again. Seems content at the moment. Laying like a cow...

 

[4hfarms]

He drank another pint and laid back down.
Ears are alert and moving around eyes open.

 

[farmerjan]

The few small jersey calves I have dealt with... 50 lb size, would usually drink a qt at a time... PLENTY for their smaller system....
If the calf is acting good, I would just do a pint or whatever it wants, at a time... get as much in it as you can this eve... then try to see if you can get the uncooperative witch in and maybe she will get her "sh!t" together tomorrow....

 

[4hfarms]

The few small jersey calves I have dealt with... 50 lb size, would usually drink a qt at a time... PLENTY for their smaller system....
If the calf is acting good, I would just do a pint or whatever it wants, at a time... get as much in it as you can this eve... then try to see if you can get the uncooperative witch in and maybe she will get her "sh!t" together tomorrow....

That's the plan in the AM. Have a feeling it's gonna be a long day...

Being away from mom overnight, will this cause a rejection by mom or the rest of them?
Last thing It needs after saving this calf is a swift kick.

We have another calf from about a week ago. Was born over the freeze and was posted in another thread.

We have 5 more due in the next month.

 

[GoWyo]

That's the plan in the AM. Have a feeling it's gonna be a long day...

Being away from mom overnight, will this cause a rejection by mom or the rest of them?
Last thing It needs after saving this calf is a swift kick.

We have another calf from about a week ago. Was born over the freeze and was posted in another thread.

We have 5 more due in the next month.

I would work with her in the chute and get her over the kicking before putting the calf on her. Like Jan suggested, use a flank rope if you need to stop her from kicking. If she is mean to it after, keep them separated in pens next to each other. Usually takes two or three days if the cow is not wanting the calf right away. Most cows the light bulb switches on after a day and they become doting mothers and there are a few that never do and become beef.

 

[4hfarms]

She has never been mean. I pet her, she never had any issue with me or any another cow. She doesn't like the neighbor kid, but then again... truth be told he's not my favorite either. I picked up the calf from the pasture while she was watching me, within 50ft or so, no issues. Just curious if it will be treated differently if put it out with the rest. I know mama cow should be protective, but will she be is the question?

Time will tell...

 

[wbvs58]

Just watch her a bit in the morning before trying to get her up in case she has another calf hidden somewhere. Small calf, big udder you said, I'd be suspicious of twins.

Ken

 

[4hfarms]

Just watch her a bit in the morning before trying to get her up in case she has another calf hidden somewhere. Small calf, big udder you said, I'd be suspicious of twins.

Ken

I will look around back there. I didn't even think of that because she was so close by.

Calf ate again about 530. Only about a half quart. He was up and alert. Much stronger than yesterday. Then lay down to rest again. I'll bring him out when the cows show up to eat and get him with mama.

 

[angus9259]

This calf sounds a lot better than some of mine I've had!

First - no one every really knows exactly what to do - we all sort of feel our way through this so what follows is what I would do are are opinions according to me - not "rules".

The most important thing is to get colostrum into it. If it sucks, let it drink what it wants. Sounds like yours has a good suck reflex and knows how to drink. 99% of the life saving work you and the calf have already accomplished!! If it only drinks a pint at a time, well, I would just keep taking it a pint. It's up, eating, alert, winner winner chicken dinner. This one is probably going to live. It's the non suckers that are the big problem.

If it wasn't really interested in sucking or barely sucking, I would tube it. But that's not your case.

Regards momma, I would get them into a pen together for sure if she's not being aggressive toward it. I would get her into a chute at feeding time, get the calf started on sucking the bottle and then pull the bottle away and put her on the cow's nipple. Sometimes I have to put my thumb right next to the nipple to get it sucking something and then move it to the nipple.

Getting a new momma to take the calf can be a long haul process.

Also - BoSe shot at birth for all of them, but especially the groggy ones.