Calf with cleft lip/nostril

[Mooma20]

Hello, this is my first post. I have tried searching but I didn't have any luck finding the info I am looking for. We have a calf that was born to a heifer and he has a cleft lip/nostril. I'm looking for feeding tips. This little guy was also possibly stuck in the birth canal too long or it was a difficult labor.

 

[Lazy M]

I'm not much help with how to care for the calf, but I'd heard that this is a common deformation caused by cattle eating low doses of hemlock early in pregnancy..may be worth checking the pastures this spring..

 

[coachg]

If he's on momma I'd let him do the best he can do . If you bottle feeding him I'd get the longest nipple I could find . I was given a cleft palate calf by my uncle years ago . They lose about as much as they swallow . We got this little guy on sweet feed as quick as possible. It was painful watching him eat but he got it done .

 

[Nesikep]

Seems like this thread got double posted.. Here's the one with more replies https://www.cattletoday.com/threads/calf-with-a-cleft-lip-nostril.128225/unread

 

[Mooma20]

It did! I posted it in the wrong place here and then couldn't delete it. Thank you!!!

Seems like this thread got double posted.. Here's the one with more replies https://www.cattletoday.com/threads/calf-with-a-cleft-lip-nostril.128225/unread