calf wont nuse after assisted birth

[susiq]

8 year old cow had a very large calf (125lbs +) that we had to pull. Afterwards the cow would not attend the calf as she should have. We tubed him with colostrum. The following morning the calf was able to stand on his own but would not nurse. Again we tubed him after trying to bottled feed.
Now day and half later he still will not nurse. Any suggestions.

 

[greenwillowherefords]

Keep trying. Place your hand around his muzzle and squeeze off and on as the bottle nipple is in his mouth. Stroke his throat. Tube again if you have to.

Just curious, what kind of cow and bull?

 

[Crowderfarms]

SusiQ
Try straddling the calf, ease the nipple into it's mouth, works most of the time for us,sometimes you have to slice the nipple a little, to let some milk flow( if it's a new nipple) If you do a search here on the boards, this topic gets discussed often. At least you got colostrum into him. Takes some time and patience getting them to suck sometimes. DONT GIVE UP. Good Luck...

 

[susiq]

Thanks for your suggestions. Further ideas needed on how to get him to nurse his mom. This calf is from a Charlette cow and angus bull.

 

[greenwillowherefords]

Get the cow in a chute where she can't back up, and try working with the calf to nurse from behind her. Give the cow some feed to occupy her during this process.

 

[Rafter E]

Keep trying, squeeze the nipple while it is in the calfs mouth, so he can taste the milk. Keep doing it and sooner or later (a few days max) his instincts will kick in. You can transfer him from bottle to mom after that...it works for us, nursing 3 here at our place now.

 

[shorty]

Keep on putting her in the chute chute and keep trying , I squirt milk on my finger and stick in their mouth so they start sucking and sometimes I'll squirt some in their mouth . There is no sure way to get them going, tube them only as often as you have to , to make sure they are getting enough, but don't let them depend on the tube. You don't want to starve them but sometimes it works if you let them get a little hungry , then they will try harder to drink on their own, I have already worked 3-4 days to get one drinking right. It can be a real pain.

 

[susiq]

This is the first time I used this board and am so impressed by the response and such good suggestions. I have also enjoyed reading others questions and answers. Good ideas come from this.

This morning we went prepared to milk the cow and fight the calf to get it down him. He saw us and went to his mom and started nursing. I guess he didn't want anymore of us. We were so happy we went out for pancakes!!

 

[Crowderfarms]

That's good news! thanks for being courteous and letting everone know your outcome.Maybe it'll all work out from here. ;-)

 

[shorty]

Sometimes they surprize you

 

[Crowderfarms]

Shorty, She had a genuine problem, wanted genuine answers,=genuine person.

 

[jerry27150]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[TheBullLady]

Congratulations!

I love it when things work out like that!

 

[Marian]

Susi.. You did good by giving the calf colostrum right away.. I have to work alone at times and I too have opportunities to work with them not too bright babies.. If the mom and baby are in good condition, I run my mom into a shute, and drop down the side of the shute to expose mom's bag. I will push the calf up the cow, after squirting milk on the cows tit, on my hands, put some milk in my hand and put it in the calf's mouth. A hungry calf will suck on your finger, and tasting the milk will intice it. With your fingers in its mouth, squirt some milk into its mouth, then replace your fingers with the cows' tit. Works pretty good for me, but sometimes them babies need alittle more patience!! Don't we just love calving seasons? .. Mare

 

[susiq]

It really does take patience. My husband put karo syrup on his finger and on mom's teat. then put his finger in calf's mouth until he started sucking and lead calf's mouth up to mom to continue. No luck. Tried the milk into its mouth - nothing. But he finally began. Now every time we go up to check on them he thinks it is time to eat and goes straight to mom and starts nursing. Interesting these calves.
Love your comments!!!!

 

[sidney411]

suziq- thank you so much for letting us know the outcome and not just leaving us hanging....that is so frusterating!

I had to tube feed one calf for 13 days before she figured out how to nurse on her own. It was like a lightbulb came on in her little mind.