Dead cow

[dmartin3370]

I had a cow bloat up and die on me, she left a month old calf. Is it necessary to bottle feed this calf yet??

 

[milkmaid]

I would, if you can. He will need grain too, up to 2.5% of his body weight if you don't feed milk replacer.

 

[c farmer]

I always kept our bottle calves on replacer for 3 months.

 

[bandit80]

I would probably try to give it some milk replacer if you don't observe the calf stealing milk.

Last year I had a cow die, and had a 42 day old calf. The calf didn't look to good for a few days, but quickly figured out which cows would let it nurse and ended up doing OK. Think it weaned off around 450 pounds. Not like the others, but wasn't a true runt either.

 

[bigbull338]

sounds like you need to pen the calf up.an get it to eating feed an hay as soon as you can.you can try to get the calf to take a bottle.but at that age i dont know if you can bottle break him.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

but at that age i dont know if you can bottle break him.

It can be done. Been there a few times. Sometimes easy, sometimes not so easy, but it can be done.

Katherine

 

[angus9259]

Had a set of twins like that. Penned them up and gave them diluted milk replacer out of a bucket 2 X a day and free choice hay and grain. They did fine.

 

[Bez+]

I had a cow bloat up and die on me, she left a month old calf. Is it necessary to bottle feed this calf yet??

By the question and number of posts on this site I know you are either a jokster or a real newbie.

I will go with newbie.

One month old?

The calf is still small - not likely much more than 150 pounds at best - so easy to handle.

Some choices:

1. Feed it from a bottle - when it gets penned up and hungry it will suck - they all do.

2. Feed it from a bucket - you may have to teach it to drink - by forcing the head into the bucket and placing your fingers in its mouth to get the sucking going - do NOT drown the calf. When it is hungry it will drink.

3. Get rid of it - too much trouble - sell it at the barn - or give it to the kid down the road - the kids generally do a darned good job of raising the calf.

Personally I do the number three option - factor in feed and time and annoyance and the fact these are mobile food - not pets and I do not want a bottle sucker at my place - I can buy good steaks cheaper - but I digress.

This calf might survive by stealing from other cows if it is quick and smart - not all do though. You want to take the chance? It belongs to you - so you can do what you want.

As a newbie I bet this calf will not have a lot of potential milk banks in the field - in other words you likely only own one or two more - so not much chance of a free meal out there. Even if you own 10 or 12 the pickings are mighty slim in most cases. I can take you out and show you how tough it can be in a field of 100 if you like.

Depends on the calf and depends on the herd. Trust me an old cow will feed her baby right beside a calf that is dying of starvation - and she will not care one darned bit.

No welfare or green stamps in a cow herd.

Either way - one month old - in the field - by itself - it might - just might survive - but if it does it will likely be one sorry @ssed, sickly calf.

Yup - you got to be responsible and do something - so now you know.

Grab a neighbour to show you what to do.

If you have a cow surely you have someone who at least sold it to you - they will have a small clue - call them.

You have no time to dick dance around and wait for advice from a bunch of us complete strangers on a web site such as this one - now you know - so get up and get your butt in gear and get started.

You have the options. You make the decision.

Let us know how it goes - good luck.

That calf is already hungry

Bez+

 

[grannysoo]

No welfare or green stamps in a cow herd.

My thoughts exactly.

Been there and done that with bottle calf. Never again.....