Feeding a Newborn Calf

Help Support CattleToday:

ffamom

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 5, 2005
Messages
622
Reaction score
0
Location
Texas
This calf had a very traumatic birth. However, the calf can't grab a hold of the teats to nurse. Cow is awesome in that we can walk up to in the the pasture and help the calf. So basically, this is like having a bottle calf. If we only do this twice a day, will this be enough for the calf? Hopefully, one day it will figure it out.
 
What are you doing twice a day? Bottle feeding? If so, what are you feeding? If it can't suck a teat how can it suck a nipple? Did it get colostrum? Take a look in the calf's mouth. More info needed. Craig
 
It can't grab a hold of the teat. Combination of it being stupid and mom's teats a little larger than normal. Past calves haven't had an issue. However, if you place it in it's mouth it will suck. Without help, it only head butts the bag and doesn't draw the teat into her mouth. It did get colostrum within the 1st hr.
 
letting the calf suck morning an evening is fine.my brother has a calf that cant get up on its own without help.an he comes morning an evening to get the calf up let it suck momma or milk her out an feed the calf.but i doubt his calf will ever be able to get up on its own as he has been messing with it for a month.
 
we had a calf last year that couldn't latch on. Poor thing had a very short tongue and couldn't get teat in mouth after four days of helping she figured out a way to get the teat in her mouth and drink. Mom has very nice teats though. Looked pretty funny the way she drank, but it worked. After the calf has sucked a few times the teats won't be as engorged so that should help. Good luck!
 
Took a week, but she finally figured it out. Thank Goodness for that.
 

Latest posts

Top