Irene
New member
We are at our wits' end. Let me explain. We currently have two calves, one is now 19 days old and was orphaned at birth. She was given to us by a friend who found her near death in his field. She, Missy, is now drinking 3 bottles of replacement milk a day: 7 am, 1 pm, 8 pm. We never had a problem with her sucking as she's great at it. She is also eating a little bit of starter grain, and drinking a little water, though not much of either.
Our other calf, Bessy, is now about 6 weeks old. She came from a feedlot where she wasn't wanted. She arrived with what I term "kennel cough". We have administered medication and electrolyte (sp?) supplements. Bessy definitely DOES NOT like the milk bottle! We have all but given up "force feeding" her the milk from the bottle. We have tried to give it to her in a pail, from which she licks once or twice. She does not want to suck. She does, however, lick our legs, the wood around her pen, our hands. We have placed a bucket with starter grain in her pen, from which she does eat. She is not eating any hay. She is also drinking water from her pail.
They both look a bit on the gaunt side. They are both currently staying in a pen in the barn because of coyotes on the loose around here. We do, however, bring them outside everyday into the sunshine for the afternoon, where they can get grass and water.
Does ANYONE out there have any ideas as to what we're doing wrong? What we could be doing? We very much want to keep these little gaffers alive. We're not new in the cattle business, but, we are when it comes to this.
Thanks for any assistance you can give us.
Irene
Our other calf, Bessy, is now about 6 weeks old. She came from a feedlot where she wasn't wanted. She arrived with what I term "kennel cough". We have administered medication and electrolyte (sp?) supplements. Bessy definitely DOES NOT like the milk bottle! We have all but given up "force feeding" her the milk from the bottle. We have tried to give it to her in a pail, from which she licks once or twice. She does not want to suck. She does, however, lick our legs, the wood around her pen, our hands. We have placed a bucket with starter grain in her pen, from which she does eat. She is not eating any hay. She is also drinking water from her pail.
They both look a bit on the gaunt side. They are both currently staying in a pen in the barn because of coyotes on the loose around here. We do, however, bring them outside everyday into the sunshine for the afternoon, where they can get grass and water.
Does ANYONE out there have any ideas as to what we're doing wrong? What we could be doing? We very much want to keep these little gaffers alive. We're not new in the cattle business, but, we are when it comes to this.
Thanks for any assistance you can give us.
Irene