First Time Cow Won't Take To Calf
- Thread starter NCfarmer
- Start date
Help Support CattleToday:
NCfarmer
Member
Thanks again for all the info/replies.
Yes, I'm keeping them together in a 20' square holding pen.
Sure there is progress, which now I put the bucket in the headgate chute
and then open the gate and cow goes right for the chute and feed, chased
after by the calf. She stands now without having to lock her in the
headgate. But like others have said, its a week and two days old now
and still no mother affection.
I notice that she still twitches a lot in her front legs, even after being soaked with fly spray. She is twitching less everyday in her hind quarters,
so don't know if that's a sigh of improvement or just a sign she's being
trained?
I've also thought about separating them for a period and them putting
them back together, like preston39 said. She has no real history though
since this is her first time calving. Like I wrote earlier in the post, she had some temporary paralyzation from the calving. I'm going to give
them a bit more time though and see what gives, if anything, then like
others have said, sell the calf as a b/c and her separate.
Its such a shame to spend nearly two years and get that, but its better
than nothing I guess.
Yes, I'm keeping them together in a 20' square holding pen.
Sure there is progress, which now I put the bucket in the headgate chute
and then open the gate and cow goes right for the chute and feed, chased
after by the calf. She stands now without having to lock her in the
headgate. But like others have said, its a week and two days old now
and still no mother affection.
I notice that she still twitches a lot in her front legs, even after being soaked with fly spray. She is twitching less everyday in her hind quarters,
so don't know if that's a sigh of improvement or just a sign she's being
trained?
I've also thought about separating them for a period and them putting
them back together, like preston39 said. She has no real history though
since this is her first time calving. Like I wrote earlier in the post, she had some temporary paralyzation from the calving. I'm going to give
them a bit more time though and see what gives, if anything, then like
others have said, sell the calf as a b/c and her separate.
Its such a shame to spend nearly two years and get that, but its better
than nothing I guess.
preston39
Well-known member
NCfarmer,
It's your call...but since there is progress...I would stick with it so long as an acceptable end is in sight. Try different arrangements each 3-5 days you may hit on an acceptable solution. Even if mom is to go...I would try to get thru this calf...for the bucks. Then you've got a decision to make on her motherhood. It happens...but not often..... that one is just not cut out for motherhood. Those are the type that feed folks at MCEDEES.
It's your call...but since there is progress...I would stick with it so long as an acceptable end is in sight. Try different arrangements each 3-5 days you may hit on an acceptable solution. Even if mom is to go...I would try to get thru this calf...for the bucks. Then you've got a decision to make on her motherhood. It happens...but not often..... that one is just not cut out for motherhood. Those are the type that feed folks at MCEDEES.
Do not now how many animals you have, but if you followed Dun's advice you could have been breaking in a new cow to the pasture and having couple of cool ones on the veranda in the evening watching the calves play in the field.
She's toast in my book.
Regards
Bez
She's toast in my book.
Regards
Bez
Farminlund
Well-known member
I have to respect you for your persistance - I have never spent more than 2-3 days getting a cow to accept her calf. I guess if I saw progress, I'd work at as long as you have, but there comes a day when it just ain't gona happen - think your are about there. If I'm wrong, maybe a good lesson for all of us.
Get a bottle of calf claim and sprinkle on calfs back and head when calf is done nursing. This gives the cow something sweet to lick on the calf. It usually take 3-5 days for this type situation get fixed.
NCfarmer
Member
Angus Guy,
This Calf Claim sounds like a good idea, but it also sounds similar
to this "crazy" idea I was debating trying.
I was throwing around an idea of putting some molasses or kayro
syrup on the calfs head after it was done nursing to see if it might
entice momma to take a few licks. If I can't find the Calf Claim,
then I might go ahead with the "crazy" idea and see what happens.
Over all, my patience are wearing thin. Its not hard getting the calf fed,
in fact, its just a pretty simple procedure, but as with any "extra" chore,
it adds time to the overall feeding time (not too mention adding a new
morning feeding I usually skip). That sale barn trip is looking better
and better though, unless something drastically changes in the near
future, that's where we'll be headed.
Although, like someone said, I've gone this far with it, there might
be a surprise but I'm not counting on it at this point.
This is assuming that this "Calf Claim" is not something like we had
in the Air Force called, "Prop Wash"......:lol:
Update from today: Flies are a problem since its getting warmer, but
momma is being pretty patient in the hind quarters considering. The
calf is feeding twice a day still after momma's been put into the chute.
Still no sign of momma nursing the calf on her own though. :roll:
This Calf Claim sounds like a good idea, but it also sounds similar
to this "crazy" idea I was debating trying.
I was throwing around an idea of putting some molasses or kayro
syrup on the calfs head after it was done nursing to see if it might
entice momma to take a few licks. If I can't find the Calf Claim,
then I might go ahead with the "crazy" idea and see what happens.
Over all, my patience are wearing thin. Its not hard getting the calf fed,
in fact, its just a pretty simple procedure, but as with any "extra" chore,
it adds time to the overall feeding time (not too mention adding a new
morning feeding I usually skip). That sale barn trip is looking better
and better though, unless something drastically changes in the near
future, that's where we'll be headed.
Although, like someone said, I've gone this far with it, there might
be a surprise but I'm not counting on it at this point.
This is assuming that this "Calf Claim" is not something like we had
in the Air Force called, "Prop Wash"......:lol:
Update from today: Flies are a problem since its getting warmer, but
momma is being pretty patient in the hind quarters considering. The
calf is feeding twice a day still after momma's been put into the chute.
Still no sign of momma nursing the calf on her own though. :roll:
NCfarmer":2m575bzn said:
Kayro didn't work, neither did rodent butts, Calf Claim, Mother Up, the cows manure, urine or milk, and the calves urine didn't do it either. The trailer took care of the problem nicely. Comes a time when you have to just throw up your hands and say enough.
dun
TLCfromARK
Well-known member
Ship her & the calf unless you're enjoying the current status quo. By the time a calf is a week old he should be strong/persistent enough to wear the cow down into allowing it to nurse. I don't fool with something like this for more than 3-4 days, I take them to the first sale barn that's open.
As my old Dad used to say " time is money " and it appears that this pair is using a lot of your time.
Good luck, ;-)
As my old Dad used to say " time is money " and it appears that this pair is using a lot of your time.
Good luck, ;-)
I use this on any pair I have pen up. Anything sweet should work. This year I had 3 Heifers that didn't want to claim their calves. All took 3-5 days in chute (twice a day). All in timber with their calves.
NCfarmer
Member
Final update:
We'll it was two weeks and a day, but I finally gave in
and took them to the sale this morning.
It was getting easier to get her to feed the calf,
but she never would do it on her own in an open pen.
I noticed on the way to the sale, she would let the calf
walk back and forth underneath her without issue
and the calf even suckled a short time, but I believe
it was only because she was afraid of falling, is why
she didn't kick....oh well, they're history now.
Thanks for all the tips and case histories. We'll live
and learn from another one on this one......
We'll it was two weeks and a day, but I finally gave in
and took them to the sale this morning.
It was getting easier to get her to feed the calf,
but she never would do it on her own in an open pen.
I noticed on the way to the sale, she would let the calf
walk back and forth underneath her without issue
and the calf even suckled a short time, but I believe
it was only because she was afraid of falling, is why
she didn't kick....oh well, they're history now.
Thanks for all the tips and case histories. We'll live
and learn from another one on this one......
NCfarmer
Member
Post Final Update:
Well, well, well, the sale wasn't such a bad thing after all.
They separated the two immediately upon me bringing them in, which I expected, but there were several interested parties who asked about them as a pair, which I told them the whole story....don't like to hide nothing from a potential buyer and a person I know I will see again.
To make a long story shorter:
The cow sold for 67.5/100wt. and the calf brought $225.
Needless to say, I was happy since I know I could have lost them both with the trouble she had.
Just thought yall would like to know the final result after all the discussions.....thanks to all for the feedback, tips and suggestions along the way.
Well, well, well, the sale wasn't such a bad thing after all.
They separated the two immediately upon me bringing them in, which I expected, but there were several interested parties who asked about them as a pair, which I told them the whole story....don't like to hide nothing from a potential buyer and a person I know I will see again.
To make a long story shorter:
The cow sold for 67.5/100wt. and the calf brought $225.
Needless to say, I was happy since I know I could have lost them both with the trouble she had.
Just thought yall would like to know the final result after all the discussions.....thanks to all for the feedback, tips and suggestions along the way.
jerry27150
Well-known member
smile all the way to the bank :lol:
NCfarmer
Member
You know that's the truth.
Overall, I'm reasonably satisfied.
Makes that swim in the pond to rescue the calf worthwhile.
Overall, I'm reasonably satisfied.
Makes that swim in the pond to rescue the calf worthwhile.
