Graft Failed?

[I luv herfrds]

Went out this afternoon to check our cows. Found the cow I grafted a calf onto in the "Abandoned Calf" post. Her bag looked full. Then went looking for the calf. They were together when we first turned them out.
This is what I found.

The calf nursing is the grafted calf, the one on the right is this heifers calf.
I had heard the grafted cow bawling for the calf, but I have never heard this calf bawl. Not even when we branded her.
She looks like sh*t.

 

[rockridgecattle]

If i did not understand correctly, please set me straight. Is this hiefer raising 2 calves?
Give the graft a little time for the calf to look better. There has been alot of stress on both sides and the calf probably lost weight due to the stress. It will need time to gain back and look better. Looks a bit scruffy, should improve. It's sucking and that is a good thing. Maybe the momma will need some extra help with raising 2 and growing herself and raising one on the inside soon.

RR

 

[Keren]

If I understand correctly, the cow this calf is sucking off is NOT the cow it was grafted to.

FWIW, I would just probably give this cow a bit of extra feed and help her raise the two of them. If the other cow has given up on the calf, then it would be a lot of work to get them back together. I probably wouldnt bother. On the other hand, it is possible that this calf is learning to steal quite well, and it might be getting some feeds off the graft cow plus any others that will stand still for it. Also, I'd try to get the calf eating some feed as well.

 

[I luv herfrds]

RR that is not the cow we grafted her onto.
I saw the graft cow about a week ago and she looked like she had been nursed on, now I find this going on.

Husband is rubbing it in that the graft failed. :mad:

Now I really wish my milk cow had been bred for this year. I could have used her as a nurse cow. She loves calves.

 

[KNERSIE]

I have a calf that I have seen suckle on at least five different cows, the funny part is that not all of them are first calvers, his dam has more than enough milk for him, he just likes a bit of variety.

Also have a set of twins and a second calvers with more milk than her own calf can consume has gladly accepted one of the twins as her own. Both the twins also still suckle their own dam. I'll keep the two cows and three calves together in a seperate pasture as soon as my pasture situation allows it. I'll gladly accept of one of the commercial cows offers to help a registered cow with twins out.

 

[Chris H]

If you can't separate the grafted pair then I'd at least pull the calf out of that field. There's no sense pulling down the heifer, or putting her calf at risk and having 2 small calves.

 

[bigbull338]

so sorry that the graft failed.now you have a cow with 2 calves on her.an 1 without a calf thats no fun.

 

[I luv herfrds]

It must be the water.
Went out to make sure nothing got killed by the lightening storm this early a.m.
Found the calf laying in a coulee acting sick. Got her up to get her up to the top. Went to get a rope to catch. Couldn't find her.
Looked around and found the calf nursing on her original mom, right behind her is the grafted mom and behind her is the heifer. :shock: :roll:
Checked the grafted mom and I could see that she has been nursed on.

This calf is driving me crazy.