Handling a newborn

[Ruark]

When you need to handle a just-born calf, for example to give it colostrum, how do you handle the mother cow? Can you just walk up and start handling the calf without her becoming aggressive? Or maybe you pick up the calf and take it into the next pen or stall....? Asking this question as a newbie who's never done it before.

Thanks,
Ruark
Evant, TX

 

[3waycross]

Best to restrain the cow if possible. Either that or get behind a closed door with the calf.

 

[Isomade]

Best to restrain the cow if possible. Either that or get behind a closed door with the calf.

I agree, I'm nursing a sore ankle from a "tame cow" that had just calved. Thank goodness she pulled up before my clumsy a$$ rolled my ankle and I fell face first in the dirt.

 

[dun]

Depends on the cow. Some we can mess with and she'll stand around mooing or even licking me, ithers we have to put the cow in the squeeze and work on the calf out of her sight.

 

[SRBeef]

Why do you need to feed colostrum with a protective mother right there? If she's that protective why feed colostrum?

I had a situation earlier this week with a heifers first calf having the flexed pasterns - walking on its knees - the first day or two. I could not get around to suck, the heifer wasn't sure what her job was and was not immediately protective. I put them both in the corral together until the calf is now able to get around like the others and the heifer has taken to mothering and nursing him.

They both go out on pasture (hay) tomorrow.

But she was not protective at first. She is getting that way now but pleasantly protective, not aggressive toward me.

So I am curious why if the mother IS protective and mothering the calf it needs colostrum?

Jim

 

[novatech]

When you need to handle a just-born calf, for example to give it colostrum, how do you handle the mother cow? Can you just walk up and start handling the calf without her becoming aggressive? Or maybe you pick up the calf and take it into the next pen or stall....? Asking this question as a newbie who's never done it before.

Thanks,
Ruark
Evant, TX

Out in the pasture I always made the assumption that the mother will be protective. With that in mind I used a hay ring attached to a loader and dropped it over the calf while it was lying down. I would put the calf in the bucket and proceed to the corral with the mother close behind.
No animal should be trusted with a newborn. They can change their attitude completely from the norm wither it be genetic, hormonal, or an infection causing them to change.

 

[Ruark]

So I am curious why if the mother IS protective and mothering the calf it needs colostrum?

Gee, I don't know, Jim. That was just a made-up, fictitious, hypothetical example.

 

[TexasBred]

Ruark treat all "new mama's " like they are going to eat you up just to be on the safe side. A cow can be the most gentle cow in the herd, spit a calf out ten minutes latter and immediately be in the mood to put you over a fence with taht new baby in front of her. They don't necessarily want to hurt you but are warning you that "that's close enough". No need to fear them but give them all respect. Hopefully you won't have to give colustrum to any calves so in 3-4 days the cow relax and let you get a little closer. Even your pet dog will sometimes growl or snap at you when she's got new pups. ;-)

 

[dun]

There are occasions when a calf is too weak at birth to stand and/or suck, those would be instances when fast intervention is required.
I've heard of people on here that use the bale ring to corral the calf while it's laying down. Never have figured out how they can get that close wit the tractor before it's up and hauling tail the other direction.

 

[CKC1586]

There are occasions when a calf is too weak at birth to stand and/or suck, those would be instances when fast intervention is required.
I've heard of people on here that use the bale ring to corral the calf while it's laying down. Never have figured out how they can get that close wit the tractor before it's up and hauling tail the other direction.

My wonderings too!!!

 

[novatech]

There are occasions when a calf is too weak at birth to stand and/or suck, those would be instances when fast intervention is required.
I've heard of people on here that use the bale ring to corral the calf while it's laying down. Never have figured out how they can get that close wit the tractor before it's up and hauling tail the other direction.

I figure if it's that healthy it don't need doctoring. :lol: Actually I only need that method when the calf is to weak. If it is up then they get driven too the pen. If I can't do it the dog can.

 

[Ruark]

It sounds like this is all something to take into consideration when designing the pens.

 

[novatech]

It sounds like this is all something to take into consideration when designing the pens.

You may also limit the problem by having a calving paddock associated with the pens.

 

[dun]

It sounds like this is all something to take into consideration when designing the pens.

You may also limit the problem by having a calving paddock associated with the pens.

This always sounds good and in theory it maybe. In the real world too often people carry it to extremes. Better to calf in a pasture that has relatively easy access to an area where they can be restrained. Calving in the same place year after year can lead to a disaster.

 

[novatech]

It sounds like this is all something to take into consideration when designing the pens.

You may also limit the problem by having a calving paddock associated with the pens.

This always sounds good and in theory it maybe. In the real world too often people carry it to extremes. Better to calf in a pasture that has relatively easy access to an area where they can be restrained. Calving in the same place year after year can lead to a disaster.

By paddock I mean about 10 acres. It could be any size depending on the size of the calving herd. I don't believe in small traps, pens or barns for calving. I got tired of spending the better part of a day trying to find them. It amazed me at how well they could hide.

 

[SRBeef]

So I am curious why if the mother IS protective and mothering the calf it needs colostrum?

Gee, I don't know, Jim. That was just a made-up, fictitious, hypothetical example.

Doesn't seem like a very polite reply to someone trying to understand your question.

Jim

 

[LRTX1]

Jim,

Read his reply with goober from the andy griffith show in mind. I don't think he meant any harm, think it was just a poorly thought out what if type of question.

 

[Ruark]

Jim,

Read his reply with goober from the andy griffith show in mind. I don't think he meant any harm, think it was just a poorly thought out what if type of question.

Certainly for a dumb "goober" like me, it was enlightening to know that if a cow is protective when you attempt to handle its newborn, that means it's getting colostrum. Jot-jot-jot. Now I know. Whew.

 

[TexasBred]

Why do you need to feed colostrum with a protective mother right there? If she's that protective why feed colostrum?So I am curious why if the mother IS protective and mothering the calf it needs colostrum?

Jim

Last calf I raised a calf on a bottle it came from a "very loving and protective mother". She stood patiently while the calf took his bottle, licked on him and protected him.....didn't have a drop of milk. Don't let the desire to be a good mother convince you that she's a good milker. The desire to mother and protect is natural.

 

[SRBeef]

Why do you need to feed colostrum with a protective mother right there? If she's that protective why feed colostrum?So I am curious why if the mother IS protective and mothering the calf it needs colostrum?

Jim

Last calf I raised a calf on a bottle it came from a "very loving and protective mother". She stood patiently while the calf took his bottle, licked on him and protected him.....didn't have a drop of milk. Don't let the desire to be a good mother convince you that she's a good milker. The desire to mother and protect is natural.

TB, Thank you for the respectful and helpful answer. I did not think of the possibility of a good mother with no milk. Jim