One of my heifers had her first calf 2 days ago - a good sized bull calf. It was slow to get up and needed a lot of help from me. The mother really cares for it - but only wants to lick its head and won't let him go to her udder! It doesn't help that she has short stubby fat teats!
I have been putting her in the crush and getting the calf to suck - but she still kicks/ fidgets. He did manage to drink of one of the teats, but I don't think he got too much.
So I have been milking her and then feeding it to the calf. I used a rope to tie her leg back while I milked her (2 x day), I'm feeding the calf every 4 hours (daytime - not at night). I have been tubing the milk to the calf as it does not have a very strong suck yet.
Any tips on how to get mum to let the little fella go the udder in peace -please?
I have been putting her in the crush and getting the calf to suck - but she still kicks/ fidgets. He did manage to drink of one of the teats, but I don't think he got too much.
So I have been milking her and then feeding it to the calf. I used a rope to tie her leg back while I milked her (2 x day), I'm feeding the calf every 4 hours (daytime - not at night). I have been tubing the milk to the calf as it does not have a very strong suck yet.
Any tips on how to get mum to let the little fella go the udder in peace -please?