How increase calf appetite

[jdcopkid]

So I have a calf who had it pretty rough the last few weeks. Got scours and dehydrated, had to bottle feed him electrolytes, etc. got pneumonia, had nuflor and Baytril. He stomach was pretty messed up. Got him on some probiotics and he's eating now, some hay and grain.. but he's not eating much and he's god awful skinny. Looking for recommendations on getting him up and going and eating more. Do I just need some patience? He's the little brown boy. Both were sick but white face is eating much better and not losing weight.

I have Ralgro waiting for them but worried to give it to them in this condition but then again maybe it would stimulate his appetite? Idk

 

[bird dog]

Hold off on the Ralgro for now. It doesn't make them eat more, it makes them convert what they are eating more efficiently.

What are you feeding them? Some good calf starter might help. Maybe add some calf mana.

 

[Mrcopier]

IMO you can't make him eat more what the dog said and be patient, I think he'll come around

 

[SBMF 2015]

Vitamin B complex. It's cheap and it's an appetite stimulant.

 

[jdcopkid]

Vitamin B complex. It's cheap and it's an appetite stimulant.

I do have some maxi b 1000. I gave him some about 10 days ago. I'll give it a go again

 

[M.Magis]

Get him back on milk replacer.

 

[jdcopkid]

Hold off on the Ralgro for now. It doesn't make them eat more, it makes them convert what they are eating more efficiently.

What are you feeding them? Some good calf starter might help. Maybe add some calf mana.

We have hay, and then a 12% sweet feed mixed with blue bonnet 14% pellets. Just picked up some DDG today for the other calves and they gobbled it up.

 

[kenny thomas]

Have they been wormed?

 

[jdcopkid]

Get him back on milk replacer.

He hasn't been on milk for about a month that I know FOR SURE could be longer.. other than when he was really sick and we bottle fed him for a few days and vet told me to stop the milk

 

[jdcopkid]

Have they been wormed?

Yea before I got them.

 

[kenny thomas]

Yea before I got them.

Any idea what they were wormed with?

 

[jdcopkid]

Any idea what they were wormed with?

I can find out. I'll answer once I get an answer

 

[jdcopkid]

Any idea what they were wormed with?

Safeguard

 

[M.Magis]

He hasn't been on milk for about a month that I know FOR SURE could be longer.. other than when he was really sick and we bottle fed him for a few days and vet told me to stop the milk

I know pics can be deceiving. He looks too young to have been off milk for that long in those pics. It can provide a lot of easily digestible calories.

 

[Brute 23]

Do you have loose salt out? Mineral?

I would get some and keep it in the trough you feed them in. Don't put the whole bag at first. Just a little pile of each so it fresh and keep some out all the time for them.

A mulitmin shot wouldn't hurt either.

Not sure any of this is a game changer but they need it and it can effect consumption.

X2 on a good injectable wormer, also.

 

[Brute 23]

... and get them on some grass. They are cattle, not dogs or goats. I know they are young but their mind still tells them they are supposed to be on grass.

 

[kenny thomas]

Safeguard is ok i guess. Is it possible since it has been sick that it is chronic? Does it breathe well, cough any, stand with its ears and head down?
A good injectable wormer plus vit B as suggested might help if not chronic. On the vitamin follow the label instructions. Some are long term and some are given often.

 

[kenny thomas]

Are these calves off a market sale? Were they weaned from the bottle when you bought them?

 

[jdcopkid]

Do you have loose salt out? Mineral?

I would get some and keep it in the trough you feed them in. Don't put the whole bag at first. Just a little pile of each so it fresh and keep some out all the time for them.

A mulitmin shot wouldn't hurt either.

Not sure any of this is a game changer but they need it and it can effect consumption.

X2 on a good injectable wormer, also.

They do have free choice wind and rain, and it is in the trough close to their food. I even mixed a little into the food today, not much. I'll take a look at multimin for sure.

 

[jdcopkid]

... and get them on some grass. They are cattle, not dogs or goats. I know they are young but their mind still tells them they are supposed to be on grass.

I'm trying but the land I have leased for them to graze is over an hour from where they are and I'm trying to get them healthy before transporting them and letting them out there. We're working on expanding our fence where they currently are to get them on at least some grass