Is this normal?

[jmskobe]

Hey guys, I'm new to this board but have been reading topics for a couple months now. I definitely enjoy the pictures, how ever i have a question of my own. I have a 2 yr. old heifer that delivered last night. Momma has a bag that is about to burst and the calf doesn't seem to care at all. I have been outside working on some corals fencing while keeping watch on the herd and haven't seen the calf drink a drop. Momma was bagged up about a month before the delivery and she delivered within 1 day of her due date. I'm concerned that the calf will not get any colostrum so i mixed up a bag from tractor supply and tried to force feed the calf once i split it up from momma. The calf didn't want that either. I'm kinda at a loss here since I'm a dig one for letting nature do its thing but I'm not big on letting a calf die because it doesn't want to eat. The calf weighed in at 86 pounds and is a tan baldy. mother= Charolais and papa=Hereford. Any thoughts??? pictures to come.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

You get it to suck or tube it. Or you can let nature take its course. 1000.00 calves I believe I would be out there trying.

 

[kucala5]

Will the calf suck your finger? Some are just dumb and the suck reflex has to be worked with. Try some honey or molasses on the bottle nipple. Sometimes TLC is needed to get things going, don't give up...they almost always come around. We've had several this year that needed the extra effort and they are all on their mamas now.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Sometimes they can fool you, and have nursed. Look for shiny teats. But since it is a "heifer," there is a good chance you are correct. You gotta help that calf get going. Can you put mamma in a chute, head catch, or alley and put the calf on her? Get it sucking your finger or a bottle (as already stated) first, then put it on the cow. If that didn't work, I personally would milk out the cow for colostrum to tube the calf with, that is best for both of them. But do something right away!

 

[torogmc81]

If you a calm momma we squirt some of moms milk on our finger and let them smell and suck that for a moment. Then bring calf in and squirt him in the nose, bring him right up, and shove it in their mouth. I'm not about to sit on the sidelines waiting for chance. But once you do know that calf has got something in its belly we have learned (as hard as it may be for me, still) to just let a new mom heifer and the calf figure each other out. They seem to figure it out quicker the less you distract momma and calf. Good luck to ya

 

[jmskobe]

Update: put momma in a chute and milked her by hand. took about 2 quarts out and the calf drank it all with a rubber nipple. not sure what the deal is other than the calf and momma are both new at this and must take some encouraging to get pointed in the right direction. I haven't seen shiny teets in fact i have seen nothing but muddy ones. The only bad news was once we let momma out of the chute she tried to get to the calf in the worst way and charged me twice, succeeded in knocking me down once. I think i have had enough for tonight. will keep more an eye out tomorrow and hope the calf realizes where the milk came from. Momma is leaking so finger crossed. Thanks for the help. tried posting pictures of the calf but can't seem to figure it out.

 

[wacocowboy]

sometime you just got to work with them. I had one couldn't get up but would fight the bottle took all day just to get a bottle in him but I just kept at it. If you have someone to help you get them to hold the calf stick the bottle in the calf's mouth squirt some milk then close its mouth on the nipple and kinda work its jaw on the nipple making it squirt milk I did that to a calf and after a few mins it started sucking on its own and downed the rest of the bottle in no time. As others have said I would milk her into a bottle and use that it is cheaper and better for the calf plus help momma out and keep them penned together I am willing to bet it will figure it out if it is with momma

 

[nurseynicole]

At this point if that calf hasn't had colostrum nature may decide your fate for you eventually. They HAVE to have colostrum whether from momma or a commercial mix within 12 hours after that minimal with absorb into the gut. I would get a tube down that calf if it doesn't drink asap... Good luck with him!

 

[Nesikep]

I went through that with a small calf from a first time heifer this year... here's my thread on it

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=90813

I was able to get mine to swallow a bit when I used a nipple with an enlarged hole, and fiddled with it's tongue with the index finger of my hand that was holding the head. If it doesn't work, tube it, it's a fair sized calf, 2 quarts shouldn't be a problem for it. If you can do it without a rodeo, milk out the cow too.

You should see my little "Tina" suck now! Anything dangling is in danger

 

[branguscowgirl]

You should see my little "Tina" suck now! Anything dangling is in danger

No urinating in the corral Nesi, or you'll have trouble! :shock:
:hide:

 

[Nesikep]

With the electric fence I can't point the other way though! No worries, the mere idea of her head bunts is enough motivation not to leave anything dangling!

Seriously though, bale twines and the likes are all getting chewed on if within reach, she chews on wood, and luckily enough, hay as well.. She's been chewing cud for about a week now.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

You done good. Any way you can put momma back in the chute and put the calf on a tit.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Be careful! I hope you have some help. When handling a calf, I always try to keep it between me and mom. I hope she is not being aggressive toward you, and just moving to the calf.
Good luck and hope it is nursing all on its own by now!

 

[jmskobe]

i think momma was upset when she came after me. she hasn't ever been handled and this was new for her, not to mention a new calf and hanging bag. I noticed this morning 2 of the 4 tits were clean so I'm pretty sure the calf figured it out. It lays around most of the day and doesn't follow momma from pasture to the feeding barn. not sure what to do there. i tried keeping the two of them together in the barn alone but momma tries to get back out tot he rest of the herd and smashes the gates inside the barn. She was pretty tame/normal up until the calf came so maybe this is just a hormone thing. I think i will stay away from prego heifers for a while.

 

[insurman]

Had the exact same problem this weekend..
Calf born Thursday, I was there late Friday. Momma's bag was HUGE, tits were inflammed..did not look like that baby had taken a drink. Went out early Saturday...same thing. Penned both and watched..nothing. B-12 tube and powered colostrum..this morning still did not look like the baby had taken a suck. Took mom and baby to a neighbors this morning. Milked her hard, tubed the baby a full load and got her to at least suck on all four a little. Took back to pens, had to leave but waiting to hear an update from mother-n-law, it not then wife is doing the same tomorrow.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Had the exact same problem this weekend..
Calf born Thursday, I was there late Friday. Momma's bag was HUGE, tits were inflammed..did not look like that baby had taken a drink. Went out early Saturday...same thing. Penned both and watched..nothing. B-12 tube and powered colostrum..this morning still did not look like the baby had taken a suck. Took mom and baby to a neighbors this morning. Milked her hard, tubed the baby a full load and got her to at least suck on all four a little. Took back to pens, had to leave but waiting to hear an update from mother-n-law, it not then wife is doing the same tomorrow.

You do know that you have to get the colostrum into them within the first 12 hrs. right? You only have a small window of time that they can actually absorb and benefit from the antibodies that the colostrum provides.