I got her from a dairy close by. They are switching to beef and selling 4 young heifers. I took a 3-4 week old one that was eating grain (the others were younger). I could not replicate his grain, he got it from a local feed store. It was 10-12% protein but he told me to get creep feed. That is large pellets so I got calf manna. He told me to feed her 2 pints (not 2 quarts) twice daily. He gave me a couple of gallons of raw jersey milk to help transition to milk replacer. I finally found non medicated milk based replacer but only after starting the transition with Unimilk, but now we are on the milk based one. He also said to put 1 oz of corid in with her milk once a day as 21 day cocci prevention. She gets a fresh bucket of water every day and the grain replaced every day. (I toss the leftover that she hasn't eaten to the dexter we also got recently and donkeys. Hopefully that isn't bad for them). She stays in a 8 x16 stall. She eats well and bumps me with her head looking for more, I guess, as I clean her bedding out once daily. I just got some clean straw (she eats some) but had been using goat berry speckled leftover Sudan. It was dry but not the cleanest. There is also some alfalfa nearby that she is nibbling through the fence.
She had a thick pudding plop when I got her but for the past 2-3 days (I got her Saturday, today is Thursday) it has been pretty runny. I started electrolytes right off the bat the day I got her trying to ensure any stress and digestion issues could be lessened by hydration. Also I knew our weather was turning frigid cold and I wanted to lessen that stress as well. I give 1-1.5 quarts of that a day but it is not always the same brand. I have not pulled the milk feedings since I'm not even sure it is actually scours....I know I'm not over feeding at 2 pints per feeding. Tomorrow starts the first feeding of all milk replacer since I ran out of fresh raw jersey milk.
I have looked up pics of scours. Hers is still brown, not green or light colored so it could just be the change of feed, not full blown diarrhea? The electrolytes I have been using have no gelling agents, just electrolytes. I have not taken temp, she is very active. So I tend to think her temp is fine. I let her out of the stall and she ran around either from excitement or a stressed reaction so I haven't let her out again.
This is my first bottle calf. The dexter is a yearling we just got a couple of months ago. She is another post
Should I treat any runny stools like scours and use the scour and pneumonia treatment milk replacer? I believe it makes 2 quarts and to feed solely this for 7-14 days. I don't have sav a calf. It's called calf medic. Or I have arrest which is a re hydrant for scouring calves with a gelling agent. Her nose seems moist but not runny, like I said she is active, although I see her laying down more often now (I assumed since she is feeling more at home) and she eats well.
To keep her warm in a 3 sided run in barn, we have coastal bales stacked two high covered with some plywood. She is out of the wind and any dampness. She could nibble on it though and I don't think I should be offering hay until she weans at around 2-3 months old. This is what I have for shelter though.
I will see if I can post a pic tomorrow morning so you can see her body condition and her eyes.
I have read so much about calves dying and if the owner only knew to do this or that, it could have been saved. I'm reading the forum posts. So much great info and experience. Brand new to this forum. Someone on another forum recommended you folks.
She had a thick pudding plop when I got her but for the past 2-3 days (I got her Saturday, today is Thursday) it has been pretty runny. I started electrolytes right off the bat the day I got her trying to ensure any stress and digestion issues could be lessened by hydration. Also I knew our weather was turning frigid cold and I wanted to lessen that stress as well. I give 1-1.5 quarts of that a day but it is not always the same brand. I have not pulled the milk feedings since I'm not even sure it is actually scours....I know I'm not over feeding at 2 pints per feeding. Tomorrow starts the first feeding of all milk replacer since I ran out of fresh raw jersey milk.
I have looked up pics of scours. Hers is still brown, not green or light colored so it could just be the change of feed, not full blown diarrhea? The electrolytes I have been using have no gelling agents, just electrolytes. I have not taken temp, she is very active. So I tend to think her temp is fine. I let her out of the stall and she ran around either from excitement or a stressed reaction so I haven't let her out again.
This is my first bottle calf. The dexter is a yearling we just got a couple of months ago. She is another post
Should I treat any runny stools like scours and use the scour and pneumonia treatment milk replacer? I believe it makes 2 quarts and to feed solely this for 7-14 days. I don't have sav a calf. It's called calf medic. Or I have arrest which is a re hydrant for scouring calves with a gelling agent. Her nose seems moist but not runny, like I said she is active, although I see her laying down more often now (I assumed since she is feeling more at home) and she eats well.
To keep her warm in a 3 sided run in barn, we have coastal bales stacked two high covered with some plywood. She is out of the wind and any dampness. She could nibble on it though and I don't think I should be offering hay until she weans at around 2-3 months old. This is what I have for shelter though.
I will see if I can post a pic tomorrow morning so you can see her body condition and her eyes.
I have read so much about calves dying and if the owner only knew to do this or that, it could have been saved. I'm reading the forum posts. So much great info and experience. Brand new to this forum. Someone on another forum recommended you folks.