Not giving up on Baxter

[fourstates]

Remember the hard pull, not breathing, rejected, sore legged, won't suck, bloody diarrhea calf, I wrote about 2 weeks ago? Well, Sunday, we were talking about having him put down. He was listless, thin, we were bucket feeding him, but he wouldn't eat enough, and I would still tube him occasionally. I felt like I should have let him die instead of prolonging this for two weeks.
Monday, after trying to make him eat, I just fixed him another (20th attempt) bottle. We got the nipple in his mouth and some kind of lightbulb went off in his brain. He sucked and sucked and that tail got going and...wow!
He drank another 3 bottles today, which amazed us. He ran and kicked up his heels around the yard, he was playing just like a normal calf. His sides are filling out. I know theres along time before he's fully out of the woods, but I feel really hopeful.
I know you all said it takes patience to teach them to bottle feed...but two week!!! That's OK, if he makes it, it's well worth it.

 

[msscamp]

That is wonderful, good job! :D It is not my intent to rain on your parade, and I could be misunderstanding something here, but I would caution you to be careful how much you're feeding him. To suddenly increase his bottles is inviting a case of scours, and that is the last thing he needs! Good luck, and keep up the good work!

 

[fourstates]

Thanks, Scours is the last thing he needs! I gave him roughly 1 gallon spread over 3 feedings. He acts like he's starving, which he was. How much should I feed him starting tomorrow and onward?

 

[msscamp]

Thanks, Scours is the last thing he needs! I gave him roughly 1 gallon spread over 3 feedings. He acts like he's starving, which he was. How much should I feed him starting tomorrow and onward?

Have you started him on grain? If not, call around to your feedstores and see if you can find some C.O.B. (Corn, oats, and barley mixed up with molasses), or some Startena. Be aware that, at 2 weeks old, he will probably sort out the pellets in the Startena. Startena also tends to cost more than C.O.B. - at least in my area. C.O.B. delivers around 15% protein, so it will do fine for your calf. Poke some in his mouth after bottling, and give him a small handful. Put fresh grain out daily, and feed what he doesn't eat to the other critters. Once he starts eating it, gradually increase over a couple of days, until he's eating a couple of pounds/day. Does he have grass hay available? If not, start out with one small flake and see how he does with it - you don't have to be quite as careful on building up the amount of hay, but don't feed so much that he doesn't want to eat his grain. As far as milk, it depends on the calf. I've fed as much as 2 gallons/day spread over 3-4 feedings. Depending on his size, you might want to stick with the gallon/day, hay, and grain and see if that fills him up. If not, consider increasing his milk a little bit at a time (I usually increase a 1/2 pint at a time, leave it there for 2-3 feedings and, if the calf handles it well, increase another 1/2 pint), until he is not acting so starved. I would not go over 2 gallons/day, though. If you can increase the number of feedings he won't have to go as long, and that will help alleviate him acting like he is starving, too.

 

[TheBullLady]

msscamp .. we agree on that! Most people limit the milk replacer to what's prescribed on the bag.. which is fine, but you won't get as good a calf.

I start them out on probably 1 1/2 quarts twice a day, and slowly increase the amount. More powder and less water.. I mix it about twice what's recommended.

Start putting a sweet feed into his mouth when he's done with the bottle.. gives him something to chew on so he's not so aggressive after the bottle when it's finished!

And good job being so patient! Sometimes it pays off.

 

[fourstates]

I couldn't find any COB but I bought a bag of horse sweet feed, which is something close. He chews it and tosses his head, but I do put it in his mouth. He has fresh water which he does drink. As far as hay, two of the four walls of his pen are square bales of good quality hay. I've seen him nose at it, and I've put some in his mouth. Too bad he doesn't appreciate all that nice hay now, cause he won't see that much again!
I am transitioning him to a bucket with a nipple and he did well with it.

If he makes it to adulthood, what will I do with a 2000 pound bull that thinks I'm his mama?? If he turns out looking OK, I'm hoping can find a kid to show him. I've done that with other gentle bull calves, get him back as a two year old.

Are bottle calves normal, can they be returned to the herd?

 

[msscamp]

I couldn't find any COB but I bought a bag of horse sweet feed, which is something close. He chews it and tosses his head, but I do put it in his mouth. He has fresh water which he does drink. As far as hay, two of the four walls of his pen are square bales of good quality hay. I've seen him nose at it, and I've put some in his mouth. Too bad he doesn't appreciate all that nice hay now, cause he won't see that much again!

Chewing and tossing his head is a good thing, he'll be eating well before long. The hay is probably a case of him not being able to pull enough out of the bale, given his age and size, to do any good.

I am transitioning him to a bucket with a nipple and he did well with it.

That works fine, just be sure to clean it well between feedings.

If he makes it to adulthood, what will I do with a 2000 pound bull that thinks I'm his mama?? If he turns out looking OK, I'm hoping can find a kid to show him. I've done that with other gentle bull calves, get him back as a two year old.

You probably want to castrate this calf. A pet bull is not a good idea for anyone concerned - too much potential for someone getting hurt. You will also have better luck finding someone to show him, depending on his quality, if he is a steer. The vast majority of bulls are not breeding quality, so there isn't any reason to keep them intact. Push comes to shove, finish him out and put him in the freezer. There is also the option of selling him. Again, that generally works better if he is a steer because, depending on your area, a lot of bulls are docked on price.

Are bottle calves normal, can they be returned to the herd?

Most bottle calves become bottle calves due to abandonment, mother doesn't have enough milk, being a twin, mother dies, born to feedlot heifers - things like that. They are usually perfectly normal, and just got a rough start on life. If they satisfy the requirements for the herd, they can absolutely be returned to it.

 

[msscamp]

msscamp .. we agree on that! Most people limit the milk replacer to what's prescribed on the bag.. which is fine, but you won't get as good a calf.

It sure is nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't go with what the bag says! :D

 

[fourstates]

Here is Baxter. (I have not figured out how to post pic vs link,)
He's doing real good. I sure am grateful for all the help I've gotten from these boards.
http://cattletoday.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=6074 http://cattletoday.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=6075

 

[Green Creek]

He looks really nice especially considering his hard start. Good job.

 

[msscamp]

Looking good, fourstates! :)