not outta the woods

[angus9259]

. . . . that calf that got squirted under the gate . . . don't think he's nursing . . . . thought he was though I never actually saw him. he looked strong, called for momma when he was lonely. today is day 2 though and I still haven't seen him nurse, momma's bag says he's not and he's getting weaker. I got her in the chute it's pretty clear he hasn't been on her today at all. I saw him urinate several times and pass a stool so I figured he was ok.

now I have to decide if he drank originally (he knows how to suck) or never did at all. can a calf live 2 days, urinate and poop without feeding at all?

no temp on the calf or other signs of distress.

 

[randiliana]

Depends on the weather. If it is nice out they can go for 3-4 days. If it is cold, not so long. We had one last year that sucked as a newborn, but got sick at a couple days old and quit sucking. We figured it out in time and got the calf treated, fed it a couple times and it got going on mom again.

 

[CKC1586]

Get some teat dip and put food coloring in it (I use blue, lots of it) and dip her, will tell you shortly if that calf has/is nursed/ing. Jeanne gave out this advise a few years back, works great. Takes the guess work out of this whole thing.