orphaned babies

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coolpop

coolpop

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West Virginia
local cattleman lost cows to an electrical storm, couldn't take care of the babies, so I just bought them one week ago. Lester to the left, large one in the middle was born on my property June 5th, heifer to the right is Lola. My husband thinks I'm nuts but I love "bottle babies"

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thanks, I would love to keep the little bull calf - Lester --- but I've always heard you shouldn't keep a bottle bull calf -- they don't respect you.
 
coolpop":2fewf463 said:
thanks, I would love to keep the little bull calf - Lester --- but I've always heard you shouldn't keep a bottle bull calf -- they don't respect you.
Click to expand...

In order for him to respect you, you have to respect him. I've raised a fair number of bull bottle calves and didn't have any problems, but I don't encourage them to be pets, either. Castrating/banding him will also help to hedge your bet, so to speak. ;-)
 
I'm going to switch him to milk in a bucket this evening -- he butts so hard, I've got bruises, think that should help. Never had one butt like he does. The owner said after his mother was his by lightening, it took them a few days to find him. Maybe he just wants to make sure he doesn't ever miss another meal.
 
If you can get him switched to a bucket, then good...just be careful. Most times I've had to work with the calf to get him to learn the bucket. He's old enough, however, that you may not have a problem one...and he's big enough to do more than bruise you if he doesn't quite "get it."

If the bucket doesn't work, hang a bottle rack...just make sure from now on, when you feed him keep a fence between you and Lester.

He is a good looking fella.

Alice
 
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Lester is drinking water from the trough and eats grain from a small black bucket -- hope it's not too "trying" to get him switched over to milk in a bucket. Now little Lola is a sweetheart, very gentle, doesn't butt and carry one.
 
They look real good! Nothing wrong with bottle babies -- you learn an awful lot from taking care of them.
 
The bull calf Lester went to the bucket milk tonight like a "champ". No butting, nice & calm. It was great. No bruises or bumps for me tonight. :)
 
coolpop":23mk1oao said:
The bull calf Lester went to the bucket milk tonight like a "champ". No butting, nice & calm. It was great. No bruises or bumps for me tonight. :)
Click to expand...

Woooohooo!

Alice
 
Those are some gorgeous calves! And don't worry about Lester- I find that bottle raised calves no matter what sex tend to be very friendly and loving if that is what they are taught! All calves "hunch"- it's instinct because hunching mom's udder brings her milk down. Just make sure to pet him and play with him and then you'll have an 800 pound lap cow like I have! :D
 
Thanks for the compliments on the calves. Much to my husbands dismay -- all of our cattle are very gentle, and "big" babies. I've bottle raised most, bought some from other farms that had to be "tamed"
I feed and am in the field most of the time by myself and we live off the beaten track -- so all of our cattle need to be gentle and respect me.

Thanks again.
 

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