Premature calf
- Thread starter blueridge
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bigbull338
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like was said alot depends on the sire an dams genetics.but if the calfs momma gives enough milk.the calf could grow off good.
Had a young cow that weighed 952 as a 2 year old when she calved. Her calf weighed 50 lbs at birth. At weaning the cow weighed 876 and the calf weighed 576.
Your calf may be a little lighter at weaning but if he has the genetics for growth and the cow has the milk he'll catch up. By uearling he'll be right up with everyone else. Light BW doesn;t have to mean light WW and YW.
Your calf may be a little lighter at weaning but if he has the genetics for growth and the cow has the milk he'll catch up. By uearling he'll be right up with everyone else. Light BW doesn;t have to mean light WW and YW.
Keren
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We have at the moment a calf that was 7 weeks prem. He was the result of an infection in utero that caused the cow to drop twins early - the heifer calf was born dead the bull was alive (barely). He took a lot of work to get him going for the first few day. We were milking out the cow and tubing him. But he is great now - he is about 2 months now, so he has only just reached his due date. He'll only be a steer but he is a LIVE CALF!
I'm sure yours will do just fine. Good luck.
I'm sure yours will do just fine. Good luck.
blueridge":1fut0pri said:
Too many variables for me to even hazard a guess. First time heifer, or a mature cow? If a mature cow, what is her milking/mothering ability? If not a proven milker, is he supplementing her? Is the calf healthy, or was he/she born with issues? The calf might be "staying right with mom", but is he nursing?
this is the cows fourth calf and she has never had a problem with providing plenty of milk. the calf is nursing. when the calf gets up it stretches and moves fine and doesn't appear to have abanormalities orther than size. will there be an issue with the cow if the calf is not consuming enough milk from her? with the cow delivering 6 weeks early had she produced coloctrum yet?
blueridge":nvfzh7zz said:
There should have been a at least some if she had bagged up at all. It may not be a lot or of the highest quality, but there isn;t anything you can do about it now. Keep an eye on the calf is about all. If she has lots of milk now she may lose some of it but with any kind of luck come back into enough when the calves requirements increase. Keep an eye on the calf, it will let you know if it's not getting enough milk.
