slow calf

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cowfarmer

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Mar 27, 2005
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east texas
One of my caow calved last Friday.3/18.
I have seen the calf nurse, but not for very
long at a time. The past several days I have
observed it attempting to nurse but have not
seen it latch on. It only seems
half-heartedly interested in nursing. The momma
has a large bag.
The calf is now 9 days old and
follows its mom around the pasture when she
moves. However, it just doesn't seem to me like it
has a lot of energy. It lays around a lot and walks
and never runs. Shouldn't a 9 day old calf be more
energetic? I don't know if I should try and give it some
electrolytes or just leave it alone. Any suggestions are
welcome!
 
Might check to see if mamma has much milk. Does the calf look hollowed out? Dose of vitamin B complex won't hurt anything. Check his temp. Make sure he isn't dehydrated.
 
Haven't been able to check the mama cow
for milk. She is pretty wild. The calf is actually
not scared of me and lets me touch it. That is
another reason I think maybe it is not feeling
to well. I am new at this and don't know what
its temp should be. Also, if it is not getting enough
milk or is sick, do you think it will show obvious signs of
such in time for me to bottle feed it? I have been checking
on it each PM and it always seems to get up without any
trouble. I have been using the fact that it gets up and walks
around as a reason not to worry about it too much. If it has a
problem, should that become obvious in time for me to bottle feed
it before it dies?
 
If the calf looks empty and mamma's bag is really full or don't look likeit's being drank from then the calf isn't getting enough, I always look if the calf's belly looks full and mamma looks like she's being drank from the calf should be getting enough. at nine days the calf should be running and jumping but won't be doing it all the time. check her temp and try to see what her poop looks like. that should tell you if something else is wrong. If she looks like she's not drinking try to get her drinking
 
I'm no expert here, but after nine days it's getting at least enough milk to keep it going. I feel like scours may be taking its toll & that is the reason for the lack of energy (as noted above you need to check its poop &/or its temp). It is also unusual for the calf of that age to let you go up & touch it, so that is another reason for some concern & consistent with a calf weakened by scours.
Has it been getting less energetic as the days go on? Or has it always had the same energy & actions?
I've never had a lack of milk problem, so I think illness rather than the ma having a quantity problem.
 
Can you find someone experienced with cattle to come take a look? Calves can go down real fast by the time you see obvious signs of distress. If you are REAL new to cattle and can't find someone to "mentor" you for awhile, don't be afraid to call a vet. I would much rather call a vet over nothing than to think I'm overreacting and end up with a dead calf. Good Luck!
 
Call your vet for advice! Soon!

Sure doesn't sound like you've got a calf that's getting much in the grocery dept, is ill or both. Run that cow into a squeeze (or what have you) and see if you can draw any milk out of all four quarters. Tie a hind leg back so you don't get your block knocked off. Also check to feel if she's got a hot udder. Cow may have mastitis, too.

If you get milk, call your vet and have him/her help you figure out what's wrong with your calf. I agree that at nine days old, a healthy calf is one that you're not going to be able to just walk up to and scratch. Healthy calf should be latching on to a teat, and if not wagging his tail, at least having a frothy milk chin and emtpying at least one quarter by his age. More likely two or three. Calf that's trying one quarter, then another, etc in rapid succesion is not getting milk or very much of it.

Could also be scours, pnuemonia (sp?), or what have you, but can't treat properly without an accurate diagnosis.

Good luck. Let us know how you make out.

Take care.
 
cowfarmer":33vozamh said:
I have been checking on it each PM........
Click to expand...
You're probably not seeing the calf enough to know how much it's getting to eat. In cases like yours where you're not sure how much the calf is sucking, separate the cow and calf. Either overnight or during the day. When you turn them back together, you'll find out if your calf is getting enough milk.
 
Thanks for all the input and suggestions! :)
I didn't notice any change in the calf today.
Not weaker and not better. I watched it for
a couple of hours this PM and it never nursed.
It did act like it wanted to, but only licked the
teats. I tried to get it to take a bottle unsuccessfully.
It still had a good bit of energy to fight me
I am going to try again tomorrow and if it doesn't
take the bottle I am either taking the calf to the vet
or seperating the calf and its mom as suggested. I think that
is a really good idea to see if it will try to nurse after being
seperated for half a day.

I haven't seen it poop and don't see any signs of scours on
its tail or backside.
 
I tried unsuccessfully to get the calf to take a bottle this morning.
It did see it urinate and have a bowel movement. It was very
solid- not loose at all.
A luch time I did see the calf nursing on one side of
the bag. It didn't stay on each one long(2-5 seconds) but it
may of already emptied them b-4 I drove up and saw it nursing.
It does seem to have a little more energy and was walking faster
and jumping around a little bit. I think it is going to be OK. Thanks
again for all the advice.
 

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