When I fed yesterday I noticed one of the heifers I calved out on Jan 17th was bagged up tight. I fed and got out to look for the calf. He was bellied up to the feed trough eating and looked fine. I rolled out some hay and watched them for an hour. Mama would go looking for him and lick him but he would just walk off and keep eating hay, he never sucked. Today was more of the same. She is still bagged up and he is bellied up to the feed trough. I watched them for 30 minutes. Mom is in heat so the bull is on her but she is very motherly. I separated and moved mom and 2 month ok'd baby to corrals. Put mom in chute and checked bag. She seems great, no heat and milk readily available. So I checked calf, seems fine. Not drawn, ears perky, eyes clear. I put them in a 20X30 stall and went to the house where I could watch them with binoculars. For 2 1/2 hours she would lick him and nuzzle him, he stays with her but is absolutely uninterested in nursing. He never tried, not once. I've never seen anything like this from a 2 month old calf. Any ideas?
Stumped
- Thread starter Isomade
- Start date
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
If he is two months old he is eating somewhere.
You don't have a Luby's cow in the bunch do you?
You don't have a Luby's cow in the bunch do you?
Ouachita
Well-known member
I have a calf doing the same thing this year. At 6-7 weeks the lil feller started eating grass, hay, and a receiving ration I put out on harsh nights, and he seems to not have interest in nursing. Although I have witnessed him nursing, it seems to be his last choice.
Did you have them separated from other pairs when you noticed this behavior? I don't consider my calfs choice of nourishment that unusual, just that he seems purposefully avoiding momma for other food stuffs
Did you have them separated from other pairs when you noticed this behavior? I don't consider my calfs choice of nourishment that unusual, just that he seems purposefully avoiding momma for other food stuffs
Separate them overnight, or during the day for 6 hours; if they can be beside each other without the calf reaching through the fence it would be easier on them. Then put them together and you'll see if he's nursing.
It seems our heaviest milking cows have calves that are real aggressive about eating hay, grass, & grain. I'll usually see them nurse just a couple times/day when they're 2 months old.
It seems our heaviest milking cows have calves that are real aggressive about eating hay, grass, & grain. I'll usually see them nurse just a couple times/day when they're 2 months old.
alisonb
Well-known member
Good advice Chris H. Must say I've never seen a healthy 2 month old calf not wanting to drink. Have had incidences where mother's udder was sore and she had been kicking the calf every time it tried to drink but then you notice something like that quickly enough.
Let us know when you find out Iso.
Let us know when you find out Iso.
kenny thomas
Well-known member
My thoughts only, you said the cow was in heat. The calf does not have much of a chance to suck when the cow is riding and being rode by the bull and other cows. I have actually had a couple calves get a bellyache during that time. I bet today he is sucking again unless im way off. But as my signiture says My thoughts only, dont bet the farm on it.
Well, her bag wasn't full today. You may be right. I also called my vet and he said that it's rare but when a cow first goes into heat her milk can develop a different flavor. Could be the case as I would see him sniff her bag from time to time but never offer to suck.kenny thomas":2rksxt4h said:
kenny thomas
Well-known member
Darn ain't I good. :lol2: not
I have actually seen it happen before.
I have actually seen it happen before.
