Weak calf. Any tips?

UnlistMe
Inventry
Gather App
cfpinz

cfpinz

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
6,950
City & State/Province
Virginia
91lb bull calf born 11/15. Processed that day, all seemed fine. Healthy, strong, normal calf. Wife checked cows the next day and didn't notice anything unusual. Saturday morning (11/17) the pair was off to theirselves and he looked bad, head hung low, mouth cold. He rode 1/2 mile in the 4wheeler rack and never tried to get out. Ran cow thru chute, no milk. From the smear on his butt looks like he got some colostrum but I couldn't get anything out of her. Her ticket is punched. Calf was too weak to suck bottle, tubed him with 2 qts milk replacer/vitalyte. 8 hours later, repeated same with powdered milk. Won't stand, have to hold him up. Too weak to suck this morning, tubed him. Sucked half the bottle this evening, tubed the rest. Gave dextrose orally. No evident infection or respiratory issues, seen him poop and pee. No desire to live. Anybody got any secrets to light a fire under his ass?

Thank You

cfpinz
 
Keep it up... keep him warm, keep giving him electrolytes (dextrose) and probiotics, I'd also give Vitamin B as that's neccessary for a lot of cell functions and tends to give their appetite a boost. Obviously, if he'll eat he stands a better chance of making it than if he won't eat. Best of luck.
 
While I'm thinking of it, I'd give milk more often than every 8 hours. Try half a bottle every couple hours. IMO they can take more milk (without causing problems) within a 24 hour period if it's given "little and often" than when it's given in large quantities twice a day.
 
Thanks MM. Forgot to mention I gave him a shot of Vit B yesterday along with a shot of Bo-Se. I'm not fond of bottle calves, too frustrating.

cfpinz
 
Sounds like this guy just needs some groceries.From your post it sounds like he is improving.

Larry
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
We have always judged if a calf has sucked enough by how cold the mouth is.
Keep up the good work. Watch for e coli scours,
Might want to try some oxytocin on the cow to get her to let the milk down. I think after 5 minutes she starts to loose her grip in the milk
Either a hot water bottle to bring his core temp up or a warm bath or a heat light for a few hours. When his mouth is cold his body is cold and they just want to lay there. and take his temp.
 
His mouth was warm this morning but he was stiff as a board. Snow flurries. Tried oxytocin on the mother on Saturday, no luck. Calf is weaker by the day, won't stand/hold head up. Giving him til Tuesday night, if no improvement I'm going to plant him. At this point I feel like we are prolonging his death.

cfpinz
 
cfpinz":9njfzoxn said:
His mouth was warm this morning but he was stiff as a board. Snow flurries. Tried oxytocin on the mother on Saturday, no luck. Calf is weaker by the day, won't stand/hold head up. Giving him til Tuesday night, if no improvement I'm going to plant him. At this point I feel like we are prolonging his death.

cfpinz
Click to expand...

right,,,,,,,,he has a death wish, put either heat lamp on him, or cover him with a 100% wool blanket or both. rub the devil out of him, like all over., every time you look at him. can you get the mother somewhere, near, so he can hear her call? you can also put a little coffee in his replacer.
 
is it one of the ones you posted pictures of?

keep doing what you are doing. you may try putting him on a heating pad with some hay (just dont catch anything on fire). ifhe gets too hot that will be a little incentive to move. i had to do this with a heifer last year that wasnt getting any milk. she was stiff as a board one morning. i got her up and going but then she got a nasty navel infection after that, probably from not getting enough colostrum, so be on the look out for that.

good luck. b
 
Beefy":lxkmu7ne said:
is it one of the ones you posted pictures of?

No. This is one out of a big simmi cow. Picked her up at the market, best looking cow there that day. Now I know why she was there. Win some, lose some.

keep doing what you are doing. you may try putting him on a heating pad with some hay (just dont catch anything on fire). ifhe gets too hot that will be a little incentive to move. i had to do this with a heifer last year that wasnt getting any milk. she was stiff as a board one morning. i got her up and going but then she got a nasty navel infection after that, probably from not getting enough colostrum, so be on the look out for that.

good luck. b
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Back
Top