Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New profile posts
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Forums
Cattle Boards
Health & Nutrition
young floundering calf
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Help Support CattleToday:
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Anonymous" data-source="post: 10032"><p>The only thing I would add is, don't keep the calf too warm, i.e. artificle heat. Keep it dry and out of drafts. If it is really chilled extra heat is ok, but too warm is just as bad as too cold. Ditto on the Caps.</p><p></p><p>dunmovin farms</p><p></p><p>> Whew! What a time you've had!</p><p></p><p>> OK, first request. I find it very</p><p>> hard to read a post that's all</p><p>> capitals. Maybe it's just me??</p><p>> But, you did write a thorough and</p><p>> good story.</p><p></p><p>> IF the calf got colostrum from its</p><p>> mother in the first few hours</p><p>> after being born, it will have a</p><p>> big head start in this world. If</p><p>> it did not, then it may have some</p><p>> problems with catching infections</p><p>> more easily. The colostrum</p><p>> contains antibodies that help</p><p>> stimulate the calf's immune system</p><p>> and help protect it from disease.</p><p>> Calves that don't get colostrum</p><p>> within the first 12 hours</p><p>> (preferably sooner) often are</p><p>> problem calves that catch</p><p>> infections more often.</p><p></p><p>> As for salt curing pinkeye, that's</p><p>> an old fashioned treatment. The</p><p>> injectable antibiotic you are</p><p>> giving the calf should work for</p><p>> the pinkeye. Give your vet a call</p><p>> and ask if the shots will work for</p><p>> the pinkeye. He can tell you.</p><p></p><p>> I don't think the B12 injection</p><p>> caused any of the problems you are</p><p>> seeing.</p><p></p><p>> My guess is that everything you</p><p>> are seeing is due to dehydration</p><p>> and stress on the calf. The sunken</p><p>> eyes, dry mouth, inability to</p><p>> stand are all probably caused by</p><p>> dehydration. Young calves</p><p>> dehydrate very, very rapidly.</p><p></p><p>> The best thing you can do for the</p><p>> calf is to keep it hydrated. Feed</p><p>> milk or the best quality milk</p><p>> replacer you can buy. If the calf</p><p>> is able to nurse from a bottle,</p><p>> then feed it with the bottle. If</p><p>> the calf CAN't nurse (notice I</p><p>> said CAN'T) then tube feed it</p><p>> until it is strong enough to nurse</p><p>> from a bottle. This may take</p><p>> several days or more.</p><p></p><p>> Feed the calf 2 quarts of milk or</p><p>> milk replacer twice a day, for a</p><p>> total of 1 gallon fed per day. Or,</p><p>> you can divide that same gallon</p><p>> into 3 feedings, which means you</p><p>> would feed about 1 1/3 quarts</p><p>> three times per day.</p><p></p><p>> Your calf could probably use some</p><p>> electrolytes as well, for two or</p><p>> three days. Ask your vet which</p><p>> electrolyte mixture would be best</p><p>> to give the calf. There are</p><p>> several different combinations of</p><p>> electrolytes, and "too much</p><p>> of a good thing" can be</p><p>> harmful, even though electrolytes</p><p>> can be lifesaving.</p><p></p><p>> You might want to feed 2 quarts of</p><p>> milk or milk replacer in the</p><p>> morning, then a batch of</p><p>> electrolytes about 6 hours later,</p><p>> then the second feeding of milk or</p><p>> milk replacer about 6 hours after</p><p>> that. If you feed the electrolytes</p><p>> at the same time as the milk or</p><p>> milk replacer, you can interfere</p><p>> with the formation of the cud in</p><p>> the calf's stomach and she will</p><p>> have runny stools. Allowing a</p><p>> couple of hours between feeding</p><p>> the milk and the electrolyte</p><p>> solution is ok.</p><p></p><p>> However, runny stools that smell</p><p>> very bad can mean infection, so be</p><p>> alert to that.</p><p></p><p>> The reason I highlighted the word</p><p>> CAN'T is because too often people</p><p>> say a calf WON'T nurse, when the</p><p>> simple truth is the calf is too</p><p>> weak to nurse. It needs supportive</p><p>> care until it gets its strength</p><p>> back. Tube feed it until it is</p><p>> strong enough to take a bottle.</p><p>> This could be days to a week or</p><p>> more.</p><p></p><p>> You don't have to keep everything</p><p>> sterile, just clean is good</p><p>> enough. Wash everything with hot,</p><p>> soapy water between feedings and</p><p>> you should be fine. Just wash</p><p>> & rinse everything as you</p><p>> would your family's dishes.</p><p></p><p>> Make sure any clamps on the tube</p><p>> are CLOSED BEFORE you insert the</p><p>> tube into the calf's esophagus.</p><p>> After the tube is in the right</p><p>> place, slowly open the clamp(s)</p><p>> and allow the liquid to run in.</p><p>> BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE TUBE, CLOSE</p><p>> THE CLAMP(S)again, to avoid having</p><p>> any residual liquid escape into</p><p>> the lungs while you are pulling</p><p>> the tube out.</p><p></p><p>> Sometimes rubbing the calf's</p><p>> bottom with a warm, wet cloth to</p><p>> simulate the mother's tongue can</p><p>> be helpful to get it to poop and</p><p>> nurse, but isn't absolutely</p><p>> necessary.</p><p></p><p>> Go to your library or buy a copy</p><p>> of Heather Thomas's book on</p><p>> Raising Beef Cattle. There's a</p><p>> link to a source with the complete</p><p>> title on my website's links page.</p><p></p><p>> <A HREF="http://www.murraygrey.com" TARGET="_blank">http://www.murraygrey.com</A> Good</p><p>> luck with your calf. Sounds like</p><p>> you've done a great job so far.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 10032"] The only thing I would add is, don't keep the calf too warm, i.e. artificle heat. Keep it dry and out of drafts. If it is really chilled extra heat is ok, but too warm is just as bad as too cold. Ditto on the Caps. dunmovin farms > Whew! What a time you've had! > OK, first request. I find it very > hard to read a post that's all > capitals. Maybe it's just me?? > But, you did write a thorough and > good story. > IF the calf got colostrum from its > mother in the first few hours > after being born, it will have a > big head start in this world. If > it did not, then it may have some > problems with catching infections > more easily. The colostrum > contains antibodies that help > stimulate the calf's immune system > and help protect it from disease. > Calves that don't get colostrum > within the first 12 hours > (preferably sooner) often are > problem calves that catch > infections more often. > As for salt curing pinkeye, that's > an old fashioned treatment. The > injectable antibiotic you are > giving the calf should work for > the pinkeye. Give your vet a call > and ask if the shots will work for > the pinkeye. He can tell you. > I don't think the B12 injection > caused any of the problems you are > seeing. > My guess is that everything you > are seeing is due to dehydration > and stress on the calf. The sunken > eyes, dry mouth, inability to > stand are all probably caused by > dehydration. Young calves > dehydrate very, very rapidly. > The best thing you can do for the > calf is to keep it hydrated. Feed > milk or the best quality milk > replacer you can buy. If the calf > is able to nurse from a bottle, > then feed it with the bottle. If > the calf CAN't nurse (notice I > said CAN'T) then tube feed it > until it is strong enough to nurse > from a bottle. This may take > several days or more. > Feed the calf 2 quarts of milk or > milk replacer twice a day, for a > total of 1 gallon fed per day. Or, > you can divide that same gallon > into 3 feedings, which means you > would feed about 1 1/3 quarts > three times per day. > Your calf could probably use some > electrolytes as well, for two or > three days. Ask your vet which > electrolyte mixture would be best > to give the calf. There are > several different combinations of > electrolytes, and "too much > of a good thing" can be > harmful, even though electrolytes > can be lifesaving. > You might want to feed 2 quarts of > milk or milk replacer in the > morning, then a batch of > electrolytes about 6 hours later, > then the second feeding of milk or > milk replacer about 6 hours after > that. If you feed the electrolytes > at the same time as the milk or > milk replacer, you can interfere > with the formation of the cud in > the calf's stomach and she will > have runny stools. Allowing a > couple of hours between feeding > the milk and the electrolyte > solution is ok. > However, runny stools that smell > very bad can mean infection, so be > alert to that. > The reason I highlighted the word > CAN'T is because too often people > say a calf WON'T nurse, when the > simple truth is the calf is too > weak to nurse. It needs supportive > care until it gets its strength > back. Tube feed it until it is > strong enough to take a bottle. > This could be days to a week or > more. > You don't have to keep everything > sterile, just clean is good > enough. Wash everything with hot, > soapy water between feedings and > you should be fine. Just wash > & rinse everything as you > would your family's dishes. > Make sure any clamps on the tube > are CLOSED BEFORE you insert the > tube into the calf's esophagus. > After the tube is in the right > place, slowly open the clamp(s) > and allow the liquid to run in. > BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE TUBE, CLOSE > THE CLAMP(S)again, to avoid having > any residual liquid escape into > the lungs while you are pulling > the tube out. > Sometimes rubbing the calf's > bottom with a warm, wet cloth to > simulate the mother's tongue can > be helpful to get it to poop and > nurse, but isn't absolutely > necessary. > Go to your library or buy a copy > of Heather Thomas's book on > Raising Beef Cattle. There's a > link to a source with the complete > title on my website's links page. > <A HREF="http://www.murraygrey.com" TARGET="_blank">http://www.murraygrey.com</A> Good > luck with your calf. Sounds like > you've done a great job so far. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Cattle Boards
Health & Nutrition
young floundering calf
Top