Blind Calf won't suck

Dunedin

I have a calf that was born last Wednesday that I now think is blind. She is as hardy as a wild duck, flying around the house but she has never sucked the cow yet. I have tried everything with her but I just cannot get her to suck the cow. Sheis continuously sucking the cow’s neck and does not go to the elder, ever andwon’t suck the tit when I push her in.

When I am feeding her on the bottle with the tit, she is mad for it and would puck it out of your hand if you weren’t ready for it.

Any suggestions as I am fast losing patience with her.

49801

you've got a dummy:pac:

patience is a virtue!

pakalasa

I've been there. Is this a suckler cow and calf? Was it a tough birth?
I had a calf that got braindamaged at birth. Like yours, he didn't suckle on his own, for maybe 10 days or so. All I can say is, keep at it. She will take eventually. Pateince and time.

Dunedin

pakalasa wrote: »

I've been there. Is this a suckler cow and calf? Was it a tough birth?
I had a calf that got braindamaged at birth. Like yours, he didn't suckle on his own, for maybe 10 days or so. All I can say is, keep at it. She will take eventually. Pateince and time.

Calved on her own and calf was up within 30 mins.

unfortunately I know that patience is the virtue here but was hoping to get some miracle advice.

Manoffeeling

B 1 deficency?

Dunedin

Manoffeeling wrote: »

B 1 deficency?

which is what??????

munkus

Had a blind calf a few years ago that we bucket reared and finished at 30 months. He had no eyes for some reason. He broke my heart as he got bigger. Thought he might learn to follow the group he was with but no luck. Trying to move him from one field to another was hell. They're easy to manage as a calf but not as a bullock. Sounds cruel but kill him now and save yourself the trouble.

Cavanjack

munkus wrote: »

Had a blind calf a few years ago that we bucket reared and finished at 30 months. He had no eyes for some reason. He broke my heart as he got bigger. Thought he might learn to follow the group he was with but no luck. Trying to move him from one field to another was hell. They're easy to manage as a calf but not as a bullock. Sounds cruel but kill him now and save yourself the trouble.

We had one like this too about 10 years ago, bucket reared him, kept him indoors and finished him as a bull at around 2 years. Fair play to ya for letting yours out. Not worth the hassle. Said we'd never do it again. I'd put him out of his misery if your sure he's blind.

hugo29

Cavanjack wrote: »

We had one like this too about 10 years ago, bucket reared him, kept him indoors and finished him as a bull at around 2 years. Fair play to ya for letting yours out. Not worth the hassle. Said we'd never do it again. I'd put him out of his misery if your sure he's blind.

there is an injection you can get to induce sucking, put calf away from cow, give it to calf, leave calf away from cow for hour, latch him on after hour and watch him go,

yellow50HX

hugo29 wrote: »

there is an injection you can get to induce sucking, put calf away from cow, give it to calf, leave calf away from cow for hour, latch him on after hour and watch him go,

Uncle had one a few years back, dairy calf so it was the bottle and bucket for him. He spent the summers ina small field next to the house and winters in a straw bedded shed. Finished him at 2 and a half. He would leave with a few other calves for company and once he knew where the water and trough were he was ok. As they fed him from a calf he was like a pet so moving him wasn't a problem. They were very sad to see him go.

49801

hugo29 wrote: »

there is an injection you can get to induce sucking, put calf away from cow, give it to calf, leave calf away from cow for hour, latch him on after hour and watch him go,

there is a magic potion????

hugo29

49801 wrote: »

there is a magic potion????

yep used it meself last week, un believable, ask vet he will know, its to induce sucking action in brain, vet said it does not work on all calves but worked for me

Richk2012

Is he deffo blind ??
When he is flying around the shed is he running into walls gates or feeders the whole time ????

Had a 2 month old calf about 5 years ago , that got knocked out , with a bang to the head from a steel bar .
When it came too a few min later , we let her back into field with cow .
Next day noticed the calf very hollow and cow full of milk .

Calf had lost its sucking reflex and just wouldnt suck or had no interest in the cow but was in perfect health every other way .

whelan1

when we where young if my da had a calf like that he would give it to us, we more or less lived with the calf and then when it grew older we could sell it, got all the care it needed and more...

fredweena

Sounds like the calf is able to suck, just not in the right place. Is there anything on the cow's udder that might have a strange smell or taste?