Calf Wont Suck, After C-Section??

Farmersrus

Hi Lads.
Had a heifer that had a calf Monday evening, Tried pulling the calf 4 ages but, ended up getting the vet for C-Section.
The Calf Was A Ch, Very Big Calf & Well Made. His Legs Was Sore from pulling and wouldn't stand or walk. But i have him standing & walking for short periods of time.

The problem is this calf will NOT suck the cow, finger, teat etc. I have to stomach tube him daily, and i think this is holding him back from thriving!!

Had him at the vet Tuesday because he wouldn't stand, the vet examined him and said his heart is to small for the size of calf,, (He is big, approx 100kg):pac:

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT IS THE PROBLEM OR ANY IDEAS OR HELP IS APPRECIATED!!

Cheers Lads.

Ginja Ninja

Give him small amounts of milk (<500 ml) 5-6-7-8 times a day and give him time.His organs [heart lungs etc.] are too small for him to manage just being alive is a stress on him.Give him time and keep him alive he'll develop and will come in his own time.A big soft calf like that just needs to get used to the real world

caseman

How much milk are you tubbing into him at the moment ,i think some people over do it and the calve never gets a real hunger to suck.

Bizzum

Did you try the injection from the vet to get him to suck? Multi vitamins might help.
When he is up and about what sort of form is he in? Is the heifer trying her best with him? I'd be trying to keep him going and hopefully the penny will drop with him.
He could have took a fair bit of abuse with the calving, and a big soft calf can't handle much hardship. Stick with him and hopefully he'll turn the corner. I've seen them very slow to get going an odd time.

moy83

I saw a 75kg calf last year like that . It took over a week before he had enough energy to stand long enough to be able to suck himself because his lungs werent developed fully . Give him plenty of time and take him easy . 100kg is massive , was he long overtime ?

greysides

Is he on painkillers? (Available from vet).

Could you weight him, for posterity. A 70 Kg calf is very big, I find it hard to believe he's 100 Kg. Not that it really matters.

Constant tubing is going to cause problems sooner or later. If it were possible to dose him without risking causing inhalation pneumonia that would be better.