Freshly calved cow with no milk; options?

RobinBanks

Didn't want to start a new thread but question is kinda related.

A CH cow had calved on the slats when I got up this morn. She has just started to make a bag. I rang a friend who has beastings in the freezer but its from a dairy herd.

I think I remember hearing in a discussion group not to give beastings from a dairy cow to a suckler cows calf. My cow wouldn't have a cup of milk I'd say. I'm just about to milk her and give the calf whatever she has but it won't be enough.

Wondering what other options I have.

jomoloney

RobinBanks wrote: »

Didn't want to start a new thread but question is kinda related.

A CH cow had calved on the slats when I got up this morn. She has just started to make a bag. I rang a friend who has beastings in the freezer but its from a dairy herd.

I think I remember hearing in a discussion group not to give beastings from a dairy cow to a suckler cows calf. My cow wouldn't have a cup of milk I'd say. I'm just about to milk her and give the calf whatever she has but it won't be enough.

Wondering what other options I have.

artifical colostrum,

visatorro

give the calf the frozen beastings. better than nothing. i wouldnt say there'd be anything wrong with it anyway. its a regular thing the a suckler man would be stuck for stuff and get it off a dairy man

6480

i do have a list of lads waiting on dairy cows to calve here to get there biestings to frezee , what ever you do dont let the calf starve to death just because some now all fellow said about dairy biestings are not good

Timmaay

The artificial stuff isn't a patch on proper fresh colostrum either, but similarly something is better than nothing. I've a packet of it here at the second, but I really got to freeze some myself off the next cow, as I've quite afew heifers to calf down next few weeks.

RobinBanks

I was able to get about half a litre from her and the calf sucked it from a bottle. I also have 2 litres of beastings defrosting for later.

I was giving her soya for the last 2 weeks so im a little Suprised she hasn't more milk but then again I wasn't expecting her to calf until Xmas.

6480

RobinBanks wrote: »

I was able to get about half a litre from her and the calf sucked it from a bottle. I also have 2 litres of beastings defrosting for later.

I was giving her soya for the last 2 weeks so im a little Suprised she hasn't more milk but then again I wasn't expecting her to calf until Xmas.

she might put up a bag of milk now thats she s calved and the calf begins to suck

jomoloney

Timmaay wrote: »

The artificial stuff isn't a patch on proper fresh colostrum either, but similarly something is better than nothing. I've a packet of it here at the second, but I really got to freeze some myself off the next cow, as I've quite afew heifers to calf down next few weeks.

yes

but he kinda ruled out using dairy and wanted other options

RobinBanks wrote: »

Didn't want to start a new thread but question is kinda related.

A CH cow had calved on the slats when I got up this morn. She has just started to make a bag. I rang a friend who has beastings in the freezer but its from a dairy herd.

I think I remember hearing in a discussion group not to give beastings from a dairy cow to a suckler cows calf. My cow wouldn't have a cup of milk I'd say. I'm just about to milk her and give the calf whatever she has but it won't be enough.

Wondering what other options I have.

you can always make up your own if you have fresh milk


3 cups warm milk
1 beaten egg
1 tsp cod liver oil 1 T sugar (I use honey)

greysides

jomoloney wrote: »

yes

you can always make up your own if you have fresh milk


3 cups warm milk
1 beaten egg
1 tsp cod liver oil 1 T sugar (I use honey)

Not sure I'd rate that as an option. It may feed the calf but there would be no antibody content.

limo_100

let the heifer out to abit of grass. i had the same problem charolais was dry just enough for 1 feed and i let her out to grass the next day she was bursting with milk. Also i give them dairy nuts its a good help

onyerbikepat

She may just not be letting the milk down to you. Dairy nuts and good silage or garss with bring on the milk.

Zr105

Get the colostrum(breasting a from dairy herd)into here ASAP, no point lettin here out to grass or piling nuts infront of her today, she wont bag up instantly on them and there's a high possibility there'll be no calf to feed by the time she has the milk......