new born calf!!

visatorro

first calf of the year, a lovely, valuable friesian bull (not)! anyway how much biestings do you feed. i have stuff frozen here most of the time in two litre bottles. i always thought two litres was enough if given early , within first six hours. the vet was saying that some people recommend four litres but he was abit scepical saying it was too much. my mother who fed calves here for years thinks the same. i know its about quality as well but the biestings should be fine as cows get minerals and vaccinations. also do you stomach tube or try get calf to drink from bottle etc.

simx

visatorro wrote: »

first calf of the year, a lovely, valuable friesian bull (not)! anyway how much biestings do you feed. i have stuff frozen here most of the time in two litre bottles. i always thought two litres was enough if given early , within first six hours. the vet was saying that some people recommend four litres but he was abit scepical saying it was too much. my mother who fed calves here for years thinks the same. i know its about quality as well but the biestings should be fine as cows get minerals and vaccinations. also do you stomach tube or try get calf to drink from bottle etc.

I usually give 2l as I have it in that size bottles, think 3l is reccommended but I keep an eye on the calf for A while and if he's up and sucking he should be fine, I always tube them As it's handier and quicker, some lads give calf a teat to try get them going on it but I find it works out anyway, I'm not mad in teat bottles as patience don't last too long trying to get them to suck and between slobbering half of it all over the place

dzer2

I feed 4 litres and then 3 days milk before milk replacer.

MFdaveIreland

2 litres at least, warm it up by thawing out rather than microwave, goes without saying, do no harm to get another 2 litres if they would take it , as much passive immunity as possible.

jaymla627

simx wrote: »

I usually give 2l as I have it in that size bottles, think 3l is reccommended but I keep an eye on the calf for A while and if he's up and sucking he should be fine, I always tube them As it's handier and quicker, some lads give calf a teat to try get them going on it but I find it works out anyway, I'm not mad in teat bottles as patience don't last too long trying to get them to suck and between slobbering half of it all over the place

Always give the calf the chance to suck the easy feeder first, then go for the tube wouldn't be a fan of blanket tubing calves especially smaller ones can damage their throats fairly easily.

Kovu

MFdaveIreland wrote: »

2 litres at least, warm it up by thawing out rather than microwave, goes without saying, do no harm to get another 2 litres if they would take it , as much passive immunity as possible.

You're definitely not supposed to microwave it:eek:

Sink full of warm water and put the bottle in there to thaw out slowly.

Bizzum

Usually if its as a supplementary measure with suckler calves, we'd be happy if the calf took 2l and then what ever it could suck.
If the calf had no cow to suck we'd like to get 2 X 2l feeds in as soon as the calf would take it.
We prefer to let the calf suck, but sometimes needs must and the tube is used.