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calf sucking dairy cow

  • 03-05-2014 11:49am
    #1
    Tomjim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,362 ✭✭✭


    does most dairy farmers let a new born calf suck the mother or is the calf taken off the cow without sucking the mother.

    Reason I'M asking I'm going to buy a second calf for a sukler and would be conerned that if the calf doesnt know how to suck the cow, I could be in a bit of bother


Comments

  • #2
    yellow50HX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,828 ✭✭✭yellow50HX


    Depends on the farmer, some leave it for a few days to make sure it has got a good start.

    We do this at home for some of the cows with extra milk. Have a walk around the calves in the mart and see if any of them will suck your finger. If they do then that's a start.

    You ll probably need to stall the cow so that the calf can drink.


  • #3
    Future Farmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 430 ✭✭Future Farmer


    Tomjim wrote: »
    does most dairy farmers let a new born calf suck the mother or is the calf taken off the cow without sucking the mother.

    Reason I'M asking I'm going to buy a second calf for a sukler and would be conerned that if the calf doesnt know how to suck the cow, I could be in a bit of bother

    You want a young calf preferable by Hereford or Angus, a heifer out of the dairy herd makes a good suckler cow if herd is not too holsteiny by these bulls or get a bull calf try not to get a fr one.

    Make sure the herd is disease free.

    What is the cow?

    I'd say look with neighbours first then donedeal.


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