calf not sucking

millbrookgrit

our 4 day old calf will not suck his mother. we are trying to bottle feed him but even that'
s a struggle. what is wrong with him that he wont suck.

whelan2

put honey on the teat, get an injection off the vet vitasel i think, had problems this year that we never had before and patience

_Brian

Keep him well hydrated with Electrolytes, 2liters twice daily until he's feeding full. 20-30 minutes before feed is best time.

Injection from vet is a good job to get them started.

Maybe the honey is worth a try.

Seems once they start and get the habit they are flying.

Kovu

I also agree with the injection from the vet, it's a great little shot, usually has them mad to suck in a short time.

If you can't stomach tube, one of those larger syringes is good to get stuff into them, small bit at a time, 50ml or so. Just make sure he's not dehydrated and is still passing dung and peeing.


Another thought, are you sure he's not sucking or is it just you're not seeing him sucking? He'd hardly be going to her when ye are not around?

Limestone Cowboy

Plus one on the vitasel, doesn't always work but most of the time it does. Edit to add you can get a bottle of it in the co-op as well, 2cc under the skin.

millbrookgrit

thanks so much guys. i will give it all a try and will get the injection. we took turns in watching him but he just lay there and didn't even try to go the the cow. most unusual. we have never seen it before

High bike

Its akward and depends on how quiet the cow is but if you can hold him up to the cow and milk her into his mouth once he gets the tast of the milk he should figure it out for himself.Its a pain in the ass but has to be done sometimes

onyerbikepat

High bike wrote: »

Its akward and depends on how quiet the cow is but if you can hold him up to the cow and milk her into his mouth once he gets the tast of the milk he should figure it out for himself.Its a pain in the ass but has to be done sometimes

Put him over a small bale of straw when trying this. Easier on the back.

Brown Podzol

I often thought that if you tied a piece of baling twine to the cows teat and go away. Calves must be born programmed to suck twine as I never saw one to not suck it.:p

Muckit

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Put him over a small bale of straw when trying this. Easier on the back.

Alternatively grab the pillow from everybody elses bed in the house. Make a stack of them and use them as a comfy calf support. Then leave back to the respective beds afterwards but don't utter a word :-)

Kovu

Muckit wrote: »

Alternatively grab the pillow from everybody elses bed in the house. Make a stack of them and use them as a comfy calf support. Then leave back to the respective beds afterwards but don't utter a word :-)

"Honey, were you using my pillow because it smells like you?"

whelan2

any improvement ?

larthehar

If he was lying down and not anxious to suck, I would be checking the navel for infection...

A method we often used was to dose them with salt water (dose and not using teat) works most of the time!

and +1 on the vitesel.

porter shark

Vitbplex is a better injection for this. Vitamin B deficiency will leave a calf not able to feel hunger. I often find if u bring the calf near the udder and start milking into a jug the calf gets interested. Dunno whether its the smell or the sound or wat but I've seen it to work as often as the vets injection.

porter shark

Love the balin twine idea by the way