Jack the Calf - Guinness World Record Hopeful

kerry4sam

Wondering what your thoughts are on Jack here? Only weighed in at 12lbs like so what would be the chances of long term survival, especially considering normally they weigh in around the 70lbs marker.

Surely being that small/under-developed would have consequences for lil Jack down the line?

Many Thanks,
kerry4sam

djmc

Haven't read the story but some years ago had a very small calf born around 10 kg probably couldn't breathe at the start and resusated it.
Mother and other cow due tried to claim it with one cow knocking the other down on top of small calf that could not stand or even raise its head.the calf started to below getting fainter and weaker took it into it own pen under red lamp and used a syringe to get a little bit of milk into it.
The calf survived the night and every day drank a bit more and got a bit stronger finally standing up after two weeks.
I don't think size matters more than luck and will to survive.
I have seen the finest of calves die over a few hours or quicker and the smallest grow as big as the rest.
The economical side of putting time and care in is another story but its not always about the money
Ps just saw the calf Jack in the picture
As he is standing and drinking there is no reason IMO that he shouldn't survive.

kowtow

Good luck to him.

Someone has a great sense of irony to call the smallest calf in the world "jack"

Buford T. Justice XIX

kowtow wrote: »

Good luck to him.

Someone has a great sense of irony to call the smallest calf in the world "jack"

They could have called him "jeep".....:pac:

patsy_mccabe

When I was a young fella, we had a calf like that. I remember saying to the father that a cow was near calving. He said 'no way' as she wasn't due for another 6 weeks or so. He had a look at her and yep, the pins were down.
I must have spent 3 weeks or so nursing it. I put a rope over some rafters and lifted him off the ground every day, trying to get him to stand. It was eggs, poteen and milk bottled into him. He survived and wasn't that far behind the rest.
Gas thing is the rafters are still there, but falling down and the old rope is still hanging off them.

Kovu

Had a similar calf here patsy, was born at about the 7 month mark, totally hairless, eyes closed, about the size of a large jack russell. Was the worst of the worst timing though, I was doing my leaving cert and hadn't time to nurse him, mum and dad were at work full time and my brother couldn't care less about the poor bastard. We brought him into the vets to be put down but I still feel guilty over it. He roared and roared all the way into town in the van on my knees

IH784man

Kovu wrote: »

Had a similar calf here patsy, was born at about the 7 month mark, totally hairless, eyes closed, about the size of a large jack russell.Was the worst of the worst timing though, I was doing my leaving cert and hadn't time to nurse him, mum and dad were at work full time and my brother couldn't care less about the poor bastard. We brought him into the vets to be put down but I still feel guilty over it. He roared and roared all the way into town in the van on my knees

Probably the best place for something like that

KatyMac

Reared a '7 month' calf here many years ago. She lived in our dining room under a red lamp until she made up the missing 2 months. Mother fed her every 2 hours like a baby through the night. It was during the summer holidays so I looked after her during the day. She made a grand cow and was as good as the rest. A small calf that lives is a lot better than a big calf that dies!