Calf that’s a bad drinker

Zeebsisgone654

Any solution to a calf who is a woeful drinker, I’m stomach tubing at the moment

Bullocks

Zeebsisgone654 wrote: »

Any solution to a calf who is a woeful drinker, I’m stomach tubing at the moment

Maybe ask the vet for something to boost him to suck .
Is the cow letting him suck ok ? You might need to keep him pushed in under and latched on till he gets the hang of it . I find a bit of honey on the teats encourages them to keep sucking .
A bit of hunger is no harm to make him start sucking either

_Brian

What age is he.
The injection from the vet is great to start them sucking.

I’d also recommend electrolytes, 2l 3 times a day, 20-30 mins before feed. If he’s anyway dehydrated it lowers blood pressure depressing them and they lack will to feed, they don’t absorb feed well causing a vicious circle.

dar31

Vitiam b12 injection and selenium, vitesel but seen it in short supply

KatyMac

How long are your trying? I had one last year that I fed by tube for almost two weeks. I offered her a bottle every feed and eventually she took it, but it was a horrible job. Was afraid every time that I'd do damage and I know there is one of us boardies that had to tube feed until his calf was weaned, 8 weeks or so!!

Dunedin

KatyMac wrote: »

How long are your trying? I had one last year that I fed by tube for almost two weeks. I offered her a bottle every feed and eventually she took it, but it was a horrible job. Was afraid every time that I'd do damage and I know there is one of us boardies that had to tube feed until his calf was weaned, 8 weeks or so!!

I had one last year that took a full month. I was milking the cow every second day and tubing calf. Tried all of the above and nothing was working. Vet reckoned the calf was actually retarded and unfortunately recommended to put him down.

Eventually I got sick of it after a month and put dry cow in the cow. Didn’t get round to moving the calf straight away and be jayus the next day after dry cow in, he started to suck and never looked back. Patience........

_Brian

Another possibility with a calf that’s been tubed a bit is a mouth injury or sore that stops them.

L1985

Maybe a controversial opinion but are lads maybe too quick to tube a calf?we have never used it and Ido find giving them the bottle they seem to learn to suck from the bottle? Hunger is a great sauce. Or It could be that I have been lucky and ill be on here next week asking how to tube a calf....

_Brian

Never tube feed here.
Have only used tube to receive bloat.

jus_tin4

Never tubed here either. Between hunger and patience never had a calf that we need to tube,., seems a bit extreme in a short space of time...

Bullocks

I never tubed a calf but have done lambs. It's great comfort to be able to know in the middle of the night that he has something in the belly till morning without spending an hour or more for him to be licked, stood and suck

KatyMac

My calf was weak and not able to drink on her own. She was under red lamp and I used to go out every morning to check she was still alive before I made up the feed. Couple of times I actually though she was gone until I put my hand on her ribs and felt breath! She is a year old now and a made a grand heifer - the few weeks of hardship was worth it! She will join the herd hopefully next year, and (on paper) is 5 Star and is, funnily enough, very quiet!!!!