Tricks for getting heifer to bond with calf

893bet

Almost lost another calf this morning. Got him out eventually but heifer took off and has little interest in him.

Born at 10. He was very weak. Have tubed him 1.5l at 2 and will give him another 1.5 in a little while. After trying to get him standing all day he is finally staggering a little bit.

Any trick on how do I get her interested in him? Have covered him in salt and nuts and she did lick it off him but just about. I don’t see him sucking himself and she is difficult

scwazrh

I’d say put the patek on his hoof and see if that sparks her interest

893bet

Whooops.

Wibbs can you move this for farming section please.

Cyclingtourist

Don't you mean Heffo?

mailforkev

I had to sit down after that last paragraph.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353320#Comment_118353320

And no one would have batted an eyelid of in farming forum! Wibbs save me!

I was supposed to collect a new watch to day and had to cancel over the calf!

Fitz II

Honesty I want to see how this thread ends....does the calf make it?

SuperTortoise

Persistence i'm afraid.

Is she wicked towards the calf? If she is'nt inclined to hurt the calf i would house them in a pen, make up some sort of barrier where she can see and lick the calf but not get a belt at him, try and get him sucking himself if he gets too used to a bottle he won't bother with her.

Last one we had that way was a heifer as well, she was wicked with him for about 24 hrs and then just as quick as you'd click you fingers she took to him.

scwazrh

How much is a calf worth now ? Are we talking Rolex or Tag heuer money ?

Donald Trump

That's a long time for him to get up standing.

Regardless of how fancy a watch you time it on

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353695#Comment_118353695

No not wicked. He is fairly well able to walk now but it took us getting him standing a few times to try get him trained to walk. He has made no effort to stand before we showed him how.

He is getting one more tube tonight to ensure he gets enough colostrum and then try get him sucking tomorrow. She won’t stand up for us is the problem so will need to be crushed in the yard which is not ideal as no headlock in the pen.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353710#Comment_118353710

Steinhart sadly.

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353775#Comment_118353775

Casio digital for a FR bull

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353773#Comment_118353773

You could try him on the bucket for a day or two. As you said though, you don't want him to get too used to it. They get sore from the tubing though after a few goes of it.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353854#Comment_118353854

Tubed twice for 3 litres total today. His puss is a little swollen so maybe she had been trying for a few hours this morning before found her. She is 8 days early.

She gave a few small baaaals while I was tubing so at least she knows that much at least. Hoping he will be nice and strong but hungry in the morning and can get him sucking.

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353320#Comment_118353320

😂😂 When you read it from a non farming pov, all the talk of sucking and licking does sound a bit strange alrite.

I’d be concentrating on keeping him alive before i’d be worrying about getting the heifer to mother him for the moment. He’s been through a fair ordeal, he would have stood sooner if he was able. Hopefully she’ll take to him tomorrow but heifers can be bloody awkward sometimes especially when the calf has to be jacked.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353948#Comment_118353948

Wasnt jacked but alot of rope pulling by hand for 20 minutes. Would of had jack on only she was lying the wrong way and finally allowed me into help with standing up again.

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353954#Comment_118353954

Yeah, the joys of calving heifers. I suppose all you can do is try to get him sucking her in the crush to build up his strength and hope she takes to him. A shot of Metacam might help her if she’s sore after the calving.

sparrowcar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353954#Comment_118353954

Just to get things back on track here which watch did you use to time those 20mins?

blue5000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353034#Comment_118353034

I think we'll leave it here just for calfsh1ts and giggles.

fat bloke

Well, if it doesn't work out....

Calfskin leather straps all round? 😁

Wibbs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353034#Comment_118353034

Sorry 893, god alone knows how you move a thread on this platform, if it's even possible at all.

893bet

It’s going well here anyway. Combining the forums may be more straight forward 😅.

Calf has a nice warm nose this morning which is an improvement on yesterday. Doesn’t seem to have sucked yet.

BENDYBINN

Watch her and give her time is my advice...

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355066#Comment_118355066

He is making the right moves now but she won’t stand for him. And is giving a small kick. She doesn’t seem sore as I drew her by hand in the crush yesterday. Father had tail held but she didn’t flinch a bit.

Crush again I think but bring him this time.

BENDYBINN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355097#Comment_118355097

Think it went over your head.....

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355124#Comment_118355124

😅 yea that went whooosh.

BENDYBINN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355147#Comment_118355147

Sorry,only winding you up..

893bet

An ordeal to get her in but he had his drink himself.

Now I have a watch to collect!

Cyclingtourist

I'm going Vegan.

893bet

Still kicking him the tramp. Not huge kicks but enough to knock him off. Maybe she is a small bit sore still? Calved 2.5 days.

She doesn’t flinch if I draw her in the crush. Dug doesn’t seem hard or anything (she hasn’t a lot of milk so far…!). It feels more like her being £¥$% rather than being sore. Managing to corner her in the shed and get him sucking with out the crush so that’s a lot easier. She is giving a lick and a little bawl at him so taking to him enough.

Freddie Mcinerney

Keith moved it to your farming forum. Please.

NIMAN

Would make a lovely strap?

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118391350#Comment_118391350

My thread is on the wrong forum.

Is your post in the wrong thread.

Still struggling with this heifer. Genuinely threatening her with Larry.

Cyclingtourist

Why not move it to 'Other Hobbies & Obsessions' ?

tanko

So she hasn’t taken to him at all?, are you still having to put her in the crush to let him suck?

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118395549#Comment_118395549

He is licking and mothering him but still inclined to kick a bit unless we stand over her with a feed.

yesterday was the first day I felt her sore when I drew her back tit. Thought she had mastitis but none to be seen. Vet thinks it behavioural rather than pain at this point but I gave her metacam there a while.

She is a time sink but there is always 1.

tanko

Hopefully she’ll settle and come right, at least at this time of year they’re inside to work with. If you’re Ai’ing your Lim heifers you should try an easy calving Saler on them imo. A Lim bull on Lim heifers can be troublesome enough i find.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118395787#Comment_118395787

Usually use easy calving Lm. LM4217 is flavour of the month. Assisted 2/3 of them and one of them def needed it. So not that easy!

This lady seems to have finally accepted him. Still gives a kick but not a wicked kick and he is big enough and bold enough to keep at her anyway and get his fill.

She is gonna get another chance till next year I guess despite swearing to hang her up 😅.