Tricks for getting heifer to bond with calf

893bet · 20-12-2021 06:22PM #1

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 · 20-12-2021 07:01PM

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

893bet · 20-12-2021 07:14PM

Whooops.

Wibbs can you move this for farming section please.

Cyclingtourist · 20-12-2021 07:22PM

Don't you mean Heffo?

mailforkev · 20-12-2021 08:23PM

I had to sit down after that last paragraph.

893bet · 20-12-2021 09:31PM

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 · 20-12-2021 09:33PM

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

SuperTortoise · 20-12-2021 09:54PM

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 · 20-12-2021 09:56PM

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

Donald Trump · 20-12-2021 10:00PM

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

Regardless of how fancy a watch you time it on

893bet · 20-12-2021 10:08PM

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 · 20-12-2021 10:08PM

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

Steinhart sadly.

Donald Trump · 20-12-2021 10:22PM

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

Casio digital for a FR bull

Donald Trump · 20-12-2021 10:27PM

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 · 20-12-2021 10:45PM

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 · 20-12-2021 10:45PM

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 · 20-12-2021 10:47PM

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 · 20-12-2021 10:53PM

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 · 20-12-2021 11:20PM

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 · 20-12-2021 11:49PM

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

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

fat bloke · 21-12-2021 08:55AM

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

Calfskin leather straps all round? 😁

Wibbs · 21-12-2021 09:18AM

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 · 21-12-2021 09:54AM

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 · 21-12-2021 10:15AM

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

893bet · 21-12-2021 10:23AM

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 · 21-12-2021 10:27AM

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

Think it went over your head.....

893bet · 21-12-2021 10:31AM

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

😅 yea that went whooosh.

BENDYBINN · 21-12-2021 11:26AM

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

Sorry,only winding you up..

893bet · 21-12-2021 01:00PM

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

Now I have a watch to collect!

Cyclingtourist · 21-12-2021 02:01PM

I'm going Vegan.

893bet · 22-12-2021 07:01PM

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.

Tricks for getting heifer to bond with calf

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