Problem Calf - Won't suck - Any Advice

pancuronium · 29-01-2011 03:41PM #1

Hi, as the heading suggests.............heifer gave birth early this morning & the calf doesn’t seem to be very interested in sucking!! After about 3 hours of trying i managed to get approx. 2 small bottles into the calf..............problem is the calf now will suck the bottle but as soon as you put her on the cow she loses interest near immediately has anyone any advice on how to get the calf to suck the cow as i don't particularly want to be feeing the calf every few hours with a bottle? Any advice would be greatly apriciated.

rancher · 29-01-2011 04:50PM

could you not get a stomach tube and give him 3 litres at a time, any good suckler farmer neighbour will do it or show you how

vanderbadger · 29-01-2011 05:47PM

pancuronium wrote: »

Hi, as the heading suggests.............heifer gave birth early this morning & the calf doesn’t seem to be very interested in sucking!! After about 3 hours of trying i managed to get approx. 2 small bottles into the calf..............problem is the calf now will suck the bottle but as soon as you put her on the cow she loses interest near immediately has anyone any advice on how to get the calf to suck the cow as i don't particularly want to be feeing the calf every few hours with a bottle? Any advice would be greatly apriciated.

wait till good an hungry, then give a small bit from bottle and try and switch onto tit

rancher · 29-01-2011 05:55PM

more important to get colostrum in at this stage than learning how to suck

dar31 · 29-01-2011 06:04PM

how many litre were in the 2 small bottles of milk.
if the calf was born early morning 6-7 am and has only had a bit of colostrum, id say it is a bit weak at this stage and hasn't the strength to suck.
getting a bit late now, but stomach tube it.
as some one said get the colostrum in by any means first, about 6l in the first 24hrs, then you can let it hungry for a while till it starts to suck

pakalasa · 29-01-2011 06:38PM

Are you feeding any pre-calving minerals?

They (the experts) blame a lot of this on mineral deficiency. Get a stomach tube, local COOPS or VET store will have them. Push it down slowly, let the calf swallow it rather than force it down. That way it wont go into the lungs.

Bizzum · 29-01-2011 07:08PM

Assuming the calf is sucking a bottle or a tit on a bucket it shouldn't be much of a job to ensure adequate beastings. It can be entierly another job getting the calf to suck from its mother though. We had a calf last spring that for 10 days wouldn't suck his dam unassisted, then it clicked and away he went never looked back, but a lot of hardship getting him to that point!

Sometimes the calf that doesn't seem interested in suckling, is in fact full as a egg after getting a bellyfull on the quiet.

Did you try letting the calf suck a little from the bottle, having the cow secure in the calving gate, and substituting the cows teat for the bottle?

caseman · 29-01-2011 08:31PM

rub sugar or honey in calve mouth helps to get calve sucking

Feargal as Luimneach · 30-01-2011 11:09AM

Ask your vet for some mederantil (appetite stimulant). An i/m injection of around 1ml of mederantil will usually make the calf suck.

pancuronium · 30-01-2011 12:43PM

Hay thanks a mill for all the advice..........hunger is a great thing as stated above after another 5 or 6 hours pushed the calf under the cow for the 5000th time & the relief..................We have lift off. Thanks again to all who replied.

Waddy · 30-01-2011 05:42PM

is it a charolais. i had a lad born last night and hes the thickest and lazy yoke i ever seen he wud drive ya mad!

vanderbadger · 30-01-2011 06:03PM

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

Ask your vet for some mederantil (appetite stimulant). An i/m injection of around 1ml of mederantil will usually make the calf suck.

our local vets often give that stuff for young calves not going well along with a vitamin shot

Problem Calf - Won't suck - Any Advice

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