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stomach tube

  • 07-02-2014 10:31PM
    #1
    mcgyvor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 52 ✭✭


    what do ye think of using stomach tube as routine on all new born calves.i find it a
    disaster as calves are a nightmare to get feeding properly only use it rarely as a last
    resort and it always takes ages to get that calf drinking properly after.I think the people recommending using tube routinely dont feed the calves afterwards or am i doing something wrong ,what do ye think


«1

Comments

  • #2
    munkus
    Closed Accounts Posts: 531 ✭✭✭munkus


    I use it the first time, just after the calf is born, suckler calves that is. This is just to ensure he has the colostrum. He's in with mammy then and off they go.

    Think it's the height of laziness if lads are doing this daily. Not good for the calves throat.


  • #3
    jaymla627
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,488 ✭✭✭jaymla627


    munkus wrote: »
    I use it the first time, just after the calf is born, suckler calves that is. This is just to ensure he has the colostrum. He's in with mammy then and off they go.

    Think it's the height of laziness if lads are doing this daily. Not good for the calves throat.

    Always try with the bottle first, then if that fails will go with the tube....


  • #4
    Milked out
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭Milked out


    mcgyvor wrote: »
    what do ye think of using stomach tube as routine on all new born calves.i find it a
    disaster as calves are a nightmare to get feeding properly only use it rarely as a last
    resort and it always takes ages to get that calf drinking properly after.I think the people recommending using tube routinely dont feed the calves afterwards or am i doing something wrong ,what do ye think

    I try with the bottle here first, if they don't I use the tube. I.d tube the first 3 feeds if they don't drink, I'd leave them hungry then if they don't drink at the fourth and generally they suck away after that. Much handier when they drink from bottle first as I'd hold them to the feeder then with the second feed and it speeds things up a good bit


  • #5
    trixi2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,539 ✭✭✭trixi2011


    jaymla627 wrote: »
    Always try with the bottle first, then if that fails will go with the tube....

    Tube all heifer calves within 6 hours of birth if they don't suck next feed would skip a feed usually be really easy trained the next feed with warm milk


  • #6
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    trixi2011 wrote: »
    Tube all heifer calves within 6 hours of birth if they don't suck next feed would skip a feed usually be really easy trained the next feed with warm milk
    i only stomach tube the ones i dont see sucking, got a lecture the other day that i should be stomach tubing every calf... didnt go down too well ....


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  • #7
    knockmulliner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 152 ✭✭knockmulliner


    biddy2013 wrote: »
    i only stomach tube the ones i dont see sucking, got a lecture the other day that i should be stomach tubing every calf... didnt go down too well ....

    Same here, I would go with the bottle feeder if they don't suck the cow and only if the tit bottle was unsuccessful would i tube. Rarely have to.


  • #8
    49801
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,844 ✭✭✭49801


    Teat first
    Then bottle
    Then tube as last resort

    Qty to tube is a bone of contention for me. Tube them too big of a feed and they have too full of a belly and get lazy.

    1L to 1.5L is plenty IMO


  • #9
    grazeaway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,079 ✭✭✭grazeaway


    biddy2013 wrote: »
    i only stomach tube the ones i dont see sucking, got a lecture the other day that i should be stomach tubing every calf... didnt go down too well ....

    Same here only use it if the calf dosent drink the mother or is too weak. Tubing is really a last resort. The inside of the throat can get irritated and it could also go down the wrong way, nearly drowned one a few years ago as there was still some milk in the tube as I was taking it out and he started coughing and it went down his wind pipe.


  • #10
    hugo29
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,267 ✭✭✭hugo29


    biddy2013 wrote: »
    i only stomach tube the ones i dont see sucking, got a lecture the other day that i should be stomach tubing every calf... didnt go down too well ....

    +1


  • #11
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    this lad was telling me they need at least 4 litres in 1 go, how i didnt tell him to fook away off i dont know, each farmer knows/does whats best in each situation


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  • #12
    td5man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭td5man


    Stomach tube most calves their first feed, 1.5 litres is plenty.
    Have very few health problems since i started doing this.


  • #13
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    td5man wrote: »
    Stomach tube most calves their first feed, 1.5 litres is plenty.
    Have very few health problems since i started doing this.
    i have the bag tube which holds 2.5 litres, imagine giving them 4 litres:eek:


  • #14
    onyerbikepat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,921 ✭✭✭onyerbikepat


    Different farms, different situations. There was a suckler farmer on the journal a while back that was tubing all his new borns. This guy though, had the cows on an away farm, so he wasnt around to see them suckling.

    I always try to get them to drink the cow ASAP. If they wouldnt drink, then, I would always tube them. Now since I got teh calving camera, I put it on record and check them then on playback.


  • #15
    delaval
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,949 ✭✭✭delaval


    Tube all calves on sight, sucking or not.

    Collect 20 litres of colostrum each milking and use through out the day.

    I know, Johnes!!!!!!


  • #16
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    delaval wrote: »
    Tube all calves on sight, sucking or not.

    Collect 20 litres of colostrum each milking and use through out the day.

    I know, Johnes!!!!!!
    thats what i am afraid of, if a calf needs to be tubed it gets its own mothers milk here


  • #17
    td5man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭td5man


    biddy2013 wrote: »
    thats what i am afraid of, if a calf needs to be tubed it gets its own mothers milk here

    We run the cow into the parlour and milk her to feed the first feed


  • #18
    freedominacup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭freedominacup


    Is this johnes thing being overplayed?

    We try the bottle here if not tube, 2.5 to 3.5 litres depending on the size of the calf. Very few if any calves suckle their mothers. We are getting much better outcomes since we started giving the larger volumes of colostrum.


  • #19
    49801
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,844 ✭✭✭49801


    freedominacup wrote: »
    Is this johnes thing being overplayed?

    We try the bottle here if not tube, 2.5 to 3.5 litres depending on the size of the calf. Very few if any calves suckle their mothers. We are getting much better outcomes since we started giving the larger volumes of colostrum.

    Agreed that is a nice amount of colostrum to feed and calves will have much stronger immunity.... But are you feeding that qty all in one feeding?


  • #20
    jaymla627
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,488 ✭✭✭jaymla627


    49801 wrote: »
    Agreed that is a nice amount of colostrum to feed and calves will have much stronger immunity.... But are you feeding that qty all in one feeding?

    Calves here are actually drinking 3-4 litres after an hour of birth, never had calves with so much life in them, cows are being lead feeded this year and it's really paying-off


  • #21
    freedominacup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭freedominacup


    49801 wrote: »
    Agreed that is a nice amount of colostrum to feed and calves will have much stronger immunity.... But are you feeding that qty all in one feeding?

    Yes they'll drink it if the mood is on them so np hesitation about tubing.


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  • #22
    delaval
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,949 ✭✭✭delaval


    biddy2013 wrote: »
    thats what i am afraid of, if a calf needs to be tubed it gets its own mothers milk here

    Own mother's milk no guarantee in Johnes


  • #23
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    delaval wrote: »
    Own mother's milk no guarantee in Johnes
    i know but you are not spreading it between others


  • #24
    Greengrass1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,493 ✭✭✭Greengrass1


    Tbh if I had 10+ cows calving down a day I would do the same as del is. Takes a lot of work to give a calf its own mothers milk


  • #25
    ferger1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 99 ✭✭ferger1


    how do lads stomach tube and prevent the tube going down the wrong way...tis something im terrified of doing without causing damage. but i know its something i will have to do eventually.

    Any hints on the correct procedure would be greatly appreciated


  • #26
    td5man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭td5man


    ferger1 wrote: »
    how do lads stomach tube and prevent the tube going down the wrong way...tis something im terrified of doing without causing damage. but i know its something i will have to do eventually.

    Any hints on the correct procedure would be greatly appreciated

    Keep the calfs neck straight and gently push the tube in the calf should swallow the tube.


  • #27
    ferger1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 99 ✭✭ferger1


    td5man wrote: »
    Keep the calfs neck straight and gently push the tube in the calf should swallow the tube.

    Thanks. good tip. Any way of knowing if its gone into the windpipe by mistake before you let off the milk


  • #28
    td5man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭td5man


    ferger1 wrote: »
    Thanks. good tip. Any way of knowing if its gone into the windpipe by mistake before you let off the milk

    Yep you'll see the milk coming out his nose if its gone the wrong way no point in panicking as it's too late.
    I don't think its possible for it to go the wrong way, have been doing it for years without any problems.
    As long as the tube goes in easily you should be OK.


  • #29
    freedominacup
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭freedominacup


    Just out for a smoke. Getting a bit to eat with the family. Calved a cow at ten to six. Father on yard tonight so calf tubed with 3 litres. No worries about whether she's fed and nothing in calving boxes so can enjoy the couple of pints. Leaving it to nature and I'd have to go back checking.


  • #30
    onyerbikepat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,921 ✭✭✭onyerbikepat


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=74794014&postcount=5

    From;
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74793073


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  • #31
    biddy2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,643 ✭✭✭biddy2013


    if in doubt ask vet to show you how to do it


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