When's calving starting 2020

Gudstock · 22-01-2020 2:01pm

3yr old first calver suckler calved last night. Had to assist, big bull calf, hard pull.
A week early.
Probably waited too long to assist, calf not good.
Calf with the vet this morning.
Now under the red lamp.
Calf won't suck, tried bucket with finger, bucket with teat, got some down with a lambs bottle.
I'm not comfortable with stomach tube, calf has basically no suck - anything I can try?

whelan2 · 22-01-2020 2:05pm

Gudstock wrote: »

3yr old first calver suckler calved last night. Had to assist, big bull calf, hard pull.
A week early.
Probably waited too long to assist, calf not good.
Calf with the vet this morning.
Now under the red lamp.
Calf won't suck, tried bucket with finger, bucket with teat, got some down with a lambs bottle.
I'm not comfortable with stomach tube, calf has basically no suck - anything I can try?

Honey or chocolate and patience

Gudstock · 22-01-2020 2:08pm

whelan2 wrote: »

Honey or chocolate and patience

Can you expand on the honey and choc?

whelan2 · 22-01-2020 2:10pm

Gudstock wrote: »

Can you expand on the honey and choc?

Honey on the teat or on your finger the calf will suck. Or put a square of chocolate on the calves tongue. I have used it for suckler calves. There used to also be an injection you could get from the vet not sure if it's still available.

tanko · 22-01-2020 2:23pm

Gudstock wrote: »

3yr old first calver suckler calved last night. Had to assist, big bull calf, hard pull.
A week early.
Probably waited too long to assist, calf not good.
Calf with the vet this morning.
Now under the red lamp.
Calf won't suck, tried bucket with finger, bucket with teat, got some down with a lambs bottle.
I'm not comfortable with stomach tube, calf has basically no suck - anything I can try?

What did the vet give the calf, did you milk the heifer and bring the milk with you to the vet?
If the calf hasn't got biestings if needs to get some now. Could a neighbour tube the calf for you?

Buford T. Justice XIX · 22-01-2020 2:43pm

Gudstock wrote: »

3yr old first calver suckler calved last night. Had to assist, big bull calf, hard pull.
A week early.
Probably waited too long to assist, calf not good.
Calf with the vet this morning.
Now under the red lamp.
Calf won't suck, tried bucket with finger, bucket with teat, got some down with a lambs bottle.
I'm not comfortable with stomach tube, calf has basically no suck - anything I can try?

Get a Trusti-Tuber, it's a bit pricey but will be around for years. I gave one to a neighbour one evening to tube a calf and he went straight to town and bought one for himself the following day.

It's idiot proof. I know, I've used it.

https://www.agridirect.ie/product/trusti-tuber-4ltr-calf-feeding-starter-kit

High bike · 22-01-2020 3:23pm

Buford T. Justice VI wrote: »

Get a Trusti-Tuber, it's a bit pricey but will be around for years. I gave one to a neighbour one evening to tube a calf and he went straight to town and bought one for himself the following day.

It's idiot proof. I know, I've used it.

https://www.agridirect.ie/product/trusti-tuber-4ltr-calf-feeding-starter-kit

Yeah they'r a great tool and very safe

High bike · 22-01-2020 3:25pm

whelan2 wrote: »

Honey on the teat or on your finger the calf will suck. Or put a square of chocolate on the calves tongue. I have used it for suckler calves. There used to also be an injection you could get from the vet not sure if it's still available.

a shot of Vitacel ?

tellmeabit · 22-01-2020 3:28pm

Gudstock wrote: »

3yr old first calver suckler calved last night. Had to assist, big bull calf, hard pull.
A week early.
Probably waited too long to assist, calf not good.
Calf with the vet this morning.
Now under the red lamp.
Calf won't suck, tried bucket with finger, bucket with teat, got some down with a lambs bottle.
I'm not comfortable with stomach tube, calf has basically no suck - anything I can try?

Ask someone else to stomach tube him, just the get the energy Into it. Might come after it, it won't if not getting the milk

Sugarbowl · 22-01-2020 3:34pm

High bike wrote: »

Yeah they'r a great tool and very safe

Is 75e on Agridirect the best price for this?

Mooooo · 22-01-2020 3:58pm

Tubing is something you'll have to learn if calving cow's, getting the biestings in in time is the best start for a calf. Same as most things it's a case of just going and doing it to learn. If in doubt perhaps do it the next time the vet is out or a neighbour who may have experience is nearby

whelan2 · 22-01-2020 11:19pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

First calf last night. First fatality I’m afraid. Calved 2-3 weeks early and my father got her with the calf on the slats and calfbed out. Vet came and it was an ordeal getting it back in. Same one had a calf died at 7 months last year. 2/2 disasters. Wouldn’t be long putting you off giving second chances. No springing no nothing and she was checked yesterday morning. Grim.

How is she today?

squinn2912 · 23-01-2020 12:06am

whelan2 wrote: »

How is she today?

Thanks for asking lad yea she’s grand injected her she’s eating well and rough to inject so it’s a pain but a good sign. Awful pity her grandmother ad mother are excellent sucklers and so is her sister. She’s a tastier beast than any of them but not over muscled either. Ah well not so bad she’s a good, sellable cow.

Parishlad · 23-01-2020 6:43am

Just in from calving number 2. This one went better. First calver needed a bit of a pull but nothing major. Another heifer calf.
Time for an hours sleep before getting up for work. The joys of it. &#55357;&#56832;

whelan2 · 23-01-2020 10:19am

See the calf cards now have the dam breed on them

Lime Tree Farm · 23-01-2020 11:33am

I ordered the Trusti yesterday. I did think of ordering the replacement tubing only, thinking being that the lid would fit onto the shoof feeder (and spare me a few bob).

Horror story from this link in 2017 - anyone experience this happening?
http://www.forum4farming.com/forum/index.php?threads/stomach-tube-stuck-in-calf.14726/

High bike · 23-01-2020 2:41pm

First of the year here nice little Hamlet heifer, the livelyst thing I ever saw, up and sucking in 15 min.Would have preferred a bull but can't have it every way

Sugarbowl · 23-01-2020 3:26pm

Lime Tree Farm wrote: »

I ordered the Trusti yesterday. I did think of ordering the replacement tubing only, thinking being that the lid would fit onto the shoof feeder (and spare me a few bob).

Horror story from this link in 2017 - anyone experience this happening?
http://www.forum4farming.com/forum/index.php?threads/stomach-tube-stuck-in-calf.14726/

Where did you order the trusti tuber from? Get a good price?

Lime Tree Farm · 23-01-2020 5:25pm

Sugarbowl wrote: »

Where did you order the trusti tuber from? Get a good price?

AgriDirect €75.00, painlessly extracted with a credit card. Justified the expense by having saved a few bob changing insurance provider.

I always have a small plastic bottle, with an flip open cap, of sunflower oil for dipping he tube into. It helps with easing the tube down their throat.

liosnagceann75 · 23-01-2020 5:33pm

Lime Tree Farm wrote: »

AgriDirect €75.00, painlessly extracted with a credit card. Justified the expense by having saved a few bob changing insurance provider.

I always have a small plastic bottle, with an flip open cap, of sunflower oil for dipping he tube into. It helps with easing the tube down their throat.

Picked up a new tip today. Will try the sunflower oil

Base price · 23-01-2020 6:43pm

whelan2 wrote: »

See the calf cards now have the dam breed on them

It is something that I remember you suggesting on here a couple of years ago. Someone is listening to you Whelan

wrangler · 23-01-2020 7:03pm

Lime Tree Farm wrote: »

I ordered the Trusti yesterday. I did think of ordering the replacement tubing only, thinking being that the lid would fit onto the shoof feeder (and spare me a few bob).

Horror story from this link in 2017 - anyone experience this happening?
http://www.forum4farming.com/forum/index.php?threads/stomach-tube-stuck-in-calf.14726/

It happened to me many years ago stomach tubing a calf for a neighbour one Christmas day and he wouldn't get the vet to look at it.
Got real abuse over it, saved many calves for him over the years but didn't bother anymore.
Best idea is do nothing for no one

Base price · 23-01-2020 7:20pm

wrangler wrote: »

It happened to me many years ago stomach tubing a calf for a neighbour one Christmas day and he wouldn't get the vet to look at it.
Got real abuse over it, saved many calves for him over the years but didn't bother anymore.
Best idea is do nothing for no one

You really are turning into the stereotypical grumpy old man

emaherx · 23-01-2020 8:12pm

Base price wrote: »

You really are turning into the stereotypical grumpy old man

Calving started now unexpectedly. Have 3 cows due next week, but one I wasn't expecting for a while decided to calve on the slats. Twin bulls but she's only taken to one of them so that has made for a fun evening.

Base price · 23-01-2020 8:16pm

emaherx wrote: »

Calving started now unexpectedly. Have 3 cows due next week, but one I wasn't expecting for a while decided to calve on the slats. Twin bulls but she's only taken to one of them so that has made for a fun evening.

The mild weather has brought calving forward - nature ignores the calendar

Did you try hanging/rubbing the afterbirth on the other calf?

emaherx · 23-01-2020 8:21pm

Base price wrote: »

Did you try hanging/rubbing the afterbirth on the other calf?

Yes, and the cow is licking him, but won't let him suck. They are fed for now anyway.

Base price · 23-01-2020 8:41pm

emaherx wrote: »

Yes, and the cow is licking him, but won't let him suck. They are fed for now anyway.

Hopefully she will settle down as she is probably confused with two. I would take both calves away from her to an area where she can see them but not get to them or them to her. Absence makes the heart grow stronger

Edit - meant to say, don't give her any nuts/meal until tomorrow morning, then give her a bucket with nuts and let the rejected calf out to her first, and see how it goes. I'm presuming that she isn't wicked towards you or the calf.

Mooooo · 23-01-2020 8:47pm

wrangler wrote: »

It happened to me many years ago stomach tubing a calf for a neighbour one Christmas day and he wouldn't get the vet to look at it.
Got real abuse over it, saved many calves for him over the years but didn't bother anymore.
Best idea is do nothing for no one

The old Pfizer tubes attached to the bag were the job in terms of a smooth bulb, slow going with thick biestings tho and a pain in the ass to hold the bag and a lively calf tho. Use the the tube that comes with the speedy feeder now, the bulb is fairly thick tho, I think the idea is the thicker bulb reduces the risk of it going down the windpipe

emaherx · 23-01-2020 9:03pm

Base price wrote: »

Hopefully she will settle down as she is probably confused with two. I would take both calves away from her to an area where she can see them but not get to them or them to her. Absence makes the heart grow stronger
Edit - meant to say, don't give her any nuts/meal until tomorrow morning, then give her a bucket with nuts and let the rejected calf out to her first, and see how it goes. I'm presuming that she isn't wicked towards you or the calf.

No she's quite good to be fair, like you said she's confused by 2 of them. They are all lying together now I'll leave them as is untill tomorrow as it's a cold foggy night.

tanko · 23-01-2020 9:33pm

A calving on Rare Breed now

When's calving starting 2020

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