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Calf problems

  • 23-03-2009 12:11am
    #1
    Bluemoney
    Closed Accounts Posts: 64 ✭✭


    I have a week old calf who will not suck at all. His mother has no milk even though her udder is huge, so when he was born I presumed she had load of milk. Im bottling him now but he will not take it at all, so I have resorted to tubing him. But I cant be at this for ever. Has anyone and ideas or comments that will help?


Comments

  • #2
    snowman707
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭snowman707


    Bluemoney wrote: »
    I have a week old calf who will not suck at all. His mother has no milk even though her udder is huge, so when he was born I presumed she had load of milk. Im bottling him now but he will not take it at all, so I have resorted to tubing him. But I cant be at this for ever. Has anyone and ideas or comments that will help?

    he has lost his suckling impulse due to not receiving food after birth, (can also happen after a difficult calving)

    try offering something sweet, maybe try lectade or something similar for a turn or two,

    Try putting brown sugar or glucose on the teat

    Also give him a multi vitamin injection or sachets

    we tube fed 1 calf for 3 weeks before we got him going, if he is hardy & strong you could leave him go hungry for up 36 hours, however watch for signs of dehydration


  • #3
    wiggy123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,212 ✭✭✭wiggy123


    agree with snow!

    had a similar problem,used chocolate, on ur finger--get the sucking reflexs back..
    give him a dose of growvite...10-20ml..similar to multi vitamin injection!
    b a boost to the calf...
    just keep at the calf--will get sucking! cow lackin vitamins-with no milk..

    coming across that with my own cows+others! there calving wit little milk..think quailty of silage is poor compared to other years...low in sugar! as wet summer last yr!
    i am giving them maize+dairy nuts...also hav access to mineral licks...so are gettin it that way! still low in milk....


  • #4
    reilig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,401 ✭✭✭reilig


    Bluemoney wrote: »
    I have a week old calf who will not suck at all. His mother has no milk even though her udder is huge, so when he was born I presumed she had load of milk. Im bottling him now but he will not take it at all, so I have resorted to tubing him. But I cant be at this for ever. Has anyone and ideas or comments that will help?

    Vet can also supply an injection to help him regain suck. Keep getting colostrum into him to keep his intestine working. If it dries up he's a gonner.


  • #5
    Bluemoney
    Closed Accounts Posts: 64 ✭✭Bluemoney


    Yes thanks everyone, Im going to try them ideas this evening. Ye I have giving him the vitamin injection and re-hydration tablets you can get. So I will keep at him.


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