Feeding the newborn calf..

awaywithyou

well guys,

i was wondering as i was feeding a calf (day old) earlier on... what is the best/natural position for a calf's head to be in when they are drinking milk....?

i noticed his head was lifted up or his head was level... he would suck like mad.... but was less inclined to suck when his head was pointing down towards the ground.........

ddogsbollix

well it needs a 20 minute suck within the first 3 hours or 3 litres of milk within in the first 3 hours. it makes sense that when the calves head is raised he will take in more milk as it facilitates milk to go down his throat easier as compared to when his head is tilted down it makes it harder.

sh1tstirrer

Heads up deaths down. That's the motto we were told in ag college.

F.D

What is it with a lot of calf rearing press you read now, that most seem to be stomach tubing the calves for the first round of milk, i've never heard of many doing this locally to me, is it just for speed in bigger herds rather that spending time waiting for them to start sucking or what? i know the importance of getting the colostrum in within the first 2-3 hours

Dozer1

We've alway gone with having the ccalf's head up, its the natural position.

On a side note we would have always had an old small plastic dosing bottle for giving the colostrum if a calf was slow to get going, however our one is leaking now and they don't seem to be available in any of the shops now.
All the have is this one which is much good if the calf won't suck or a stomach tude which I wouldn't know how to use. anybody have any alternatives?

dar31

Dozer1 wrote: »

We've alway gone with having the ccalf's head up, its the natural position.

On a side note we would have always had an old small plastic dosing bottle for giving the colostrum if a calf was slow to get going, however our one is leaking now and they don't seem to be available in any of the shops now.
All the have is this one which is much good if the calf won't suck or a stomach tude which I wouldn't know how to use. anybody have any alternatives?

You can get a different stomach tube top for them for about a tenner. Have one this 2 year find it much better than the old type ones

49801

Dozer1 wrote: »

We've alway gone with having the ccalf's head up, its the natural position.

On a side note we would have always had an old small plastic dosing bottle for giving the colostrum if a calf was slow to get going, however our one is leaking now and they don't seem to be available in any of the shops now.
All the have is this one which is much good if the calf won't suck or a stomach tude which I wouldn't know how to use. anybody have any alternatives?

I tried one of them bottles and could not get the calf to suck the teat.
no problem when i shifted back to the larger white teat