Cow rejecting calf

Is there anything that i could do to get the cow to accept her calf. She had it this morning and has totally neglected it. She kicks at it whenever it trys to nurse. The cow also showed no signs of having a calf today and there is no after birth to be found. Any ideas on how to get the cow to accept the calf? (this is not the cows first calf)

Zak

When we have one like that we halter if you can't halter put in a squeeze chute and if that is not available sandwich between two pipe gates make so the udder is available on one side. Then put the calf up to nurse. You can also hobble her while you are doing this. It doesn't take long and once her milk is passing through the scent sometimes makes her more maternal. If she doesn't accept it I would not leave the calf alone in case she hurts the calf. Usually after a few times of forced nursing the cow will give in.

OH Breeder said:

When we have one like that we halter if you can't halter put in a squeeze chute and if that is not available sandwich between two pipe gates make so the udder is available on one side. Then put the calf up to nurse. You can also hobble her while you are doing this. It doesn't take long and once her milk is passing through the scent sometimes makes her more maternal. If she doesn't accept it I would not leave the calf alone in case she hurts the calf. Usually after a few times of forced nursing the cow will give in.

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OH Breeder had really good advice and I would try that! Here is another idea for you too. I have never done this personally but I know people who would use their herding dogs and put the cow/calf in small pen, barn etc and have the dog stay with them. Not sure how they went about the whole process but maybe someone on here can add too it. It also depends on if you have a dog that is capable of doing that. I know not everyone has herding dogs but it's another option for you. Good luck and hope it works out for you! Let us know if you have any luck!  <beer>

Try pouring some grain on the calves back in view of the cow. Worked for me.

I agree with the forced feedings and the grain. If we have to put a cow in a pen to calve I always pour grain on the calf right after its born. The momma's always seem to get the hint after they finish the grain. I would also like to hear more about hearding dogs sounds interesting, is it to force the cow to protect the calf?

There's a product called orphan no more. It's a powder u sprinkle on the calf and its supposed to make the cow claim it.  I've heard nothing but good about this product , but have never tried it personally. It's relatively cheap too , like $12 a bottle

steerjock07 said:

There's a product called orphan no more. It's a powder u sprinkle on the calf and its supposed to make the cow claim it.  I've heard nothing but good about this product , but have never tried it personally. It's relatively cheap too , like $12 a bottle

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Guys...this stuff is a MIRACLE in a jug! Since the first time I used it, I never like to not have it on the shelf. It's called O-NO-MO (for orphan no more) and I never want to be without it. Get some!

I recently talked to our local co-op about carrying it, and they're going to stock it. Tell your local farm supply store they need it and it DOES work! If you can't get somebody to carry it, it's worth buying whatever amount you have to buy to have it around. BTW I do NOT get a commission on this stuff! lol

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07967-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5

Havn't really had a problem w/ the dam taking care of her calf, but if her calf dies and you put another calf on her..... it can be problematic.  What I usually do is run her in the head chute 2x a day morning and evening...  put some feed for the cow to eat and if the cow is kicking @ the calf I tie one of her back legs to a 4x6 coming out of ground that is part of the alley way.  After 4days... it usually does the trick for putting a new calf on a cow that lost her calf. 

OH Breeder said:

When we have one like that we halter if you can't halter put in a squeeze chute and if that is not available sandwich between two pipe gates make so the udder is available on one side. Then put the calf up to nurse. You can also hobble her while you are doing this. It doesn't take long and once her milk is passing through the scent sometimes makes her more maternal. If she doesn't accept it I would not leave the calf alone in case she hurts the calf. Usually after a few times of forced nursing the cow will give in.

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This works for me, only thing i may add is to put a pan of feed in front of the cow and it sometimes reduces the resistence from the cow and makes it a lil bit easier to get the calf under her wioithout the kicking and shimmying. good luck!!

If the cow shows no signs of calving,,,make sure you check the rest of your cows ,,it might not be hers.  If it is hers ,,o no mo is great stuff

We have had good luck having a dog sit by the pen. The first time was a 3yr old that didnt want her calf so my wife brought the big German Shepard Joey in. I thought it ws a waste of time but in 5 minutes she was licking and mothering up. Can't say it is a guarantee though. Now we have a big stuffy that we call Joe Jr. that gets put to work if needed. Saves us standing there for however long it may take.

steerjock07 said:

There's a product called orphan no more. It's a powder u sprinkle on the calf and its supposed to make the cow claim it.  I've heard nothing but good about this product , but have never tried it personally. It's relatively cheap too , like $12 a bottle

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I agree with the above posters who suggested this product.  It has worked great for us.  I am using it right now on an orphan calf I am trying to pair on a cow (that lost her calf).  Only in the second day and she has already accepted the calf.  Stuff works great.  One of our local feed stores had it in stock.

Speaking of cows that lose a calf... If the cow had claimed her own calf and it dies, and you want to encourage her to adopt another, the most sure-fire way to do it is to skin the dead calf and blanket the new baby in the hide. If you cover most of the calf from the shoulders back to the tail head, I've never seen a mother notice. It's not the most fun job, but it sure beats trying to force a cow to take a baby she knows isn't hers and doesn't want! I make two small holes at each corner of the hide, lay it over the new calf, and loop a string through the holes and tie it around the legs, close to the body so he can't step out of it.

Just thought about that since the topic of cows losing calves and adoption came up...

I know it doesn't help you with this particular situation.

If possible, it might help to get some milk from the mom and pour it on the calf mainly on it's head and tail area.

zak said:

Is there anything that i could do to get the cow to accept her calf. She had it this morning and has totally neglected it. She kicks at it whenever it trys to nurse. The cow also showed no signs of having a calf today and there is no after birth to be found. Any ideas on how to get the cow to accept the calf? (this is not the cows first calf)

Zak

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hobbles, and maybe a halter.

I have also used Dried Blood and sprinkled it on the calf.  Momma loves the smell and will lick it right away.  You can buy it at your local Farm Store or Plant Store.  It is used when starting new flowers.  Works just as good as the commercial stuff.

i've had some luck with the dog. and the forced nursing seems like a good idea. if you have a dog, i know from experience that it can be effective to have the dog put the cow out of the pen, and they mother up pretty quick