Grafting Calf Question?

Got a month old calf that we are trying to graft on a cow.  Been a week now and the cow doesn't kick at all if we put her in a headgate.  We keep them separate except for when we are letting the calf suck.  Tried to feed her loose in a pen and let the calf suck but she kicks and bunts at the calf when she isn't  in a headgate.  Anybody with any experience or ideas would be appreciated. 

We did this twice this year. You are doing good by putting her in the chute but we kept them in a small pen together so that the cow gets use to the new calf and eventually will accept her as her own.  Too late to do it now but it sure helps to rub the foster calf with the scent of the lost one.

If you have a dog take dog into calf pen this should prompt cow to protect the calf. We had a cow that we put a bucket cow because she lost a calf, we got her to accept calf but rubbing her own scent on the calfs, her fecal material.

If you are able to  milk the cow, pour some of her milk on the calf.  We have done this before and it worked.

Got a dog?
I went to a friends place that was trying to graph a calf on a holstien. We were in the pen with the calf and cow and were real close looking at the calf and my dog who likes to lick the noses of cows came in with us. The cow saw this and started to moo at the calf. I left soon after and my friend said that the cow started licking the calf shortly after we left. Make sure its a smart and fast dog just in case. Keep it up sometimes it takes a long time but worth it when it clicks. Frostie

pour vanilla flavoring all over the calf. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE  8)

Oh No More is good stuff too.  Maybe some molasses -- anything that gets the cow licking the calf seems to help them get over it.

in the past we have put the cow in the chute and smeared vicks on the cows nose then smeared vicks on the calfs head, back, and butt it will somewhat confuse the cow and they will take the calf but you need to do it the first time you put them together it has real well for us in the past

  This is not a fun job but it has never failed me. I skin the dead calf and tie the hide on the calf that you are fostering. Usually works within a couple of days max., but last year I had an older cow that was wary for a few days until something just clicked in her to take the calf. It was a neat moment, you could just tell in an instant that she got it.

Skin-out the dead calf, and make a coat out of the skin. Make sure you cover the butt as this is what the cow will smell when the calf tries to suck.I used to have a dairy farmer neighbor until he stopped milking, and over the years I have gotten many Holstien bull calves from him to replace a dead calf.Only one time out of dozens has this not worked for me.

Skinning works GREAT, I like to put ddg on the head navel area, and butt of the calf, seems to get the cow licking as good as anything.

Give the cow enough ace to send her into never land. Cut the tail off dead calf n duct tape upside down along the other with the switch stickin up. Lock together in pen where they can't see out.  Preferably dark. Has never failed. Fact is 12 hrs is usually all it takes

So your saying....drug her up 'til she doesn't know what she's doing and take advantage of the situation??  THATS TWISTED!!

It's a little more acceptable when it's a cow.

That's pretty much right n if the calf will suck her when she's in neverland whether in the chute or not adds to the speed of success.

Hobbles. We simply use a set of hobbles that have the chain and hobble her back legs together. Be careful when putting them on her though. Make sure she is restrained good. Takes 3-5 days for most cows and they take the calf. Have had the odd cow that never did take the new calf too.

i've done the skin method before as well.  make sure to include the anus.  i include the legs and use them to tie it on.