muleman
Well-known member
How many hours does it take on average for a calf to start sucking. At what point should you tube them with a milk replacer/colostrum? Thanks
How many Hours?
- Thread starter muleman
- Start date
Help Support Steer Planet:
muleman,
I am not a vet or an expert, but here is my take on your question:
I never let the calf go more than an hour in winter and never more than two hours in warmer weather.
Reasons:
A calf that just lies there and doesn't get up will actually affect the cow's mentality. She will begin to loose interest in the calf and give up on it if it does not respond to her attempts to get it up and nursing.
When I give Colostrum, I only mix about half a bottle, or if I use the cow's milk I still only give half a bottle. You want the calf hungry and wanting to get up and get more of that 'good warm stuff'. Giving the calf too much satifies it and makes it less likely to try and get up. I have had calves try to get up after just one or two sucks on the bottle. It seems to give them the drive.
After 24 hours (I think) the linning of the stomach changes and the calf can't digest colostrum. So, don't go to bed thinking the calf can wait until morning. By then the calf could be very cold, the cow could have lost interest and the calf has less of a chance digesting the colostrum.
As far as tubing, I consider that a last resort. The calf needs to use it's sucking reflex and there are risks to tubing if you are inexperienced. I am a retired nurse anesthetist and have put more tubes into people in places we don't want to talk about, but I still am hesitant about tubing unless I have to.
Good luck and hope the calf is OK.
Malinda
I am not a vet or an expert, but here is my take on your question:
I never let the calf go more than an hour in winter and never more than two hours in warmer weather.
Reasons:
A calf that just lies there and doesn't get up will actually affect the cow's mentality. She will begin to loose interest in the calf and give up on it if it does not respond to her attempts to get it up and nursing.
When I give Colostrum, I only mix about half a bottle, or if I use the cow's milk I still only give half a bottle. You want the calf hungry and wanting to get up and get more of that 'good warm stuff'. Giving the calf too much satifies it and makes it less likely to try and get up. I have had calves try to get up after just one or two sucks on the bottle. It seems to give them the drive.
After 24 hours (I think) the linning of the stomach changes and the calf can't digest colostrum. So, don't go to bed thinking the calf can wait until morning. By then the calf could be very cold, the cow could have lost interest and the calf has less of a chance digesting the colostrum.
As far as tubing, I consider that a last resort. The calf needs to use it's sucking reflex and there are risks to tubing if you are inexperienced. I am a retired nurse anesthetist and have put more tubes into people in places we don't want to talk about, but I still am hesitant about tubing unless I have to.
Good luck and hope the calf is OK.
Malinda
dori36
Well-known member
Me, too, Melinda. That first hour is critical as the amount of colostrum the calf can actually absorb decreases as each hour passes. If it doesn't suck wi thin an hour, I intervene by taking the calf to the cow and even milking a little out of her to entice the calf. If the cow is "cranky", I put her in the chute and do the same thing. Luckily, I've never had to do that with any of my Lowlines but have with other cows. I'd also be hard pressed to resort to tubing, even though I realize that someetime it's the last resort. I'd prefer to use the cow's own milk/colostrum to get the calf started. So, I guess the answer to your question from me is one hour before I intervene.
Malinda said:
red
Well-known member
agree 100% w/ both of you. It is the furture of the calf's health to get the colustrum ASAP.
Red
Red
common sense
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2007
- Messages
- 359
I agree with all of you but just wanted to add a note about tubing that might help. I ruined my tube feeder so went to buy another. My vet suggested I try a Spring Magrath tube feeder. I have always used the bag one with the tube attached. I am usually doing this alone so at times I think that being an octopus would be handy. Also, I like to try and milk out the cow and use her colostrum whenever I can. It's really hard to use the bag feeder and do this. Anyway, the Magrath has a flexible bottle instead of a bag and it's easy to mix milk or milk directily into. It is much easier to use when you are one person. I HIGHLY recommend. Only don't leave it laying when you are done...my puppy thought it was very tasty too! 
cowz
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,492
Common Sense just gave some good advice. The McGrath feeders are the way to go.....especially if doing this on your own. Also you can run them through the dish washer ( by itself). The bag kind are so very hard to clean. Just make sure you clean the tube out very good. Mold isnt good for you or the babies!
We never tube until it is the last resort. If you have a hard time using the big calf bottle, pick up one of those black lamb nipples and put on a pop bottle. (I would say beer bottle....but then this thread would definately take on a new tangent!)
We never tube until it is the last resort. If you have a hard time using the big calf bottle, pick up one of those black lamb nipples and put on a pop bottle. (I would say beer bottle....but then this thread would definately take on a new tangent!)
