Twin Question

[firesweepranch]

If a cow calved at 7 AM, then again aroun noon (twin), when should you be worried that the first calf is not standing and sucking? No interest at all, even when a bottle of warm colostrum taken from mom is put to his mouth (in his mouth,I even tried to work his jaws up and down to get some of the colostrum out of the nipple for a taste). The first born in the largest, but contracted at the front pasterns. The second calf is standing and sucking, smaller, and contracted also but not as bad.
This is a friend of mine, two bull calves (neighbor).
Thanks!

 

[Earthmover]

Tube him ASAP. Get something in his belly or you'll lose him. They should come out of the leg problems in a day or so. Just dont try straighting them yourself. A shot of BOSE will help. Good luck.

 

[kanshow]

Exactly what Earthmover says!    It sometimes takes tubing for a few feedings before they figure it out.

 

[firesweepranch]

OK, tubed him with 3 pints colostrum, saved another 2 to tube before going to bed?We were able to milk the cow and get about 5 pints.  He still has no desire to suck. he does try to stand, but only on his knees. Crawls around on knees for a few minutes, then lays back down. Should she take him to the vet tomorow?

 

[farmin female]

OK, tubed him with 3 pints colostrum, saved another 2 to tube before going to bed?We were able to milk the cow and get about 5 pints.  He still has no desire to suck. he does try to stand, but only on his knees. Crawls around on knees for a few minutes, then lays back down. Should she take him to the vet tomorow?

Keep feeding the calf every couple of hours.  Try to get thim to suck, but tube him if he doesn't. BUT DON'T OVERFEED HIM!  You can kill them with kindness.  A little milk every couple of hours is better.  If you have the traditional calf bottle, sometimes a smaller nipple will work better.  The most important thing is to get the food in his belly because a newborn will go downhill very, very fast - especially a twin.  They cannot build up enough strength to stand and suck until they get nourshiment in them and it will probably take more than one or two feedings since he was amost a downer.  Also remember that cows are not very bright ( and yes, I love my dumb cows) but sometimes it takes a bit for them to learn to suck.  And since you had twins, this may be a bit of a preemie so keep working with him and he will come around.  It is a good signal he is crawling on his knees though.