Re: O/T force feeding calves

Posted by Errin OH on July 19, 2005 at 13:01:27 from (168.73.245.72):

In Reply to: O/T force feeding calves posted by Tim...Ok on July 19, 2005 at 10:54:59:

Would need more info to be very specfic.

What breed, How much you feeding them, How many times a days, Where you keepin them, barn, etc..., How does it progress and such.

Generally speaking a calf/cow is about the dumbest thing to walk the planet. Will stand there and stare at ya with that I am hungry look and not eat the food laid before them. Without seeing and going on my own experances, I'd say dehydration is you worst emeny. They get the slighest ill filling and they stop eating/drinking. That starts one big snow ball. They get up one day and are slow/finicking to food, the next morning they won't eat, by the third the won't even get up. Day four and they are dead. Between scours and no drinking they die of dehydration. Tubing isn't that hard. When you get their neck between your legs, lift up on the chin, the tube will just about guide itself in. Mine came from TSC. Just hang on to them until the bottle is empty. They won't like it and may try to pull away and/or drop their a$$ on the ground. General rule around here is 6 quarts liquid a day, split up between 3-6 feedings, equal (close to) times apart. I try and make two of them electrolites. Beyond that you need to find out what is making them feel ill. Do they have a cough and/or snot nosed? If so, maybe a couple liquamycin (general antibodic) shots are in order. Are they getting over heated? Shade and fan will help. Are bottles and such clean? I have had trouble with contamination before and didn't even known it. Watch milk replacer storage (d@mn mice). If they are scouring (runs) you may have to go an extra step to cure/stop it. In my case it was more manage (nasty winter bug) until soild food more than anything.

As for colustrum, its to late and don't waste you money. If they didn't get it in the first 24 hours it won't do any good now. Put them on a good Replacer (not soy milk) and provide electrolites. Manage the dehydration, tube if necessary, I tubed one three times a day for a week before he got back up on his feet. Try to fix/adress the underlying cause. I would avoid the raw egg thing, salamnila(sp) is a bad thing.

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• Re: O/T force feeding calves Tim...Ok 13:49:20 07/19/05 (0)

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