HELP !!! Bottle Jersey Calves

So would you think it profitable to go ahead and buy the powdered Colostrum And feed it to them Anyways Just for good measure???

Yes, Did read, and very helpful.

No don't buy this type colostrum, it's for humans only. I was just giving an example as to how beneficial colostrum is....Go with your cap top/van idea and everything will be fine. I've transported lots of calves in my back seat, so a cap top will solve all you death/stress problems. A calf coming from a dairy will have gotten colostrum at birth because the farmer has no need for the stuff other than bottle feeding it to calves....Topside

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TOPSIDE FARMS

You would be surprised at the number of dairies that don't feed bull calves colostrum, they save that for the heifers that are more profitable! Some give colostrum to bull calves that is milked out the second or third day and reserve the first milking colostrum for heifers or dilute colostrum with milk. It is best to ask ahead of time and make sure they got high quality colostrum and a good amount of it.

Not saying they all do it, just be aware and ask ahead of time!

So if you ask ahead of time, that means they won't lie, oh I get it now....Good grief.

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TOPSIDE FARMS

If the temps there are 28 degrees I'd take enough old sweat shirts to put a sweater on them for the ride. I'd also take every precaution mentioned above from others to keep them warm on the ride. (camper shell, hay bedding)

I'll be an internet vet now and also recommend giving them all three cc's of Baytril when you load them and when you get them home give them a pint of warm electrolytes. NO milk or MR. I'd wait 6-8 hours and give them another pint of liquid. This time, make it half electrolyte and half MR or milk. There's a fine line between keeping them hydrated and overfeeding them especially with small jersey calves.

Good luck and keep us posted.

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16

I'll be the internet Vet's assistant, and offer this advice for free. If you are picking up pure blood Jersey bull calves then only feed them 2 pints per feeding and slowly increase the amount to 3 pints per feeding by three weeks of age. Just advice from a guy who's raised over 100 bottle calves mainly Jerseys....Overfeeding really does kill quickly. Topside

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TOPSIDE FARMS

I can't seem to get the Baytril as of yet. Is there anything else that is over the counter that I could get to give the Calves before I haul them home?? Thanks Again to Everyone for all the help.

I don't know how you would get it without a vet's prescription. I've also used Resflor (nuflor and bantamine mixture) in the past. I prefer the baytril because it has an anti-inflammatory in it. It helps them feel good.

I'm NOT a vet. I don't claim to be a vet. The tricks that work for me and that I pass on are those that I learned by trial and error and most of all from dairyman that have stood the test of time and raised thousands of bottle calves.

I went in my local vet's office one day a few years ago and asked for a 100cc bottle of Albon. He sized me up and gave me that, "so you think you're a vet" look before asking me just what in the world I needed Albon for. I told him it was for an extreme case of mastitis in one of my jerseys.

He then went on a 20 minute tyrade about how Albon wasn't labled for mastitis treatment so how in the world did I get the idea I needed some Albon. I just humbly stated that Mr Casady told me I needed it.

Well now, the tone changed. You see, Mr Casady had been milking 250+ cows for 50 years and new all there was to know about taking care of milk cows. His reply was simply this: "If Mr. Casady told you need Albon, you need Albon." I had a better feeling cow a day or two later.

Everyone will give some awesome advice here on HT. You will get some odd looks from your vet if you're not in dairy country and they're not familiar with the latest and greatest dairy tricks. Otherwise, just go with what an experienced dairyman in your area advises. They have to keep those heifer calves alive if they want to keep milking so they find out what works and stick with it.

Personally, there's probably some that can know what advice I'll give before I post it. I most always recommend 3cc's of Baytril for about any ailment in a bottle calf. It works for me most of the time. I personally think it's a wonder drug for bottle babies and will continue on with it until I learn otherwise.

I hope you end up with some live calves out of your next run. Just use caution before you make the haul and don't get so hasty to get them home that you put them in harm's way to get it done.

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16

Sounds like you're packing for the return trip and calf pickup. Listen I know you have had horrible luck the first go round, but as you have now learned transporting new borns in an open air trailer is a bad idea. This time you has a new enclosed plan and I'm telling your the calves will live and you will succeed. With or without meds, just transport with minimal stress, listen to what the seller says, don't deviate from their advice. It's obvious to me that they are getting colostrum, why else would he offer you more calves for free...Anyway stay in touch...Topside

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TOPSIDE FARMS

Yes, Trying to make sure I have anything that May be needed.And I beleive as you do, I don't think he would be Offering more calves if he didnt think otherwise. Glad he is a Considerate Dealer.He Has been well to deal with and even called me back the other day to let me know when they will be there.As He gets them from a dairy and resales.And even told me he will call and confirm that everything is on Schedule. Trying to do the best I can. First off, Love to raise animals. And have a real joy in Showing my Grandchildren the responsibility of life. For it is more for them . And Love the meat on the table. So I hope I got some Extra info to make this trip a successful one, and a Great success for the Grandkids.

Find another source for calves next time . Your buying from a middle man . you have no idea how far they were trucked or handled or if they were fed colostrum or not . Be it as it may the seller can tell you whatever you want to hear .

I agree with Kycrawler, up till now the entire thread only talked farmer/seller etc. giving me at least the impression that you were buying direct off the farm. Then in post #31 the word dealer appears, whole different ballgame now. Hope for the best, I'll continue to help....Topside

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I agree with that assesment myself. When we first made the deal A couple weeks ago, I was under the impression he was getting from a local dairy. As I traveled up there, Got to the farm He then goes into a lil detail about how he recieves them. ( i instantly had some ill feelins.) (Of coarse I do take the blame here, I should have investigated this Farther.Lesson learned !!! Hind site is 20/20.) As we were there lookin at what we had wanted to get, Another buyer was coming back for seconds.He said that he had bought several and had good success.( that set me a little more at ease.) And at this time they were feedin The calves Some had some scours and some not As i said in previous post The Calves didn't seem in to bad of shape.There was 2 or 3 that were down and they were workin wth them. Didn't think to much of it, for the 40 or so calves he was tendin to in the cold weather.I thought that with that many, its typical to have a few down.I went ahead and picked mine as they were eatin as that way I had time to look them over.They were all up And alert and willin to eat. The ones I got, ( i thought were pretty good calves) I trusted my judgement in pickin good calves. Now I'm into this commitment with money tied into it. I relize I could chaulk it up as a loss and move on.But I really beleive the Guy is being very truthful. As, He could of just told me,.... Sorry about that, But thats what happens when raising young calves And thats the price ya pay.....Instead He tells me, that is an uncommon Expereince with all the calves he has sold, And if I would be willin to make the drive again He would replace that which I lost....Thats Calves he could sell to someone else and make more money..... If he was just a taker, I dont beleive He would be given 5 Calves Away.He would sell to some other person and tell me to hit the road or I could buy more.

Sounds like he's on the up and up. Just hate thinking about all the loading and unloading etc. the calves have been though (stress). Not all folks are cheaters, I'd just rather see you purchase your calves direct from the diary. I'm picking up a full blooded small framed Jersey tomorrow and he will only be fed 2 pints in the morning and 2 pints in the evening, exactly the same amount they feed at the dairy. Doesn't sound like much, but a hungry calf is a healthy calf. Review my feeding recommendations I posted earlier in this thread. Topside

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Topside1, I would like your recomendation here. He said That they will be there Tuesday @ 7am. And I could come and get them right off the truck. (Which the distance and time of the truck arrival will really make it complicated for me.)But if that would be best, I could do. And here is the Question. Do ya think I would be better off to let him keep them for a day or so for a better time for pick up,And To let them recover??? Or would I be better off gettin them off the truck ??? Weather on the long forcast is lookin wet and 40ish degrees for tuesday.

Is there not a dairy or salebarn any closer? I would never consider putting newborns through an ordeal like that. BIG cattle get sick from a trip like that!

A lot of people knock sale barns but if you pick out the alert/active/healthy looking calves you will be in the clear. But then again we also have Draxxin on hand but it's usually not needed.

Everything in order now. Now waiting on little warmer weather before bringing the baby Calves

Good Idea! Keep us posted on progress. I've always been fond of those big brown eyes on a jersey calf and am right fond of them. I sure like the steaks as well!

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Francismilker

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" James 5:16