Newborn calf - do I need to do anything to him?

[cjb]

Our bull calf (born yesterday afternoon) is tiny and he sleeps alot. I assume this is normal? He also kind of shivers now and then. Its not that cold here (50's) right now so can't imagine that it is due to the weather. If I go in there and pet him, he pops right up and he's nursing fine. Do they shiver a bit?

Also, do you drench baby calves like you do baby goats?

[SHELBY]

Just like a human baby, they sleep alot for a little while.

Shivering actually helps warms them up, or so I've read,

Drench them for what?

[SHELBY]

About the shivering, think about it for a minute, it may not be that cold for you, but for the calf, he came from a 100+ degree enviroment not more than 24 hours ago,

[cjb]

I have a drench in a bottle that has pics of baby goats and calves on it. I think its just vitamins and probiotics to give them a good start.

[TSYORK]

That should be good for him. Sorry you didn't get a heifer, but think of that fine steak and hamburger you will be having in a few months.

[Tam319]

We give our calves 2 injections at birth - one of Vitamin A and D and one of Vitamin E and Selenium (we are in a deficient area). If he's been up and sucked he's likely got enough colostrum to give him a good start. Congrats on a healthy baby!

[topside1]

CJB, I have one that's 7 days old and shivers from time to time, but it's 34 degrees here....nothing to worry about. I band and burn around 1 month old...how about some pics.

[sammyd]

Never drenched or injected a newborn, although we are not in a slenium deficient area. I have read about that and would inject for that.
Other than dipping the navel with iodine we might help the cow by rubbing the calf down with some dry straw but that would be as far as we went.
Dry bedding and a draft free place to lie down. I've seen calves put out into hutches in below 0 weather almost as soon as they were dry without any problems.

[unioncreek]

If your cows have had salt with selenium in it you don't need to inject any.

Bobg

[Teacupliz]

Baby goats and calves shiver after eating it is part of digestion.
I give CDT about a wk before I band and burn horns. I have a bull calf right now who was born with big horn buds- he is almost a month old- I need to get busy and burn his horns- He is Brown swiss-
I have a couple jersey heifer calves that are over 2 months old and their buds are smaller- giave CDT last weekend- will get to burning-soon..
When it warms up around here- -20 wind chill. burrrrrrrr

[TSYORK]

Teacup,

Are you raising the Brown Swiss for the freezer?

[Teacupliz]

TSyork-
Yes, The Brown swiss will go in the freezer- He will be our 4th BS- 2 are ate- one on his way-
Liz

[TSYORK]

How are the taste of the b.s. versus other beef and dairy breeds?

[TSYORK]

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