we went to pick up 1 and got 2

[6ncounting]

I bought a registerable Dexter bull calf, super sweet, 6 months old. The I saw the cutest dexter/jersey bull calf - looks like a jersey, and she was selling him for 200. I took him too How do I get my Dexter cow (either will do) to nurse the little guy? 1 has a calf around the same age and seems fine with it but the other does not want him nursing either of them The one I went for seems to have blended in nicely though. thoughts?

[randiliana]

Well, good luck with that. Getting a cow that has a calf to take another calf is a hard row to hoe. Can be done, but you are going to have to restrain the cow, and possibly hobble her to get her to take the calf. And, on top of that, it takes quite a cow to raise 2 calves. Chances are, if you do get the cow to accept the second calf, you will end up with 2 little runts come weaning time. Best to simply bottle feed the calf, rather than expect the cow to raise 2 calves. I know Dexter's are dual purpose, but she needs to be milking about 2 gallons to raise 2 calves.

[copperhead46]

I had one calf whos momma didn't have any milk, so I gave him to one of my Dexters as soon as she calved. I put her up and fed her and let the calf nurse when the cows baby was nursing. She didn't care for it, but tolerated him as long as she was eating. I just kept the calves up together and let her in 3 times a day to nurse them both. After the orphan got a little stronger and more aggressive, I turned them out together and still brought them in twice a day, to make sure the calf was getting his share. After another week or so, I would see the calves nursing at will. The orphan learns real quick to nurse when the other calf does so that he doesn't get kicked away. Both were good stout calves and in no way were they stunted or small. These cattle were all Dexters.
P.J.