bottle calf, is this normal?

[ugabulldog]

We got a Jersay calf when he was three days old, now 10 days old. I was holding the bottle for first week then bought a bottle holder. After bottle is empty, the calf tries to nurse me, my wife, the baby goat.... even though we push him away he continues for quite awhile. Is this normal? Thanks in advance.

[ozark_jewels]

Yes. Completely normal. If it will stand, they will suck on it.

[Oakshire_Farm]

I have calves that will suck on anything that they can get in there mouth! lol the dogs hate them! lol

[lasergrl]

yes, try going into a stall with 7!!!!!! Glad I am not a guy because that bumping is like a punch in the crotch

[gone-a-milkin]

LOL lasergrl! (agree...)

I would put that calf over onto drinking from a bucket, now that he's a big boy, 10 days old. cleaning bottles is a PITA, IMO.

[Cotton Picker]

Hi Ugabulldog,

As has already been pointed out, yes, it's is an activity that hand raised calves commonly engage in. The following is an interesting article on calf care.

http://www.rd1.com/web/content?in_se...9&in_page=5814

It states that calves need to feed at a slow pace. The convenience of rapid feeding to the human caretakers of the calf carries with it a negative health impact on the calf. The calf needs to suckle in order to produce the salivary enzymes necessary to digest the milk that it is ingesting.

The bucket idea IMHO, if started too early it can lead to digestive problems, caused by gulping air, drinking too quickly and almost no saliva production. I would leave him on a bottle for at least three weeks.

A word of caution about grouping calves. The penchant young calves have for sucking anything can be trouble. They will suck each other's ears, mouths, navel's, udders and testicles. It can lead to ruptures, hernias and in the case of heifers, blind quarters when they come fresh.

I advocate keeping calves separated from each other until they are completely bucket broke. After grouping them I would keep a weather eye out for calves sucking each other and isolate the offending calf post haste.

Happy Trails