New bottle calf

[NWMO]

Lost a good momma cow yesterday. Calf is almost 3 weeks old. By the time I got it caught and penned last night, we were both tired. She had no interest in taking a bottle with the replacer......forced it multiple times.....along with changing nipples etc.....even tried a bucket with nipple. Gave up and left the bottle bucket over the gate for her and this morning, still no action toward the bottle. What next? She is very alert and mooing for the herd. Has water and the milk replacer in the bucket.....but just seems to have no desire to eat, which is very concerning.

Any ideas?

[copperhead46]

You'll just have to stay with it, she will be getting hungry soon. It's so hard to get a calf to take a bottle at her age, she might start nibbling on some grain. Any chance of getting her on a nurse cow??
Good luck with her..........
P.J.

[NWMO]

with electrolytes.....that seemed to get her a little more adjusted, and hungry........worked for another long period and finally took some electrolytes from the bucket with nipple........then have since gotten her to take some replacer from the bucket. She seems to be doing much better, so hopefully she is on track.

One more question.......during this process, she had what appeared to be a "green algea" like frothing from the mouth when I went out to check on her? What would that have been? Related to getting her digestive system back and running after going without milk for a while?

[topside1]

Maybe she's learning how to eat grass?