how long does a calf's critical vulnerable period last?

[cathleenc]

wondering when you consider a calf safely through it's early vulnerable period and into more stable health? As in - 'how long do I hold my breath' sort of a question? To what age or weight or development stage do you watch very closely before easing up and trusting that things are going well?

our calf will be a week tomorrow and seems to be absolutely thriving. I'm wondering when I relax a bit about worrying and watching.

thanks
Cathy

[topside1]

Three weeks is when I begin to relax.

[haypoint]

I agree, three weeks, IF all has gone well from day one. If you've had a problem along the way, the "looking for a way to die" period is extended.

[Ronney]

If it's a cow reared calf I don't worry at all - the cow can, and usually does, an excellent job of rearing her calf. Barring accidents or some genetic fault that manifests itself somewhere down the track, you would be extremely unlucky to have problems.

A hand reared calf can be a little different but I don't worry about them too much either as I'm seeing them at least twice daily for anything up to two hours at a time while I'm milking the cows so it's not difficult to pick up quickly when something isn't right.

So relax, don't worry until there is something to worry about and enjoy your calf. If your calf is thriving now, there is no reason to think it won't continue to do so.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[cathleenc]

thanks! the cow returned home to her dairy at the end of day 2 - the little guy stayed here. He looks so vibrant and brimming with health I can't imagine anything changing but always good to know. I just wish he'd get over butting me in the crotch......

[copperhead46]

I"ve got to agree with the 3 week period. They seem to be pretty well adjusted by then and pretty well on the way to making it. I think it's because they are just stronger by then, so that a case of scours doesn't mean a death sentence to them. Usually they are trying to eat some grain and grass by then too, that helps. As for the butting and pushing, thats gonna go on till they are finally weaned, just be prepared!!
P.J.

[glenn amolenaar]

I'll add warm weather 3 weeks, cold or damp until they are weaned from bottle usually at 8 weeks.

Glenn

[myersfarm]

I have trouble with bottle calfs on day 3 and day 10, if I get by that I very selbom have trouble with scours......if I get by 60 days I seldom have trouble with pnemoina but with the weather this year nobody is safe weather 80 degrees one day 30 degrees that night then 75 the next day then 25 that night .... will get anybody in trouble at any age or size

also this is a man that lose 2 heifers yesterday at 450 pounds in a open field laying side by side think it was lighting but somebody could have shot them could not find any holes but I have shot deer and could not find the hole till I dressed them


tjm

[Ronney]

Originally Posted by myersfarm

...... and also this is a man that lose 2 heifers yesterday at 450 pounds in a open field laying side by side think it was lighting but somebody could have shot them could not find any holes but I have shot deer and could not find the hole till I dressed them
tjm

We've had some unseasonable and strange weather here over the last few days and yesterday a freak hail storm, thunder and lightning hit further down the island. Dairy farmer went to get his cows in for evening milking and found four of them laying side by side and very dead. Looked very strange but they had been hit by lightning.

Cheers,
Ronnie