Bottle calf experience

[longhorngal]

Well, I'm trying to figure out what I've learned from the baby calf I got last week that died last night. My husband wants to get another one right away but I would like to come away from this one knowing where I screwed up or if it couldn't have been avoided.

So, I got him at 4 days old. Put him in a clean stall with hay for bedding, it faces the south and is open on the south side.
First day he didn't eat but they dairy farmer said he had just eaten (was in with a nurse cow) and not to be surprised if he didn't eat.
Next morning I gave him 1 qt of goat milk from my goat. Decided I would feed him 1 qt three times a day.
Milked my goat but she stepped in it so I tossed that out. I had some Ultra 24 by save-a-calf and fed him 1 qt of that at the next feeding and thought I would just keep him on that. He sucked really well, was alert and lively, had yellow poop that wasn't runny.
Fed him 1 qt again that night.
Next a.m. noticed really runny yellowish brown poop. Sunday so I didn't know what to do since the vet wasn't open. Fed him the same. Took his temp it was 102.8.
Next morning no better so went to the vet-they gave me endsorb 2 pills every 6 hours x 2 and Sustain III 2 tabs that day. Also told me to keep him on electrolytes about 1 1/2 pints every 4 hours for 24hours and no milk. Sucking weaker but still drinking until feeding that night at midnight really had to coax him along.
Yesterday, was still getting up in a.m. but head down breathing labored, gunk on nose, nostrils red inside. I got a pint of Milk replacer in him at 6 a.m and 9:30 a.m.
Called vet again and got Naxcel gave 2 ccs as I weight taped him at 96lbs.
Would not suck hardly at all. Got a tube feeder and with help from friend who is a vet tech placed it and gave him 1 pint. Did that 3 times with the last feeding at Midnight. At 5 am went to check and he was gone.
What could I have done differently?
I'm thinking it would have helped if I would have treated him for pneumonia earlier. Vet thought it was ecoli at first said I over fed. Does overfeeding lead to pneumonia?

[Gin64]

Im sorry you lost the baby. But sometimes this happens. It sounds like you tried just about everything . I would of maybe tried using pepto bismal. This sometime helps to bind them. But you have to catch the scours early for that to help. Good luck on the next one you raise.

[justaheifer]

Hi Longhorngal!
Sorry you lost your calf.

I don't want my very first post here to be insulting your vet, so if it sounds that way, I'm sorry!

I had an old vet tell me, the biggest mistake people make with calves, is using antibiotics when they are not needed and using them too much. Antibiotics kill off the good stomach flora, these must be replaced when ever antibiotics are used. He also told me to add the eletrolites to the milk, never take them off of the milk.

A change from cow milk, to goats milk, to milk replacer can cause them to get runny poops, not really an "illness", more of an upset tummy.

Personally, I would have tried adding eletrolites to the milk, maybe some pepto and really tried to stick to 1 kind of milk.

Also, I recently was feeding a calf 2qts, 3 times a day? I don't understand how your vet could say you were over feeding?

[agmantoo]

Are you positive you got the tube feeder in the correct place?

[LibertyWool]

Madsaw and topside1 gave me great advice to get Draxxin from the vet. I have three calves and one started with scours, then two and then two were coughing. So needless to say, they got sick over the weekend. I had to tube feed the smallest one twice before I could get Draxxin from the vet on Monday morning. Within 24 hours of the shot, all three were back eating and they have been doing great since. There was a follow up shot 1 week later. I also used Sulmet for the scours (same medication as the Sustain III), as I had it on hand.

I don't know if Draxxin would have saved your calf or not, but I was very impressed with how fast they responded to it. I also never stopped feeding milk replacer. I gave them electrolytes in between feedings. The majority of what I read (here and other places) said that it was important to keep getting some nutrients into them, and that seemed to make sense. Also, I am feeding 2 qt twice a day and mine were about 45-60 lbs each (didn't tape them, just picked them up).

So I'm no expert, but thought I should share my experience... I've been raising sheep for many years now, and this will be the second year with calves.

[topside1]

Longhorn don't beat yourself up to badly. Failure is a miserable feeling. Raising a farm bought or auction house bottle calf is tricky business. These little guys and gals don't come with how-to raise playbooks. Fragile as eggs, with stress being the number 1 killer of calves. At the same time, I feel nearly all healthy bought calves should thrive at anyone’s farm. The key to success is reading, reading, and hands on experiences. Each calf I raise is different and teaches me a lesson at least once. Little things such as frame size will make a difference in the amount of milk it receives; the point is that every calf is slightly different. Give yourself a couple of weeks off, regroup, take notes and press on with buying a new calf. Believe it or not, underfeeding (within reason) in the first few weeks creates a healthier vigorous calf. My opinion of course! There is no greater joy than watching calves you've bottle raised run through your pasture at antelope speed with tails pointing to the moon....Don't forget "fragile as eggs"....Topside

[copperhead46]

I'm sure sorry to hear about your calf. did you get him from the dairy?? I really think that switching the milk around might have started the stomach upset, then, downhill from there. If you get another one, you should just keep it on the goat milk, and I give them an Imodium tablet to help stop the scours, a baby can lose too much fluid way too fast. I have raised a boatload of them on goats, they seem to really thrive on it.
P.J.

[longhorngal]

Thanks, you guys have give me some good advice to think over. I don't think it helped him any to switch the milk around either . Yes, PJ, I got him from the dairy-he looked great when I got him. I'll probably see if he has another in a week or so, DH wants another one right away but he wasn't the one taking care of him and I'm tired!

[copperhead46]

I know what you mean, those calves are a bunch of work, and when they get sick the workload just doubles. You call me or e-mail when you get another one if I can help in any way.
P.J.

[NWMO]

Going through a similar experience with an orphaned calf, I know exactly what you mean with the frustrations of the experience. Mine survived and I have learned lots in the mean time. I too think the switch in milk makes a huge difference. I started with one milk replacer and bought the same brand again, but didn't realize one was "Supreme" and the other "Deluxe"......it made a difference. And truly, calf conditions can change at the "drop of a hat"......so if you have a gut feeling about something being "up".....you are probably correct. If you walk out with the bottle or milk bucket and the calf is not there to greet you, you should be concerned.

I also think the "isolation" of being penned up and not with the herd did not help our situation. I have since returned her to the "herd" of 8 others and she is much more active and rambunctious.

As others have said, take a break for a week or two and get back into it.

[longhorngal]

Yes, I will definitely feed only goat milk next time and in fact I'm getting another dairy goat Tuesday to make sure I'll have enough. From other people that I've talked to it seems pretty important to keep them on that if you can.

PJ I will sure call you if I seem to be getting in trouble with the next one so be prepared

[Madsaw]

A few things I would like to point out in some of the posts. First off Justaheifer, NEVER MIX ELECTROLYES WITH MILK OR MR. By doing this it will inhibit the milk or MR to curd in the calfs stomach. Also the proper us of drugs in calves now days is needed from time to time. Due to all the different strains and varations of bugs its hard to keep ahead of them.
Secondly, Naxcel, Exnel, and Exceede have no place on a farm in my opinion. The reason I say this is when you can treat a now before milking and still can put her in the bulk tank that milking. Them drugs are not very strong or good. Also when my vet gives me the option either us pinicllin or one of the 3 I mentioned. I will gladlly toss the milk any day when he says pencillin is still better then them 3. But you need to give more shoots and lose some milk.

Bob