Any Brahma people out there???

[Kbell]

I have an approximately 3 week old baby that I got to raise on a bottle. Well, the guy I got him from said he wasn't taking to a bottle so he started tubing him. He kept him to see if he could get him nursing but to no avail, he still would not take it. I finally got him home and he still hasn't taken to the bottle, so I have been pouring it down him. I have had him now 3 days. I have tried everything I know. Last night, he was not wanting to take it but I kept on, and all of a sudden he got a hold of that bottle and went to sucking, and I praised Jesus because that was an answer to my prayers. He took about 2 pints of the milk replacer and 20 oz of Bounce Back, I didn't want to over feed him all at once. Well, I went back down about 3:30 am to give him some more and he wouldn't even attempt it. So I thought maybe he was still full from the last meal. So now today, I went to feed him around 8 am and nothing, not even a holding the nipple. I had to pour it down him again. He is so weak that when he lays down he can't get back up. I have to pick him up and stand him on his feet every time. I am at my wits end, I know it's only been three days, but I am so afraid I am going to lose him. I am not going to give up and pray he doesn't. I have read somewhere that if tubing to long of a time, the calf will not want to suck and wait for the tubing. I also had a guy tell me Brahma calves are not very smart, they give up easy. Even with their mother, if they dont find the teat, pretty quick the'll give up, and lay down and starve. I don't want my baby to die. Any ideas or advice will be greatly appreciated. Kim

[tinknal]

I think you need to go to the sick calf sticky and see if he is exhibiting any symptoms of disease. He could have a low grade infection of some kind. I would dose him with Pen. and sulfa just to be on the safe side. Wouldn't hurt to get some neomyicin done him also.

[bruce2288]

Forget the bottle and see if you can get him to drink the milk from a small bucket. you will have to dunk his mouth into the bucket. I have had calves that never got the hang of a nipple.

[copperhead46]

Brahma calves are the worse about not taking a bottle, sounds like the guy you got him from just wanted to unload him, quick. It's very hard to get one to survve once you've had to tube him, hoping you can get him to eat, but it doesn't sound good.