Heifer Butting Head Against Bottle?

[w.o.b.farm]

Hi there! I am brand new to the forums and recently aquired a lovely 7/8 jersey, 1/8 milking shorthorn heifer to raise up as a family milk cow. When I bottlefeed her, once she has finished her bottle she forcefully bumps the bottle (or me) with her nose and head. I know that this is the natural way for her to get her mamas milk to let down. So should I start punishing her for doing this when she is so young? She is 5 days old now. I know that I don't want her doing this when she is bigger, but can she make the connection that I am a human already? What would be the appropriate action? I apologize if this is a repeat question....

[tinknal]

IMO it's totally different behavior than playful or aggressive head butting. If you are concerned bucket break the calf.

[francismilker]

She's just acting natural. It's hard to break an instintive reaction.

[bknthesdle]

They grow out of it when you wean them! I have last year's bottle calf out in pasture. He just walks up and greets us. If you don't like it, you can make raspberry sounds and try shooing her away or introduce her to pellets so she's a bit distracted. Or don't even go in the pen when you feed her. Feed from the outside!

[lonelyfarmgirl]

You should do nothing. When she starts doing that she is running on instinct and nothing you do will make her stop. I protect myself from bottle calves by feeding them through a gate. They quit shortly after weaning.

[ErinP]

Originally Posted by tinknal

IMO it's totally different behavior than playful or aggressive head butting. If you are concerned bucket break the calf.

But hang onto that bucket!
It's annoying when they butt the bottle. It can be a MESS when they butt the bucket.

That said, I agree with the others. This is just an instinctive thing to stimulate let-down in the cow. Much like kittens who knead the cat, or babies who pet their mom.
Once she's weaned, you probably won't see it. (though she'll continue to chase you for a while, with high hopes! lol)

[juliemom26]

Our little bottle fed heifer is almost a month and she still butts me all the time. She especially likes my rear end as I am trying to leave (I guess it looks like a cow's udder ). I can be annoying, but I know it is just her instinct and don't worry too much about it. I just keep a good grip on the bottle.

Julie

[trbizwiz]

as a side note, get some probiotic from the farm store and give her 10 mls. Also keep pig scours meds on hand. Its the red stuff in the pump bottle. She will need 10 to 15 pumps 2 times per day for 3 days if she goes into scours. You will want to keep bounceback or some other electrolyte on hand as well. Most every bottle calf will scour, and these will pull one through the scours. I had one I was sure was not going to make it the other day. I gave him this regimine, and he met me standing and wagging this morning adn nursed 2 full qts of MR. Yesterday he had to be tubed. I dont like tubing, but I dont want to lose any calves either.

Heifer calves cost a pretty penny right now. You dont want to lose her. A tube and bottle could come in handy too. the probiotic will run $11 for a tube big enough for 6 calves or so, the pig scours stuff is about $15 and the bounceback is $10 for 4 lbs, the tube and bottle is about $10 as well. But if you run into a problem when the feed store is closed you'll be happy you have this stuff. If you dont need it and dont open it you can always return it and just use the money to buy feed or what ever.

Best of luck with your baby, they are fun to raise. I use the 5 nipple bucket for my bottle babbies, and I have had as many as 20 at a time. definately the way to go. HTey bump the bucket, but even 5 eating and bumping they havent bumped one off yet. If you dont over fill the bucket they wont splash any out either.