calf sucking calf

[mary,tx]

Last time I brought home two calves, I said I wouldn't do it again because of this problem, but I did.

That little calf I had so much trouble getting to suck a bottle the first couple of days now won't stop sucking. I still have them separate most of the time, but like to let them out in the little field together in the afternoons. When I do, she follows the other around, trying to suck her navel. Other calf kicks at her, but she persists.

Today I brought home some cayenne pepper hot sauce and rubbed on the other's belly, hoping that would stop her, but she didn't notice.

So I hate to admit it, but I just don't have another idea. Does anyone else?

thanks
mary

[trbizwiz]

It wont hurt anything and they will stop when they are weened. It is just annoying.

[topside1]

Doing nothing would be my first choice, just don't let her suck the udder nipples. Anyway odds are the kicking will eventually frustrate her and the habit will end. Other things to try are:
Tie a few cotton (natural) ropes around the paddock for her to suck and chew on. Don't make the dangle ends to long.
Tie a bottle and nipple to suck on.
Small short chain even works.
Weaning ring would be my last choice.
This is where a milk bar really comes in handy. More than one calf and I'm filling the milkbar. Once the milk is finished the calves keep sucking on the hard milk bar nipples until they can't stand it anymore.
Others may disagree with my ideas but you are the owner, so the choice is yours...Topside

[mary,tx]

Thanks. I hadn't thought about giving her something else to suck on. As for them outgrowing it, that's what I hoped for the last time. I have two year old steers out front that I had this problem with and they did not outgrow it. The one that sucked on the other still does sometimes. It's disgusting. bleh.

[gone-a-milkin]

I personally would slap a weaning ring in there right now.
If she hasnt outgrown it yet and others in the herd are still doing it too?


They can do permanent damage to eachothers udders and also may continue to suck after freshening.

I have no experience with the milkbar/calfateria, but that might work.

[topside1]

Hi Mary. If you're feeding them separately then are you leaving them separated for a least an hour or more before you let them into the paddock. They really need to unwind after feeding. The milkbar is the best bet, they come in one nipple, then 5 nipple versions. More money I know. Think about the MyersFarm operation, all he uses is the milkbar and never has cross suckers. Just thought I'd mention it...Gone-a-milking is right on as usual...smile....Topside

[mary,tx]

Of course, though, there's not any "herd." I have two steers in a separate field that I raised as bottle babies, and they will be going as soon as the grass plays out again. I just don't have confidence that, once the habit is formed, it will go away, since it didn't with those two.

I've only had these a week and a half, and have only been turning them out together for a few days. So this is not something that has been going on for awhile.

I think you're right, Topside, that I need to leave them separated for longer after their bottles. I have been bottling them three times a day, and putting them out together after that second bottle. But I'm only waiting a few minutes to do it, while I collect eggs and such. I probably need to come back in for awhile, and go back later to put her out.

I'm not really interested right now in buying a milk bar, since I only raise a calf or two at a time, and have several bottles. For me, it's not hard to do it that way. Maybe a newer nipple on hers will help, so that she has to suck longer and harder getting that milk.

[topside1]

Mary I have one bottle baby right now, after he's fed he stays penned for at least 2 hours. If he's out earlier he will suck on my feeder steers or chase my goats. At the evening feeding he's fed and penned for the night...Topside

[mary,tx]

Mine is penned for the night, too, and just out for a few hours in the afternoon. I guess that's what I need to do, just leave her in longer after the second bottle. I really was hoping to work up to having her out all day.

Maybe in another week or so I will cut them back to two bottles a day, and that will work out.

Another reason I'm having her out for only a short period now is that I'm still taming her. I guess I just need to be patient with the process.

[topside1]

Mary I completely agree, cutting back to two bottles maybe your best choice. By feeding three times a day maybe amplifing the sucking instinct....Topside

[mary,tx]

Today I went back out a couple hours after the bottle to open the gate between them, and they did much better. Thanks.

[mary,tx]

I called the calves as I headed to the barn this evening, and by the time I got ready to bottle them, they were inside waiting for me. I'm being very happy with these two.

[topside1]

Mary I feed at 6am and let them out around 9am...You sound happy.

[mary,tx]

I am. Losing that last one was very disappointing, so it is really nice to have healthy ones to start with. One of these, the sucker, has been a little challenging as far as getting her started on the bottle, and getting her to come to me. The first time I let them out, I had heck trying to get them back in. So having them come in on their own when I called was another breakthrough. If I had gotten just the sucker, she would have been twice the challenge, because she follows lead of the mottle faced, who just seems to be either much smarter or much less wild.

I'm thinking tomorrow will be a good day to switch them to twice a day bottles, since I leave for church around noon.

[GaChris]

The four bull calves that I am raising would suck on each other after they finished thier milk.
My 9 year old son described it the best when he said "it's a big circle of ... YUCK!"
When they were weaned, it stopped. Thankfully!