Calves not taking bottles

InvalidID · #1 08/26/11, 04:01 PM

We went out and picked up 3 Holstein bull calves this morning. Price was right so I figured why not. ($45 each ages from 1-3 weeks)

All have been on their mothers since birth and were separated this morning. I've never had a calf not take to a bottle before (In my whole 2 or so months of cattle raising...LOL) so I'm curious if they take awhile to adjust. They're a little jumpy, but that's to be expected.

I'm thinking it may be they just don't know what the bottle is. Maybe?

**gone-a-milkin** · #2 08/26/11, 04:04 PM

They have no idea what a bottle is.
You will have to get ahold of each one and forcibly put the bottle in their mouth.
As soon as they figure it out, you will be good as gold.

Be careful, they can kick pretty hard.

InvalidID · #3 08/26/11, 04:05 PM

I was afraid of that. LOL

farmergirl · #4 08/26/11, 04:08 PM

We had better luck feeding milk replacer to the dairy calves using flat-backed hanging buckets. They took right to it.

Ken Scharabok · #5 08/26/11, 04:31 PM

Staddle them with your legs so the face forward. Put bottle in mouth (may have to force it at first) and squeeze. Let them get a taste first. I use to put sugar and two raw eggs in with milk replacer. Once they got to a full bottle and wanted more, warm sugar water to fill them out.

Tubing isn't that hard, but get the tube and bottle from your local vet and, if possible, let them show you how to use it. If you stick it into their lungs they will literally drown.

mary,tx · #6 08/26/11, 04:50 PM

I had to do the straddle the neck and force the bottle in for the first few days with one of the calves I have now. Even then she wouldn't suck, but would swallow when a little trickled down. It was a really big relief when after a couple of days of that she finally started sucking, and again a day or two after that when she would take the bottle without being forced.

Any animal that has only nursed its dam will be reluctant to take a rubber nipple. They just have to learn that's where the milk is coming from now on.

InvalidID · #7 08/26/11, 04:54 PM

I cow whispered one of em to get electrolytes in him. Rubbed his head until he was almost asleep then kinda snuck the bottle in his mouth. Once he got a taste of it we were ok. The others were a little harder but they all took to it alright. Not quite the eaters the other calves were but good enough for me to rest easier.

They had a rough day and it's pretty hot here today (for us anyway) so I was worried about them not drinking. They haven't even touched the water trough yet. But all is well-ish now.

Thanks guys!