baby calf to feed

[jamala]

Our neighbor, who is a big time cattle man, called today and said. "I have a baby calf, less than 2 weeks old and momma cow is not going to make it, do your kids want it to feed?" He doesn't want to fool with a baby calf. Well Heck yes we will take him. We went and got him this afternoon and fed him a bottle of calf milk. He did really well once he figured out what was in the bottle. BUT, his hair is falling out in all over his body, what could be causing this? My friend had been forcing momma cow to get up and let baby nurse once a day but she was giving little milk. Any ideas what is going on with his hair, he is a pretty little black bull calf. I am taking a guess that it could be stress/malnutrition maybe?

[topside1]

Very confusing, but a photo would help...Topside

[jamala]

Topside, I will try to get a pic in the morning to post. It is just little "clumps" of hair missing on different spots of his body. I just talked to my daddy and he is going to check him in the morning too. He thinks it may be lice or something.

The momma cow was fine except for a mild case of rot foot before she had the calf and then after the calf was born she got down and has gotten worse and worse.

[Cheryl aka JM]

without seeing it I'm gonna guess maybe ringworm? It's bad to jumping on stressed animals and it sounds like this baby and his momma may have been pretty badly stressed. And if the rancher had to force momma to stand up once a day to feed the baby I'm guessing hygene on a cow not standing voluntarilly may be a little lacking.

[topside1]

Still slightly confused on who is really feeding the calf, but it really doesn't matter. Forget about the hair loss and just keep the calf healthy and happy. Once things calm down treat the calf for the hair loss....Enjoy the little bull, don't overfeed...Topside

[jamala]

Thanks everyone, My daddy checked the little man out this morning and he said the skin/hair looks good. He thinks the stress and the little guy rubbing on momma to get her up may have made the hair fall out. Momma cow did not make it, died a little while after we picked up the calf. He ate really well this morning. We are giving him a bottle in the morning and one in the evening. And we have fresh water in his pen if he wants it.

[mozarkian]

He is probably old enough to start nibbling on calf starter or sweet grain too. Just let him suck your finger for a minute then poke a little of the feed in his mouth, won't take long for him to figure it out.

[jamala]

Thanks everyone, just wanted to update you. "Disney--(my 5 year old named him)" is doing great. He takes 2 bottles a day and we started him on a little sweet feed today. He prefers the bottle to the sweet feed but we are taking it slow. Thanks for your advice.