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02/10/12, 05:47 PM
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Saanen & Boer Breeder
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: IN
Posts: 1,387
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How to keep calves from sucking on each other?
For all of you, what age is it that bottle calves aren't so apt to suck on each others navels? I just brought two home between 4 and 7 days old and they want to suck on each others navals and I know that is bad for them so separated them out but can't keep them apart all the time as of space constraints. I know there are those rings but don't know anything about them and would rather not unless absolutely necessary.
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02/10/12, 06:09 PM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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they will suck on each other as long as they are on the bottle.....you need to let them get over the suck reflex....by leaving the bottle in the pen for 30 minutes or by tieing up a part for 30 minutes or different pens for 30 just after the milk feeding some say putting them on a bucket instead of bottle helps
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02/10/12, 07:15 PM
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Family Jersey Dairy
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,773
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I never leave calves in the same pen, they are penned togeather only after weaning. > Thanks Marc
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Our Diversified Stock Portfolio: cows and calves, alpacas, horses, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, cats ... and a couple of dogs... 
http://springvalleyfarm.4mg.com
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02/10/12, 10:29 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Central WI
Posts: 5,389
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put em in individual hutches
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Deja Moo; The feeling I've heard this bull before.
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02/10/12, 10:58 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MO
Posts: 10,683
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We keep them divided into individual pens too, until they are weaned.
They are right next to eachother, so they are not lonely. 
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Cows may not be smarter than People, but some cows are smarter than some people.
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02/11/12, 04:52 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: PA
Posts: 50
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We keep our calves separate until they are around three-months-old. We feed them milk in buckets and begin weaning at six weeks of age. It will take them awhile to adjust to not getting milk so the sucking on each other drive will still be there. If they are heifers calves, it is even more important that they are beyond sucking on each other. If heifers are sucking on others udders, you will most likely have udder troubles later on.
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02/11/12, 05:28 PM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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as I have done over 10 years now...I keep heifers in pens of 5 all the years...rasied as few as 50 most as 270 in a 6 months.....I leave the milk bars in pens all the time the calfs suck on the bars instead of the calfs......over the years only had a few with bad udders..
...but you can not let the heifers suck on each other either or they will ruin the udder as stated...
I am saying leaving the calfs something to suck on will stop it since you only have 2 two bottles left in pen for 30 minutes will fix it
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02/11/12, 07:50 PM
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Saanen & Boer Breeder
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: IN
Posts: 1,387
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Where is a good place to get a milk bar? I am sure they can be made and if there is a good plan let me have it but....sometimes it is just easier for me to just try to find a cheap place to buy one. LOL!
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02/11/12, 09:34 PM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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they run $100 new and I have found them for $60...but just leaving the bottles in there for a hour I am sure will stop the sucking on each other.....or switch them to drink from a bucket...
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02/11/12, 09:47 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Idaho Panhandle
Posts: 997
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what I did, probably a bad idea, but it worked for us... we got a bucket or tub of that molasses lick stuff, the solid stuff, and put it in there after feeding them their milk. then they would drink their milk and after that they would go for the molasses tub. kept them from the sucking thing.
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02/11/12, 09:54 PM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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Boundary I think that is a good idea I feed mine the lick stuff called MIX 30
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02/11/12, 10:05 PM
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Saanen & Boer Breeder
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: IN
Posts: 1,387
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Not a bad idea. I noticed one of these has took to sucking on the metal gate rung. Hope I don't have a "Christmas Story" episode on my hands! LOL!
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02/11/12, 10:18 PM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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I never said to use a BOTTLE HOLDER to leave the bottle in pen for 30 to 1 hour
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02/11/12, 11:34 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MO
Posts: 10,683
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myersfarm
I never said to use a BOTTLE HOLDER to leave the bottle in pen for 30 to 1 hour
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Oh? You mean you dont have to just stand there and hold it for a whole hour til they get tired of it? 
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Cows may not be smarter than People, but some cows are smarter than some people.
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02/12/12, 03:58 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,558
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Quote:
Originally Posted by boundarybunnyco
what I did, probably a bad idea, but it worked for us... we got a bucket or tub of that molasses lick stuff, the solid stuff, and put it in there after feeding them their milk. then they would drink their milk and after that they would go for the molasses tub. kept them from the sucking thing.
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Your on to it 
I start my calves on meal from the word go. They are also pasture reared as opposed to penned. As soon as they have finished their milk, they get given their meal and by the time they have got through that they have forgotten about sucking and wander off out into the paddock to experiment with grass. I'm sure a molasses lick would have exactly the same benefit and is good for the calf.
A few calves may start the mutual sucking business before they've got the hang of the meal but it doesn't last for long.
Cheers,
Ronnie
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02/12/12, 07:24 AM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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no us a bottle holder they are cheap $3 to $5 anywere or if you are busy use a teen ager
Quote:
Originally Posted by gone-a-milkin
Oh? You mean you dont have to just stand there and hold it for a whole hour til they get tired of it? |
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02/12/12, 07:40 AM
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Retired Coastie
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Monterey, Tennessee
Posts: 4,651
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Example (pic)
Let them suck away and then just leave the bar in the pen. Pick it up later, they will suck the nipple till they are satisfied...Topside
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TOPSIDE FARMS
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02/12/12, 11:13 AM
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Saanen & Boer Breeder
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: IN
Posts: 1,387
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Awesome! Now I know what I'll be buying next!! Seems I always see something else I need. LOL!
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02/12/12, 11:58 AM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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Look at the sale barn calf thread and you can see my milkbars in each pen
that auto correct on my does not have milkbar in it
Last edited by myersfarm; 02/12/12 at 01:22 PM.
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02/12/12, 12:02 PM
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Dariy Calf Raiser
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: missouri
Posts: 2,004
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I wash out the milkbars by after they drink the milk pour in a quart of water if you have 5 calfs on it and let them suck that down and clean out the nipples
Last edited by myersfarm; 02/12/12 at 01:23 PM.
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