Update on bottle calf that wouldn't suck

NeHomesteader · #1 09/01/12, 08:01 AM

Just wanted to update all of you that replied to my post about my bottle calf that wouldn't suck. We tubed this calf for 11 days and tried 'everything' within our power to make it suck and give it a chance. Hubby told me last night that this morning that was it,he was putting it down. So I finally got ahold of someone who'd try it on a cow and guess what????It sucked. So the calf is happy,the new owners are happy because they got the calf given to them and we are happy because it worked and we didn't have to make that choice. So it is all good.

cathleenc · #2 09/01/12, 09:43 AM

really good ending! thanks for the update.

Judy in IN · #3 09/01/12, 09:57 AM

Wonderful! I always hate to lose a calf.

myersfarm · #4 09/01/12, 11:03 AM

after reading your last post....I remembered something...what my wife did I had one other calf would not suck i tubed it for about 3 or 4 days.....my wife went to feed it for me and her big coat cover the head of the calf as she bend over..that calf started BUTTING LOOKING FOR THE NIPPLE LIKE CRAZY...she put it in its mouth and it sucked from then on only if you covered his EYES...for a week then it went on to the milk bar......We now cover the eyes of ones that do not want to suck and they catch ...as I said out of 90 at a time you learn things

Sorry I forgot to tell you about this little trick that worked for me but I have had one that took 2 weeks no matter what I did

ozark_jewels · #5 09/01/12, 11:10 AM

Myersfarm, it never occurred to me as it wasn't goats I was thinking of, but we do this with stubborn goat kids sometimes too.

myersfarm · #6 09/01/12, 11:12 AM

I think it was my ALLTIMERS kicking in
why I forgot

NeHomesteader · #7 09/01/12, 12:18 PM

That is so good to know. I would have never thought of doing that. I guess it is one thing I didn't try that if it ever happens again,we will do. Out of all the calves we feed by bottle,close to 20 a year, this is the first time it has went on this long. I'm just glad that it has a new momma and we are all happy. Thanks for the GREAT information and help everyone.

G. Seddon · #8 09/01/12, 05:12 PM

VERY happy to read the outcome! I think we all learned something from your thread!