My beginners luck has run out!

nchobbyfarm · #1 03/17/14, 02:35 PM

My first 3 first time heifers calved with no problems and are great mothers. The fourth, not so much. She had her calf early this morning. My wife called and said I better come home. She would not let him nurse. I came home and moved them from the 1/2 acre pen into the corral which is about 30 x 40. She still would kick the calf every time he tried to nurse. So three neighbors were kind enough to help and we tied her to the corral post and forced her to stand and let him nurse until his belly was full. I am parked to the side watching to see if she lets him nurse this afternoon before I make her again this evening. I just had to vent.

G. Seddon · #2 03/17/14, 03:23 PM

After the hormones subside, she should (hopefully) accept the calf. If her udder is engorged, it may be painful when the calf tries to nurse. Heifers sometimes have problems because this is all new to them. Don't give up on her, but take care to keep yourself safe.

nchobbyfarm · #3 03/17/14, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. Seddon

After the hormones subside, she should (hopefully) accept the calf. If her udder is engorged, it may be painful when the calf tries to nurse. Heifers sometimes have problems because this is all new to them. Don't give up on her, but take care to keep yourself safe.

Her udder was engorged. But after tying her and letting the calf nurse they came down. She still will not let it nurse and every time he gets up, she uses her nose to push around. Never letting him even get to her shoulder. He just keeps going to the corner and lying down. It is raining and 35 degrees.

Now he can't even lie down. She is just pushing him around the front end of the corral back and forth. Not ramming but pushing. I am starting to wonder when I say enough and take him away. But I surely hate to do that!

G. Seddon · #4 03/17/14, 04:25 PM

Do you have a bedded stall under cover to keep them out of the rain?

I'd keep tying her a few more times to let him nurse. I know it's time consuming and difficult, but once they catch on, it's worth it. He especially needs that colostrum!

nchobbyfarm · #5 03/17/14, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. Seddon

Do you have a bedded stall under cover to keep them out of the rain?

I'd keep tying her a few more times to let him nurse. I know it's time consuming and difficult, but once they catch on, it's worth it. He especially needs that colostrum!

I am going to tie her again. I was waiting until 6pm. I had the cows at a rented pasture down the road. There is a metal carport as part of the corral at the back. Every time I get the calf up and nudge him under the carport, she pushes him around unil he comes back to the front corner. He back there layin in the rain. Frustrating!!!

Chief Cook · #6 03/17/14, 04:40 PM

Sure hope this works its self out. Good luck and stay safe.

nchobbyfarm · #7 03/17/14, 08:20 PM

We tied her again and began letting the calf nurse. My helper left her to much slack on the rope we used around her middle so she moved forward a foot or so then pulled backwards to the end of the halter rope and went down. We released the body rope and got her back on her feet and started over. We then got the calf a belly full using both sides. Just as I was about to move the calf to release mom, she just collapsed drawing the halter rope tight. It took several minutes to work the rope loose to release her.

I very much appreciate the advice to keep up tying her several times a day but I work a full time job and that is impossible. I am leaving them in the corral tonight and will pray that tomorrow morning brings mother around. If not, a friend is available to give him a bottle in the morning and lunchtime. I will then bring him to the house tomorrow after work where my wife and I can bottle feed him.

I returned just before dark to check on them and both mother and calf where lying together under the shelter. We will see if that is a good beginning in the morning.

Thanks to all for the advice and encouraging words. Maybe tomorrow will be brighter.

nchobbyfarm · #8 03/18/14, 07:56 AM

Prayers have been answered. This morning she is allowing him to nurse in short bursts. I hope he is getting a little each time because we have had freezing rain all night and this am. My neighbor will keep monitoring until I get off work to take over. Hopefully he is getting enough. Time will tell.

Wanda · #9 03/18/14, 08:18 AM

If the calf got dried off and a full belly, they are pretty persistent when they are hungry. The trick is keeping them in a small enough area that the heifer can not leave.When you said she was nosing the calf I figured she would take it fairly quickly.

notwyse · #10 03/18/14, 08:20 AM

Cows sheep and goats identify their young by smell. Mom takes a whiff of the calves butt when it attempts to suck. This is part of why when you force the mom to feed the baby her own milk it becomes easier....baby begins to smell of herself and triggers mom instinct.

G. Seddon · #11 03/18/14, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nchobbyfarm

Prayers have been answered. This morning she is allowing him to nurse in short bursts. I hope he is getting a little each time because we have had freezing rain all night and this am. My neighbor will keep monitoring until I get off work to take over. Hopefully he is getting enough. Time will tell.

This is good news, along with them lying together in the shelter!!!! I think he'll persist and she'll get used to the idea and mother him. Yay! Anybody who has experienced this difficulty is ecstatic when it all turns around.

nduetime · #12 03/18/14, 09:46 AM

praying everything turns around as it sounds like it is. Nothing worse than being stuck at a full-time job when you have a full-time job at home as well and things you are worrying about.

nchobbyfarm · #13 03/23/14, 07:09 AM

Calf is growing like a weed. Mom is extremely attentive. You would never know we had any trouble at all. You would think she was a mom of the year candidate from the start. They are back in with the herd and life is great. Monday I was making plans to cull her immediately, now i think I better keep her. She is doing that good. Thanks again to all for the advice and support!

65284 · #14 03/27/14, 05:00 PM

You involvement was good since it was cold and raining. i usually put mine in a small space and leave them alone when I have a reluctant new momma cow. They have always worked it out themselves, never lost a calf because of this.

nchobbyfarm · #15 06/05/14, 10:23 PM

Update for those interested.

This mother is still wonderful but I think she knew something was wrong from the very beginning. The calf is nursing but he has a neurological problem. When he stands from lying on the ground, he never stretches. He will walk away about 30 feet then stop if you do not push him. His rear then sags to one side and he lowers his head. I have brought 5 different friends that have had cows to view him and all have said to cull him and the mother. I will let him get a little bigger then hope to capitalize on the currently high prices. He is eating and growing but is much slower than the other cows.

idigbeets · #16 06/06/14, 05:43 AM

Sorry to hear your calf is a dud. I'd ship them both as a pair ASAP and keep an eye out for replacement cow. I've bottle raised and had cows nurse a few duds, they will rarely grow out to a normal slaughter weight.

DamnearaFarm · #17 06/06/14, 03:38 PM

No way would I ship the cow.....she's a first timer, right?

nchobbyfarm · #18 06/06/14, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamnearaFarm

No way would I ship the cow.....she's a first timer, right?

Yes she is a first timer. But her teats were extremely enlarged or engorged prior to birth and from my research, they will likely be larger next time. Between that causing nursing difficulty and not knowing what caused the calf's problems, I will be selling both.

redhead89 · #19 06/07/14, 11:50 PM

Aww that's sad about the calf. Keep us updated about whether you decide to keep the mum or not.

nchobbyfarm · #20 06/16/14, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhead89

Aww that's sad about the calf. Keep us updated about whether you decide to keep the mum or not.

I sold them both last Thursday. Mom weighed 812 and brought 1.13/pound.

Calf weighed 176 and brought .25/pound.

I guess someone figured as high as prices are, they might take a chance on him. I hope they are successful. I would hate for them to lose out but it was beyond my abilities. Mom did ok. I wish she would have weighed more but that calf had her pulled down.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.