How much milk to feed bottle calf?

[redgate]

Our calf was born this morning, and for lots of reasons, we have chosen to bottle feed. Everything I read seems to be based on large, full-sized calves. This heifer calf is out of a mid-sized (maybe 48" tall) jersey heifer and a lowline bull, and probably weighs about 40-45 lbs. How much should I aim to feed the first few days and then work up to? Everything I've read seems based on 90+ lb calves receiving 1/2 gallon milk/day at first, and working up to a 1- 1.5 gallon by the 3rd week. I'm assuming mine should be half of that? We are almost at a quart for today, but that doesn't seem like much.

FTR, she is on her mother's milk, just being bottled.

[kycountry]

Small jersey calves, we start at one half a bottle twice a day. We also don't force it to drink it all. There is a difference between the actions of a full calf and one not figured the bottle thing out yet. Sort of like a baby. They hold the nipple in their mouth, just don't suck.. they are full.. if they aren't wrapping their tongue around the nipple, they haven't figured it out, so keep trying.

I'd say start with 3/4 a quart twice a day, if it acts hungry twice in a row, up it to a quart. After 10 days or so, we started trying sweet calf feed and didn't up the milk much.

[redgate]

kycountry, you are right….she is clueless as to how to suck. Won't wrap her tongue, won't even try! Offering the bottle is a rodeo! I am having to force-feed her right now (with a large syringe as I don't have a tube feeder). It's working to keep her happy and healthy, but I'd really like to get her on the bottle. Any recommendations?

[kycountry]

We always straddle the calf and put one hand under its chin to pull it's head up. Other hand stuffs the bottle in. If it doesn't start sucking, squeeze its jaws closed and open, closed and open on the nipple.. they most usually figure it out pretty fast..

[redgate]

That is exactly what I've been doing (I've taught baby goats to bottle in the past), but it is not working AT ALL. So, due to her rough start yesterday, I fed her once in the middle of the night (6 oz). This morning, I brought mama cow in to milk and get calf interested. It worked, and calf immediately started instinctively walking toward mom's udder (which she has never nursed to our knowledge). After I milked the cow, I attempted to bottle the calf again--while mom was in the stall looking on, and again after I took mom back out to pasture. Not so much as an attempt. So I tried coating the nipple in honey, which I've heard an entice. She just wants it out! For the first time, I skipped her meal this morning. I didn't give her breakfast. I just know that she's really been hungry enough yet with all the force feeding. Hopefully she is strong enough now to handle that. We'll see.

[jwal10]

Make sure the calfs mouth stays warm and wet, sucking keeps the mouth from drying out and the juices flowing. Why not let the calf have a little after you get done, for a few days? Get the calf off to a good start....James

[kycrawler]

Leave the calf with the cow for 3-4 days to get him started good yo probably aren't going to use the colostrum milk anyway so why not let the calf have it

[redgate]

We had a nightmare this year trying to wean calves from cows with the set up. In order to prevent that problem with our dairy girl this year, we decided to bottle from the start so she could be moved out with the cows, but see us as the food source. We just don't have acreage for dividing up every age into different grazing areas. This will work much better for us.

This morning, she actually got a good latch on the bottle nipple several times, but wouldn't suck. I syringe fed her a bit for lunch so she didn't get too far behind. I've had goats fight it for several days and then just suddenly catch on, so hopefully she will do the same.

[G. Seddon]

Could Bo-Se help this calf nurse? Anyone know?

[redgate]

She sucked! She took a pint in her bottle this evening. I let her get a bit hungry today, and I'm sure prayer and timing worked in her favor as well. I think we're there!! YAY!!