Our First Bottle Calves - List of Must Haves

HandyDandyAcres · #1 06/02/14, 03:13 PM

We are getting 3 calves this week, they will be 3-5 days old when we get them. The guy we are getting them from gets them from a dairy coop, so he can't guarantee they have had colostrum, but has been getting these calves for years and has not had an issue so believes they do before he gets them. We have a list together of supplies we will need over the next couple of months and want to make sure we have not forgotten anything and get any advice you can offer.

-Bottles & nipples
-Milk replacer ( medicated or not??)
-Electrolytes
-Vaccinations - what do you recommend? We are checking with a local cow owning friend to see what he recommends for our area, but what all do you like to give immediately when they get home?
-Straw and blankets - shouldn't need the blankets in June in our barn, but just in case
-water bucket
-alfalfa
-calf pellets
-sweet feed
-salt and minerals
-bands for castrating the boys

Thanks! We are so excited :-)

HDAcres

HandyDandyAcres · #2 06/02/14, 03:15 PM

Oh, almost forgot to mention...2 Jerseys and 1 beef/dairy cross. Either Angus/Holstein or Shorthorn/Holstein.

HDAcres

SpaceCadet12364 · #3 06/02/14, 03:44 PM

-Bottles & nipples ok
-Milk replacer milk based not soy (Kent med. what we use)
-Electrolytes keep couple days worth on hand
-Vaccinations - not until weaned.
-Straw or other bedding keep clean
-water bucket clean every couple of days
-alfalfa not until weaned or you will regret it.
-calf pellets we like kent calf starter softer (easier to eat)
-sweet feed after weaned
-salt and minerals
-bands for castrating the boys do it while small as soon as they come of the trailer or sooner.

HandyDandyAcres · #4 06/02/14, 07:04 PM

What gauge needles and what size syringes?

kycountry · #5 06/02/14, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandyDandyAcres

We are getting 3 calves this week, they will be 3-5 days old when we get them. The guy we are getting them from gets them from a dairy coop, so he can't guarantee they have had colostrum, but has been getting these calves for years and has not had an issue so believes they do before he gets them. We have a list together of supplies we will need over the next couple of months and want to make sure we have not forgotten anything and get any advice you can offer.

-Bottles & nipples
-Milk replacer ( medicated or not??)
-Electrolytes
-Vaccinations - what do you recommend? We are checking with a local cow owning friend to see what he recommends for our area, but what all do you like to give immediately when they get home?
-Straw and blankets - shouldn't need the blankets in June in our barn, but just in case
-water bucket
-alfalfa
-calf pellets
-sweet feed
-salt and minerals
-bands for castrating the boys

Thanks! We are so excited :-)

HDAcres

nipple brush
bleach for cleaning water bucket and other things..
Corid or other meds for the runs.. old barn dirt or dirt dobbers (spelling?) nests work too..
drench setup is handy if you do get one down..
leave the salts alone until weaned if your feeding good balanced feed. too much can cause the runs too..
a good thermometer....
thats all I can think of at the moment.. sure there is more though lol

G. Seddon · #6 06/03/14, 06:53 AM

The number of a good large animal vet should go at the top of your list, especially because they are your first bottle calves and may not have had colostrum (this part would concern me), but it sounds as though maybe they have?

I think you should contact a vet before you need their services so that you aren't left high and dry if you have an emergency.

We will all need to see photos of the new babies when you get them!!! Good luck!

65284 · #7 06/03/14, 10:02 AM

Strongly suggest you read the Sale barn/Bottle calves sticky at the top, read it several times, lots of good info there.

HandyDandyAcres · #8 06/03/14, 11:09 AM

I definitely did read that. It was a huge help in crafting a list! Awesome sticky. I feel like I have realistic expectations regarding success and potential difficulties after having read that.

HDAcres

jcjersey · #9 06/03/14, 04:25 PM

have a tube feeder, i second that! get some save a calf, blue ribbon electrolytes, kaopectin? its pink.. b complex, duramycin, probiotics (powder and paste) just to name a few. this is what all i have to fight scours.. i have three bottle calves as well.. our middle aged one is 2 weeks old and ive been fighting scours for 5 days now. and learning as I go!

kycountry · #10 06/03/14, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcjersey

have a tube feeder, i second that! get some save a calf, blue ribbon electrolytes, kaopectin? its pink.. b complex, duramycin, probiotics (powder and paste) just to name a few. this is what all i have to fight scours.. i have three bottle calves as well.. our middle aged one is 2 weeks old and ive been fighting scours for 5 days now. and learning as I go!

Go out and find a few dirt dobbers nests.. crush them up real fine and stuff about a half handful in its mouth.. then insert bottle..

HandyDandyAcres · #11 06/03/14, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the input everyone. We bought cd/tetanus, Inforce III, penicillin, LA200 and a 7 way vaccine at the suggestion of the guy we got them from. He suggested giving them most of these right away. Do you all agree?

They are eager eaters. The little black one, name is Angus, is almost annoying he's so feisty and vigorous. The jerseys ended up all spoken for so we got two Holsteins instead. A heifer named Filet and a bull soon to be steer named Brisket. Brisket is pretty feisty also and Filet is definitely the calmest of the three.

Everyone's input has been so helpful. Hopefully there's some more out there for this newbie.

I included pics as a bribe :-D

G. Seddon · #12 06/03/14, 06:10 PM

They are adorable! I'm sure the bottle baby people will speak up on vaccinating this young. I don't know except for Inforce 3, which I give to newborns. But I'm pretty certain that I wouldn't be giving them antibiotics unless they get sick.

HandyDandyAcres · #13 06/03/14, 09:53 PM

I didn't mention before, the heifer was dehorned already. No idea of she had any vaccinations when it happened. She does have a pinkish mark on her forehead. Don't know what that signified. Thought this tidbit might be relevant to the vaccination and medication portion of my questions.

G. Seddon · #14 06/04/14, 07:08 AM

Did you touch base with a cow vet yet? They'll be able to advise you on what to give and when for your area.

SpaceCadet12364 · #15 06/04/14, 09:28 AM

Did I read correctly You got a heifer in that deal? If so have her tested for being a free martin If not she is worth more to a dairy than beef. Here a dairy will pay almost 3000$ for a 13 month old breed-able Holstein heifer. Bottle heifers are 500+. So in my book it is worth the test cost. If she can not breed then eat. If you paid 150$ each or less you got a steal. GREAT LOOKING GROUP OF CALVES.

HandyDandyAcres · #16 06/04/14, 11:27 AM

Awesome! We only paid $100 a piece for the Holsteins. Is this testing something the Vet does? We are waiting for a call back about vaccines and to introduce ourselves to a large animal vet a friend got us in touch with.

G. Seddon · #17 06/04/14, 11:35 AM

Glad you're finding a vet to help you if you need it.

I think a free martin can be determined by a physical exam, as well as by a blood test.