My two bottle calves *seem* to be doing well. They are perky, walking and jumping, following me around, mooing and the whole bit. They have alfalfa hay available, but they aren't doing more than sniffing it. They are two weeks old and absolutely refuse (even when I shove it in their mouths) to eat grain, grain mixed with molasses, or anything. All they want is their bottles. But they'll DRINK anything you give them.
I have been giving them (worked up to it) 2 quarts of calf replacement milk twice a day, plus 2 quarts of water with electrolytes in it, and another quart of milk plus another quart of water to fill the bottle. I do this at intervals, four times a day - milk, then electrolytes, then milk, then water/milk. The temps are getting to -15 degrees at night, today's high was -5.
They are not shivering. They are playful and seem just fine. They are gaining weight. But all of my friends say they should be dead by now. Why? Because they have had liquid - I mean *water!* - diarrhea since they were a few days old. I talked to my vet who was also surprised, but chuckled and mumbled something about beginner's luck. I have been given a set of antibiotics to give them for three days in addition to what I've been doing (he said not to stop what I was doing).
So my question is this: why are they supposed to be dead? I have given extra fluids religiously and cared for them, changing bedding every other day. Seems to me that that's what we'd do for our children, too, right? Keep up the fluids. They are in a well protected, fully enclosed building. Is there something else I should be doing with them at this point? And why won't they take the grain, even mixed heavily with molasses? I understood they'd start eating that sweet stuff when they were a few days old. Could this be because they don't have Mom to set an example? Or is it because they really don't feel good with the diarrhea and the grains wouldn't help?
Obviously, I'm new to this and need all the help and advice I can get. I have never raised calves before, but have to start somewhere...
Please let me know if there is anythign else I should be doing - or if anyone knows what could be causing the horrid scours (man, that stinks!). Should the antibiotics take care of it? Seems like only three days worth isn't very much...
-Sarah
I have been giving them (worked up to it) 2 quarts of calf replacement milk twice a day, plus 2 quarts of water with electrolytes in it, and another quart of milk plus another quart of water to fill the bottle. I do this at intervals, four times a day - milk, then electrolytes, then milk, then water/milk. The temps are getting to -15 degrees at night, today's high was -5.
They are not shivering. They are playful and seem just fine. They are gaining weight. But all of my friends say they should be dead by now. Why? Because they have had liquid - I mean *water!* - diarrhea since they were a few days old. I talked to my vet who was also surprised, but chuckled and mumbled something about beginner's luck. I have been given a set of antibiotics to give them for three days in addition to what I've been doing (he said not to stop what I was doing).
So my question is this: why are they supposed to be dead? I have given extra fluids religiously and cared for them, changing bedding every other day. Seems to me that that's what we'd do for our children, too, right? Keep up the fluids. They are in a well protected, fully enclosed building. Is there something else I should be doing with them at this point? And why won't they take the grain, even mixed heavily with molasses? I understood they'd start eating that sweet stuff when they were a few days old. Could this be because they don't have Mom to set an example? Or is it because they really don't feel good with the diarrhea and the grains wouldn't help?
Obviously, I'm new to this and need all the help and advice I can get. I have never raised calves before, but have to start somewhere...
Please let me know if there is anythign else I should be doing - or if anyone knows what could be causing the horrid scours (man, that stinks!). Should the antibiotics take care of it? Seems like only three days worth isn't very much...
-Sarah
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