Hi. I've been lurking around for a few weeks. I have a new calf - two days old. This is my first calf ever. I've done the reading and research, but this is my first *practical* experience with a calf, and some things I just can't seem to find information on.
Is it normal for a calf to not want to stand up to nurse the bottle? He's only been here since last night and refused to even consider taking it - to the point of spitting it back out again, regardless of what I did. So I let it go last night and fed him first thing this morning, before dawn. I've made him get up and once up he seems fine and walks around following me. He always seems hungry, too. I understood he should only drink about 2 - 3 quarts of milk replacer a day, but he wants to drink two quarts at *each feeding!* I won't let him... Can too much give him scours? He had one bowel movement that was pretty runny this evening. How much milk is too much? He's from a dairy farm of holsteins and I guess I don't know what they bred the cow to, but he's black and white and about 40 - 50 pounds?
When should I get concerned about him not getting up on his own? Or am I past that already?
-Sarah
(majorly paranoid since I just lost a ewe to pregtox last week!)
Is it normal for a calf to not want to stand up to nurse the bottle? He's only been here since last night and refused to even consider taking it - to the point of spitting it back out again, regardless of what I did. So I let it go last night and fed him first thing this morning, before dawn. I've made him get up and once up he seems fine and walks around following me. He always seems hungry, too. I understood he should only drink about 2 - 3 quarts of milk replacer a day, but he wants to drink two quarts at *each feeding!* I won't let him... Can too much give him scours? He had one bowel movement that was pretty runny this evening. How much milk is too much? He's from a dairy farm of holsteins and I guess I don't know what they bred the cow to, but he's black and white and about 40 - 50 pounds?
When should I get concerned about him not getting up on his own? Or am I past that already?
-Sarah
(majorly paranoid since I just lost a ewe to pregtox last week!)