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I have a calf I am having to share feeding responsibilities with the cow. She is a Holstein about 18 years old. Last year she raised a calf OK, this year she just doesn't seem to have enough milk to satisfy the calf. When the calf was still shaky (wobbly legged) after ten days old I took it into the vet. He said it wasn't getting enough milk. He was getting enough from the cow to satisfy the hunger pangs and thus didn't want to take the milk replacer like he should. He recommend a three day program of tubing electrolite in the morning and milk replacer in the evening. Calf is off the cow for good so I can monitor intake.
Now, I was squeemish about sticking a tube down the calf's throat so he walked me through it. Really nothing to it. It is a metal tube with a bulb on the throat end. The bulb keeps it from going down the windpipe. Once inside the calf, the plastic bag-type bottle empties by gravity.
They policy was to loan out the tube/bottle with a deposit. I just went ahead and bought it to have on hand in the future.
If I can now tube a calf, anyone can.
Ken S. in WC TN
Now, I was squeemish about sticking a tube down the calf's throat so he walked me through it. Really nothing to it. It is a metal tube with a bulb on the throat end. The bulb keeps it from going down the windpipe. Once inside the calf, the plastic bag-type bottle empties by gravity.
They policy was to loan out the tube/bottle with a deposit. I just went ahead and bought it to have on hand in the future.
If I can now tube a calf, anyone can.
Ken S. in WC TN