Heifer calved with no milk

Long Croft Farming

Member

Location

North Derbyshire

• Feb 23, 2017

• #1

Had a beef heifer calve two days ago, and I was aware a week or so before she calved that she wasn't bagging up, teats are there and that's about it. She's in very good condition and had a good strong bull calf. I had to bottle some colostrum into calf and have been feeding him milk replacer since, he suckles her but there's just nothing there. Jabbed her with oxytocin last night to encourage milk let down but don't think there's anything to let down!
If she had some bag, I'd be a bit more optimistic that she might come to some milk.
How common is this? Anything else I could try?
TIA

 

Northeastfarmer

Member

Location

Cleveland

• Feb 23, 2017

• #2

Was the heifer on ad lib barley?

 

L

Lazy Eric

Member

• Feb 23, 2017

• #3

I had one like that last year, jabbed it for a week still nothing. Bought it as an incalf heifer so the vendor replaced it for us.. sorry no help.

 

Sharpy

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Ardrossan Ayrshire

• Feb 24, 2017

• #4

Have a cow which does this, milk comes after about a week, but not enough. Need to be gone. But Dad likes her. Nuff said.

Probably wait and see, if milk doesn't come soon bucket the calf and cull the cow.

 

Long Croft Farming

Member

Location

North Derbyshire

• Feb 24, 2017

• #5

Northeastfarmer said:

Was the heifer on ad lib barley?

Click to expand...

nope, just silage and straw

 

Chasingmytail

Member

Location

Newport, SE Wales

• Feb 24, 2017

• #6

Lazy Eric said:

I had one like that last year, jabbed it for a week still nothing. Bought it as an incalf heifer so the vendor replaced it for us.. sorry no help.

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Same problem last year with an AA x shorthorn heifer vet said nothing you can do. Sadly we lost the calf due to us not knowing at the time. The calf missed out for too long and ended up with picking something up and later died. Sent the heifer off to market as a store.

Ours was grass fed its just one of those things in nature. Heifer in good condition no issues.

Better bucket feeding than stressing over it.

 

I

Its a hard life

New Member

• Jan 30, 2019

• #7

Any advantage leaving the calf on the heifer and supplementing once or twice daily?

I had a heifer calve with no bag, it's Day 3 now. Calf is peeing so getting something but persistently suckling.... the calf looks bright.

 

W

Weasel

Member

Location

in the hills

• Jan 30, 2019

• #8

Its a hard life said:

Any advantage leaving the calf on the heifer and supplementing once or twice daily?

I had a heifer calve with no bag, it's Day 3 now. Calf is peeing so getting something but persistently suckling.... the calf looks bright.

Click to expand...

The calf sooking might encourage her to put milk on, seen it before

 

W

Weasel

Member

Location

in the hills

• Jan 30, 2019

• #9

Long Croft Farming said:

Had a beef heifer calve two days ago, and I was aware a week or so before she calved that she wasn't bagging up, teats are there and that's about it. She's in very good condition and had a good strong bull calf. I had to bottle some colostrum into calf and have been feeding him milk replacer since, he suckles her but there's just nothing there. Jabbed her with oxytocin last night to encourage milk let down but don't think there's anything to let down!
If she had some bag, I'd be a bit more optimistic that she might come to some milk.
How common is this? Anything else I could try?
TIA

Click to expand...

What breed is she?

 

Matt

Member

Location

herefordshire, uk

• Jan 30, 2019

• #10

Soya will help with udder. But if they got poor udder don't know if you can improve it.

 

W

Weasel

Member

Location

in the hills

• Jan 30, 2019

• #11

Matt said:

Soya will help with udder. But if they got poor udder don't know if you can improve it.

Click to expand...

The Vegans have eaten all that.

 

Samcowman

Member

Mixed Farmer

Location

Cornwall

• Jan 30, 2019

• #12

Sounds like you have tried. As has been said letting calf suck might stimulate her but then again she could just be no good. Wouldn’t be worth breeding from again but you probably know that already.

 

I

Its a hard life

New Member

• Feb 2, 2019

• #13

Yes I know that she is now on death row.
She was a very expensive yearling sold with a breeding guarantee, now aged 3, I presume this qualifies as failure, but the reputable seller has gone very quiet.

She is a Devon.
Good news: just put the other calved cow in with this cow and calf and the hungry tiny milk-deprived heifer is straight on those new teats and cleared her out! She is a fiesty little thing considering 20 kg at birth (I had to lift her onto the quad and that was easy).
But then, being just 20 kg is probably why she has managed on such little milk.

Thanks everyone.

 

A

Angus77

Member

Location

N.Ireland

• Feb 2, 2019

• #14

She has gone in calf, maintained a pregnancy and given birth so I would assume she has proved she is suitable for breeding. Unfortunately I dont believe a breeding guarantee would cover milk production, even in a dairy animal, but someone else on here may know more than me

 

I

Its a hard life

New Member

• Feb 3, 2019

• #15

Well as prime beef (I do have a customer for 36-40 month beef, she is worth perhaps £1400 so I am just out of pocket by her keep for 2 1/4 years!