had a heifer calve ok on her own out in the field, thats the good bit then she just abandoned it didnt want to know? Got mother and calf into yard and mother into crush calf sucks all right, but mother still dosnt really want to mother it? Ive had it a few times over the years, most happens when you have a slight difficult calving with the heifer and have to help, but not when all happens naturally with no interference, whats others experiences its like trying to graft another calf on to it?
1ST TIME MOTHER DOSENT WANT HERE CALF?
- Thread starter bluebell
- Start date
had it here a few times some will eventually take to it but some will not even with perseverance those came good second calving
- Location
- North Suffolk
Patience really, keep making sure calf gets a feed and see if she takes it. We sometimes find though if you keep crushing the heifer the calf will get so it won't try on its own and just wait for you. Had a bit of success with penning them with another cow and calf, seems like they see the others getting on with it and it then clicks she wants a calf of her own. Appreciate this always isn't possible though
- Location
- sw scotland
Just keep going and she will either accept it as it gets stronger and wiser or get it on another cow if you have a dead calf.
Had one like that, eventually took calf away after 3 weeks and she was fine as second calver.
No different from a bliddy daft gimmer.
Had one like that, eventually took calf away after 3 weeks and she was fine as second calver.
No different from a bliddy daft gimmer.
Wow! You kept a cow to rear a calf for 3 weeks and then kept her again until she had her second? Why do some suckler farmers not make money?
and what should you do then kill her she had a calf and it is viable you still have to feed and maintain mothers and they come right second calver
- Location
- sw scotland
She had a calf, it just happened to be reared by another cow. It was the other cow that lost money. The money has already been spent rearing her and getting her in calf. She calved at 24 months and you could argue cost almost nothing to get in calf again next Spring as my silage costs are the same for 100 cows as 99 or even 95. She then went on to have another 8 calves.
Or I could have culled her for £800 and bought in a replacement with goodness knows what disease for £1300. That certainly does not make money.
Fair enough but you wouldn't want a herd of them. You took a chance she'd be alright the next time. I see it with dairy heifers too..they can be poor the 1st lactation but do well the next time. But behavior traits usually follow them. I have the odd one vicious at calving and they're vicious every calving. If she rejected the calf first time there was a good chance she'd do it the next time too.
Anything that needs attention like that at calving gets a black mark on its copybook.
Calf rejection is a strongly negative indicator for a long life!
to the OP
Same protocol as a ewe that's being an erse, or with a fostering.
Work at it
Keep the dog to hand - might stimulate maternal feelings
Don't leave the calf bumping away once it's fed - pen it so it can't annoy her, but where she can see and smell it.
Keep calm and patient.....that's the real toughy
Calf rejection is a strongly negative indicator for a long life!
to the OP
Same protocol as a ewe that's being an erse, or with a fostering.
Work at it
Keep the dog to hand - might stimulate maternal feelings
Don't leave the calf bumping away once it's fed - pen it so it can't annoy her, but where she can see and smell it.
Keep calm and patient.....that's the real toughy
seedman stains
Member
- Location
- lost in france
Had a heifer like that last year tried all ways( dog ,aftershave losing patience !) normally works out but she wouldnt have it at all, problem is it can eat into a bit of your time so once the calf was big enough it went down the road and she followed later Is it worth the risk keeping her for another go?
But thats the pleasure of keeping animals
But thats the pleasure of keeping animals
- Location
- Cheshire
That’s very generous of you! Anything here that won’t accept it’s young gets a one way trip on the lorry!
- Location
- sw scotland
I'm that kind of chap. A heifer I will give another chance especially if she has been off a good cow. Different if it was an older cow. But as I said above, keeping a heifer which has calved unaided but not bonded with the calf does not actually cost much extra. No second chances though.
- Location
- America's dairyland
Give her some magnesium mineral. more for crazy cows, not so much hesitant heifers, but nothing to lose. Hopefully a few days of her milk will make it smell better to her and she'll like it.