Calf won't suck

[som farmer]

We had a calf that lost lost its mother. Mrs YL fed it and struggled to get it to suck , she presevered for 10 days before it would suck . She found it would only suck if she wore here water proofs she milks in. Obviously it was the cow smell of the water proofs that triggered some thing to make it suck . Until the day it was weaned it wouldnt drink unless mrs wore her water proofs
Be wary of some market calves that are reared on cows they can be difficult to get sucking

sometimes they never suck, you just have to verbally kill it every day, until you get a result. I have often wondered, if a calf is lack-lustre, or won't suck, whether it has been 'stepped' on, by it's mother, or her mates, and has internal damage. Some learn, some don't, some die, and others, live, often lacking the average 'group' weight.
It also gave me an answer, on a different matter, if we sell calves, at exeter, very young ones, take a cash hit, whereas older ones, sell better, salsibury, the other way round, but the bulk of calves, at salisbury, are spring, or autumn block, with a few between, both blocks, sell young, so presumably, buyers used to young calves, exeter, you don't really see to many 7-10 day, old calves, probably, because of the £ difference.

 

[steveR]

Good thread, and reminds me to "Just say No", when Herself points out that the calves in Drayton are cheap this week....

 

[wurzell1976]

sometimes they never suck, you just have to verbally kill it every day, until you get a result. I have often wondered, if a calf is lack-lustre, or won't suck, whether it has been 'stepped' on, by it's mother, or her mates, and has internal damage. Some learn, some don't, some die, and others, live, often lacking the average 'group' weight.
It also gave me an answer, on a different matter, if we sell calves, at exeter, very young ones, take a cash hit, whereas older ones, sell better, salsibury, the other way round, but the bulk of calves, at salisbury, are spring, or autumn block, with a few between, both blocks, sell young, so presumably, buyers used to young calves, exeter, you don't really see to many 7-10 day, old calves, probably, because of the £ difference.

My 9 year old daughter bought a runty angus for 18 quid and it has never looked back.As soon as she buys me a belter it gives me grief.

 

[hendrebc]

Have you tried drenching it with milk from a dosing gun? I did have a drench gun with a teat on it somewhere so you could squirt milk into its mouth through the teat. Worked quite well once they realised that the rubber teat meant they were going to gets a full belly from being drenched then they would suck eventually on the teat then you can change to a bottle.
glad I don't have to do that very often

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Thank you for your advice,we have tried all manner of tricks but after 5 days and it getting weaker we started to tube it.

Is it still drinking water?

 

[livestock 1]

I haven’t read all of this. We have some like this and inject them with vitasel and put a little bit of iodine in their backs. I realise it’s hard to get vitasel but it’s vitamin e and Selinium

 

[wurzell1976]

Is it still drinking water?

Yes,it looks reasonably well,but as soon as the milk arrives it walks off and lies down.