Calves wont drink after recieving colostrums

[rich58]

Any idea's as to why calves (heifers) who are born fine, on their feet in no time, drink colostrum but then go downhill soon after, wont drink and have to be tubed, have'nt come across this before. Cows and down calving heifers are on a dry cow feed 3 weeks before calving.

 

[Cowmansam]

Bugs on the cows teats

 

[Thompyd]

What way you feeding colostrum?

 

[rich58]

What way you feeding colostrum?

Suckling the cow first, then teat - having to bag as they wont take the teat after coming off the cow

 

[rich58]

Bugs on the cows teats

Have you encountered the same problem? If so, how did you overcome it?

 

[Thompyd]

I wouldn't let the calf suck the cow. Far to much risk of picking up infection and your never sure how much colostrum the calf gets. Personally I'd milk the cow as soon as she calves, bag the calf straight away and take it to the calf house.

 

[Cowmansam]

Bagged everything with frozen colostrum seen it when sheds are getting stale at the end of a block no matter how clean it looks calf out as fast as possible dip the navel well as that’s another way bugs are getting in

 

[Cowmansam]

A good clean out proper disinfectant and then bed and lime will help our sheds are block walls not concrete and tend to be a bit harder to get disinfected well so it only reduces it not eradicates

 

[jimmer]

Any idea's as to why calves (heifers) who are born fine, on their feet in no time, drink colostrum but then go downhill soon after, wont drink and have to be tubed, have'nt come across this before. Cows and down calving heifers are on a dry cow feed 3 weeks before calving.

How long between taking off cow and trying to feed
We feed calves when they are hungry enough to feed, not full enough to not feed