Getting slow calves going

[Andy84]

What can everyone recommend to get slow calves up and going. In the past we have used Vitasil (now impossible to get hold of) and Tithiebarn paste (fed up trying to get hold of it, since reshuffle etc they are useless!) both with good success but need alternatives due to supply problems!
Other than change breeds! (Going that way but doesn’t happen overnight!)

 

[GmB]

You say calves, how many are you talking about? Had trouble years ago with multiple calves not wanting to get up and suck, put 1ml per head / day of 10% iodine in the cows water 6wks pre calving sorted the problem. But that won’t help in your situation I’m afraid.

 

[Sharpy]

Bolus your cows, you need to deal with the root of the problem, not the symptoms of the problem.

 

[Andy84]

Bolus your cows, you need to deal with the root of the problem, not the symptoms of the problem.

cows are bolused I just put it down to a standard BB problem....

 

[Sharpy]

cows are bolused I just put it down to a standard BB problem....

Sorry, I (incorrectly) assumed that if vitasel etc was helping then the cows must be short of vit e/ selenium etc. We had similar issues a few years ago and a high iodine and selenium (plus other trace elements) made a huge difference.

 

[milkloss]

Are the cows getting other minerals than the bolus'? if you're getting lazy calves then I'd suggest the bolus aren't what you need.

 

[Timbo]

Bolus your cows, you need to deal with the root of the problem, not the symptoms of the problem.

Get some bloods taken ASAP

 

[Extreme Optimist]

High Mag minerals? I find the cows calve much more quickly and easily and prevents the "lazy" calvers. If the cows calve quickly and easily, they are upto pay attention to their calves more quickly and the calves tend to be livelier.