Maiden heifers sucking each other

[sheep&cows&stuff]

I have a batch of 5 lovely maiden heifers - all from 8 months to around 14 months old. The oldest one at 14 months old stands up and lets herself be sucked by 2 of the other heifers (one a year old and one 8 months old). Both have been weaned a fair length of time (one at 8 months old was weaned at 3 months as mammy died of red water).

Going to put nose bits on the 2 offenders this evening to try and cut out the sucking, as it would inevitably give the 14 month old one dry feline (mastitus).

Now - does anyone else have this problem? / know a fix? / know why the hell they decided to do it all of a sudden?

Don't laugh when i say this - the 8 month old one started it at the weekend, and then i seen the year old one start it last night - as if she noticed the other one at it and decided to have a go herself!!

Suckler cattle - not dairy.

 

[Princess Pooper]

We often get a couple who seem to start for no reason, we just put an anti-suckling spike in. If they lose it later in life we keep a close eye to see if they need a new one fitting. I do think there is an element of 'copying'.

 

[borderterribles]

Same here, never had as many as this Winter. Drives me mad, especially as the show prospects seem the worst at it! Mind you, they are Jerseys.

 

[Woolless]

Yes, two out of three of our bucket-fed heifers do it to each other. They're 15 months now. Fitted nose plates/spikes at the weekend as I want the habit well and truly broken before the flies are about. Started off with just one doing it, the other one only started last week, luckily just before we fitted them.

 

[sheep&cows&stuff]

Only thing is - these calves were reaered on cows - none were bucket reared.

 

[An ancient git]

Quite strange with suckled calves . My Jerseys used to be prats for it , until I started rearing them on cows (still do) ..... Never had once since ! Nose jobbies are a good solution . Had a milking cow years ago that lived with one in its snout !!!! The bugger would suck more milk than it put in jar .......

 

[Beames]

Gave one of my 18 month old heifers a nose ring a few weeks ago. Walked across the yard today to see another heifer suckling one of the cows, so she will be having one this weekend as well. ?‍

 

[kill]

Gave one of my 18 month old heifers a nose ring a few weeks ago. Walked across the yard today to see another heifer suckling one of the cows, so she will be having one this weekend as well. ?‍
View attachment 853735

Those plastic ones seam to be far better at staying on than the metal anti suckles but I always cable tie the nut from spinning undone for extra security.

 

[Woolless]

Those plastic ones seam to be far better at staying on than the metal anti suckles but I always cable tie the nut from spinning undone for extra security.

Bugger, never thought of that. Good tip!

 

[Sid]

Stockholm tar works as well.

As kill said a cable tie to help hold in place works wonders.

 

[borderterribles]

Stockholm tar works as well.

As kill said a cable tie to help hold in place works wonders.

I tried Stockholm Tar and the weird feckers were mad for licking it off. I have a heifer currently wearing an anti suckling plate, that turns her head through 90 degrees, flips the plate up against her own face and sucks merrily away. I find that the plates definitely compromise their growth rate.

 

[Woolless]

I tried Stockholm Tar and the weird feckers were mad for licking it off. I have a heifer currently wearing an anti suckling plate, that turns her head through 90 degrees, flips the plate up against her own face and sucks merrily away. I find that the plates definitely compromise their growth rate.

Why do you think they don't grow as well? Just a bit more awkward for them to eat?

Your story about the Stockholm tar reminds me of when we tried to stop a goat kid eating the washing when I was a young boy. Mum smeared an old shirt with hot English mustard and hung it out, thinking it would burn his mouth. The little bugger stood all day sucking it off! ?

 

[borderterribles]

Why do you think they don't grow as well? Just a bit more awkward for them to eat?

Your story about the Stockholm tar reminds me of when we tried to stop a goat kid eating the washing when I was a young boy. Mum smeared an old shirt with hot English mustard and hung it out, thinking it would burn his mouth. The little bugger stood all day sucking it off! ?

Because, as you correctly state, it makes it awkward for them to eat, and their pen mates don't have this difficulty. If they were in a pen on their own, then it wouldn't be a problem, but neither would the unfortunate suckling thing!

 

[Anymulewilldo]

I had 5 Simmental heifers the other year that just wouldn't stop! They were marked down as suckler replacements but I ended up cashing them in after a couple of months! Not had one since. No idea why