One quartered suckler cow

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

Would be grateful of any guidance on what to do with the calf when the galloway cow just has the one productive quarter. Calf wasn’t doing well after a few days so brought in and tubed. Gave everything vet said. Calf fine now. Then discovered cow problem.
Can we carefully guide the calf to the correct corner of the cow? Will there be enough milk?
Or feed on bottle and let it try to top up on cow?
Or try to set on another cow? We tried this once and it took too long, we have day jobs.
Or give up and just bottle feed ?
Thanks in anticipation.

 

[tr250]

Would be grateful of any guidance on what to do with the calf when the galloway cow just has the one productive quarter. Calf wasn’t doing well after a few days so brought in and tubed. Gave everything vet said. Calf fine now. Then discovered cow problem.
Can we carefully guide the calf to the correct corner of the cow? Will there be enough milk?
Or feed on bottle and let it try to top up on cow?
Or try to set on another cow? We tried this once and it took too long, we have day jobs.
Or give up and just bottle feed ?
Thanks in anticipation.

If you have a cow loose a calf try putting on her in mean time leave him on cow and top him up then put him out with creep and try to get her fat so that you can cull at weaning

 

[aangus]

Cull the cow and either keep the calf or sell it depending if your close to a calf market

 

[sticky]

Show the calf where to go ,he will soon learn, and top up if necessary. As said you might need him for another. If it was me I would keep him going and get him to 5-6 weeks and then put them in separate rings in the market.

 

[milkloss]

You can try and top up with the bottle but you’ll most likely find the calf can’t really be a4sed with it and just waits for you with the bottle. Worth a try if you’re going to market them in a few weeks but no more.

 

[M-J-G]

I'd keep the calf for a spare.

I'd try to top it up with a bottle but it will be 50/50 if will take it considering it's been sucking a cow.
Even if it gets a bottle it will almost certainly keep sucking the cow as well.

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

Thanks for all the advice. It’s still alive so that’s a good start!