Premature calves

Extreme Optimist

Member
Livestock Farmer
Had set of twins born this morning, One dead, and looked as though it had been dead for a while inside her as there was no hair on it, and the other alive but only weighing about 10kg. I have tubed it with colostrum 3x today with just over a litre each time. With it being so small, I am wary of giving it much more than that.
He has lived for approx 14 hours so far and has a good set of lungs on him judging by the way he shouts. He now seems to be maintaining his body temperature and appears to be relatively healthy and strong although he is not standing yet. How long can I carry on tubing him for as he doesn't seem keen to suck yet. I am worried about continually pushing a large stomach tube down his throat.
 

abitdaft

Member
Location
Scotland
I would probably put a calf jacket on him so that he isn't using energy on keeping warm also warming the tube in hot water to make it more flexible may help as well as offering fingers to suck instead of scunnering with a force fed bottle if you see what I mean. I have had calves in the past that initially hate the teat on a bottle but would suck fingers and finally came round to the bottle after a couple of days when appetite improves. Vitasel probably wouldn't hurt either. Good luck.
 
The dead calf will most likely have triggered the cow to dispel the calves.

I'd give it a long acting antibiotic, as it is highly likely to get a lung problem if born that early.

Tubing is often the only option if it eont suck.

One I had one time wouldn't suck anything apart from the cow. It was quite a task setting it on a little bale of straw to get it to suck her, but it lived and did fine.
 

Bill the Bass

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cumbria
We had a cow that wouldn't get back up after a difficult calving once, calf was tubed for over two weeks, wouldn't take a bottle. I think it was nearly three weeks passed when the cow finally decided to get up, the calf walked pretty much straight up to the cow and suckled - she still had milk at her!

Cows never cease to amaze me.
 

sandywil90

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ruthin
Rule of thumb for colostrum. 10% of birthweight within 6 hours of good quality colostrum.
Id be comfortable with feeding little and often, maybe use an oesophical tube that is quite soft, causing minimal stress to the calf. Try him on a teat at what ever opportunity you get, the sooner the better.
Good idea to put a coat on which will keep the calf warm instead of him using his own energy reserves to keep warm! A little TLC and perseverance should do the trick..
Good Luck!
 
Location
East Mids
The most prem we have ever had - over 3 weeks - that made it - we fed 4 x day for the first week, l think it only managed about 1.5 litres/day to start with. Too small for a normal calf coat, but we improvised with an old pullover. Fortunately it did suck, I hate tubing.
 

Extreme Optimist

Member
Livestock Farmer
Unfortunately, it didn't make it. So difficult when they are that small. It's heartbreaking too as you spend so much time and effort with them that you develop a bond and it becomes a personal challenge. If it had sucked, it would have been a lot easier as I would have given the colostrum/milk little and often as I hate pushing the tube down it's throat, particularly as it was so small. Thanks for all your help.
 

Dave6170

Member
Had 3 calves born today and we are 10 days away from being due to start. 1 cow and 2 heifers. Was expecting 1 of the heifers to calve soon anyway but not the other 2. Often get 1 early but never 3 on the same day.
Anyway, the cows calf took a turn for the worse. It was up and i seen it sooking this morning, fine in the afternoon then by dinner time was taking its last breaths. Rushed it to the vet but died as i got there. Vet thinks a gut problem. it had done it first sh!t. Taking it to lab in the morning to be safe. It is definetly 10 days early because i have her noted down bulling
Now im worried about the other 2. The calf i was expecting is strong the other not so much, but has sooked colostrum from a bottle 3 times today.
Anyone else had this?
 

Dave6170

Member
They both sook the bottle fine. i just managed to get the strongest calf on his mother. Will try little 1 in the morning.
Frustrating that it was the 1 that sooked no problem that died
 

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