Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2010 9:14:59 GMT -5
We have 2, two-and-a-half-week old Jersey Bull calves that we brought home last Wednesday. They were each on mom for a day and a half after birth, then fed twice a day with Jersey milk (we bought them from a semi-local Jersey dairy). They have both been great, we've continued the twice a day feeding of almost 3 pints of fresh milk each from our Jersey, Bertha, by bottle. This morning, Charlie wouldn't take the bottle, while Jeffrey sucked and butted his as usual. Charlie wasn't completely listless, but does seem more low energy than normal.
We tried to get him to take the bottle for about 15 minutes, but all he would do was mouth it. I came back about 20 minutes later and got him to take about a cup, he was sucking but not as hard as usual and didn't butt like he usually does. He stopped after taking that little bit, walked over and sniffed at a cat, seemed ok, just not as lively as Jeffrey.
Upon closer inspection, his eyes have wet spots below them, I heard him cough a couple of times in a row, but he's only done that once so far. No sign of scours--he has a little dried feces on his butt, but not worse or different than what has been on both of them since we got them home. When we've seen them poo, it has been more solid and cow-like. He's not wheezing or breathing hard, but I'm wondering if he may be getting pneumonia? It's not cold here at all, and they are in their barn stall at night. He's alert and moving around some, but not near as active as Jeffrey, so I'm worried.
I also brought some goats home a couple of days ago, have heard them sneeze a few times, but they do not have any signs of illness that I can see. They have been in the stall next to the calves, but not in with them.
Anyone have any advice on what to do with Charlie? I'm going to go try to get him to take some more milk from the bottle, but I'm worried about deciding when I should feed him via tube. I've never raised calves before, and never tubed one. At just over 2 weeks, will under eating at one feeding be enough to harm him? I hope I can get him to take some more!
I do have penicillin on hand, but don't want to administer antibiotics unless needed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
~Zee
We tried to get him to take the bottle for about 15 minutes, but all he would do was mouth it. I came back about 20 minutes later and got him to take about a cup, he was sucking but not as hard as usual and didn't butt like he usually does. He stopped after taking that little bit, walked over and sniffed at a cat, seemed ok, just not as lively as Jeffrey.
Upon closer inspection, his eyes have wet spots below them, I heard him cough a couple of times in a row, but he's only done that once so far. No sign of scours--he has a little dried feces on his butt, but not worse or different than what has been on both of them since we got them home. When we've seen them poo, it has been more solid and cow-like. He's not wheezing or breathing hard, but I'm wondering if he may be getting pneumonia? It's not cold here at all, and they are in their barn stall at night. He's alert and moving around some, but not near as active as Jeffrey, so I'm worried.
I also brought some goats home a couple of days ago, have heard them sneeze a few times, but they do not have any signs of illness that I can see. They have been in the stall next to the calves, but not in with them.
Anyone have any advice on what to do with Charlie? I'm going to go try to get him to take some more milk from the bottle, but I'm worried about deciding when I should feed him via tube. I've never raised calves before, and never tubed one. At just over 2 weeks, will under eating at one feeding be enough to harm him? I hope I can get him to take some more!
I do have penicillin on hand, but don't want to administer antibiotics unless needed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
~Zee