Post by MooMad on Oct 12, 2004 0:49:49 GMT -5
In answer to Milkwitch's and Janene's request, I haven't actually put how I do this into words yet as I'm still learning as I go I've only done this 4 times before but at present I have another beef calf in hiding, to mother on to my regular milk cow, who is 5 days overdue
The best tip I can give is; don't bother trying to foster onto a first calver Unless, you have heaps of time and patience. It's a hard row to hoe to say the least
Other tips are;
#Have your cow halter trained so you can tie her up. This is less stressfull on her than putting her in a crush.
#To have purchased the foster calf before the birth so you can slip him in as she births and cover him with her birth fluids. I haven't been able to achieve this myself as yet for various reasons, hopefully this plan will work with Lizzie
#Use a halter and lead rope on the foster calf when feeding if the cow is a kicker, makes it very easy to pull the calf to safety if needed.
#Position the cows own calf closer to her head as they feed. Although once left to their own devices the foster calf invariably ends up feeding from between the cows back legs as any kicks don't seem to connect as well from this angle. Some folk say they do this because they're in the cows blind spot but I don't believe that for a minute. A cow is far more intelligent than that, she knows exactly where each calf is where and which teats they're supping from.
#Even if you aren't going to milk the cow still seperate her from the calves at night, just until you're sure she'll take care of the foster calf.
Trixie is a first calver and it's taken a lot of time and energy to get her to allow Barney to feed. She will be fine for two days under a new routine then start kicking and bunting him away. What I've ended up doing with her is; she runs in one paddock with the "mothers in waiting cows" and the two calves are in the ajoining paddock. Morning and evening I let the calves in to feed then put them back in their paddock. Sounds a bit mean but everyone is happy with this setup. The calves are no problem at all to get back into their paddock, they are very independent due to my having seperated Mother and babes at night from their second day. I don't have to hold or tie Trixie whilst they feed, I just stand there and drink my cup of tea. She makes no fuss about them leaving her.
I have a second calver Sandy, who I had to leg rope a couple of times to get her to accept Fred. Since then I've had no problems at all with that wee family She doesn't love him like her own but does groom him now'n again and he's growing like a mushroom.
I've got an old Holstein ex-dairy girl whose own calf died last year, she accepted two foster calves without blinking an eyelid. This year I'm planning on fostering two extras onto her as she's in great nick.
I'm expecting to get the run around from Lizzie when fostering on. She's a girl with attitude and is second to me in command of our herd.
Some folk leave the calves on for 3 months then foster on new babes but as the fosters I buy are dairy/beef I prefer to leave them on for 6 months and get that huge growth. Just suits my system better.
As long as the cow is in excellent condition and you have a good supply of quality, long pasture it's no hardship for the cow. As she matures and you have the above feed requirements there's no reason why you can't foster on two extras. I see a lot with 4 on in our area but the cows do struggle to keep their condition.
The best tip I can give is; don't bother trying to foster onto a first calver Unless, you have heaps of time and patience. It's a hard row to hoe to say the least
Other tips are;
#Have your cow halter trained so you can tie her up. This is less stressfull on her than putting her in a crush.
#To have purchased the foster calf before the birth so you can slip him in as she births and cover him with her birth fluids. I haven't been able to achieve this myself as yet for various reasons, hopefully this plan will work with Lizzie
#Use a halter and lead rope on the foster calf when feeding if the cow is a kicker, makes it very easy to pull the calf to safety if needed.
#Position the cows own calf closer to her head as they feed. Although once left to their own devices the foster calf invariably ends up feeding from between the cows back legs as any kicks don't seem to connect as well from this angle. Some folk say they do this because they're in the cows blind spot but I don't believe that for a minute. A cow is far more intelligent than that, she knows exactly where each calf is where and which teats they're supping from.
#Even if you aren't going to milk the cow still seperate her from the calves at night, just until you're sure she'll take care of the foster calf.
Trixie is a first calver and it's taken a lot of time and energy to get her to allow Barney to feed. She will be fine for two days under a new routine then start kicking and bunting him away. What I've ended up doing with her is; she runs in one paddock with the "mothers in waiting cows" and the two calves are in the ajoining paddock. Morning and evening I let the calves in to feed then put them back in their paddock. Sounds a bit mean but everyone is happy with this setup. The calves are no problem at all to get back into their paddock, they are very independent due to my having seperated Mother and babes at night from their second day. I don't have to hold or tie Trixie whilst they feed, I just stand there and drink my cup of tea. She makes no fuss about them leaving her.
I have a second calver Sandy, who I had to leg rope a couple of times to get her to accept Fred. Since then I've had no problems at all with that wee family She doesn't love him like her own but does groom him now'n again and he's growing like a mushroom.
I've got an old Holstein ex-dairy girl whose own calf died last year, she accepted two foster calves without blinking an eyelid. This year I'm planning on fostering two extras onto her as she's in great nick.
I'm expecting to get the run around from Lizzie when fostering on. She's a girl with attitude and is second to me in command of our herd.
Some folk leave the calves on for 3 months then foster on new babes but as the fosters I buy are dairy/beef I prefer to leave them on for 6 months and get that huge growth. Just suits my system better.
As long as the cow is in excellent condition and you have a good supply of quality, long pasture it's no hardship for the cow. As she matures and you have the above feed requirements there's no reason why you can't foster on two extras. I see a lot with 4 on in our area but the cows do struggle to keep their condition.