Post by drmnofcows on Jul 30, 2012 8:36:17 GMT -5
Hi all. I just want to thank you in advance for your help!!
We got a Jersey milk cow already in milk a couple weeks ago. She calved at her previous owners a still-born calf, so she did not come with a calf, just a bunch of milk. We are drowning in milk, so got the bright idea to get a bottle calf to help with this ordeal. (even after feeding to all the other animals, giving it away to willing consumers, making cheese, ice cream, you name it, we have plenty.)
Anyway, the jersey heifer calf we got came from a dairy (or so we are told), and was with mom for the first 2-3 days so got colostrum (or so we are told). We bought her from an "in between" person who seems interested in making money. (LESSON LEARNED!!) I would say she is almost 2 weeks old, but I have no idea how to tell that for sure. The gal said the calf was de-wormed, had a vitamin B shot, had a shot of LA200 to "protect her from anything she could have gotten from the other calves" and was fed electrolytes and milk replacer. She gave us a needle with a dose of LA200 in it and were told to give it to her if she seemed weak. We were sent home with a bottle of gatorade and told to feed it to her when we got home. We did, she seemed fine. We put her on our jersey and the calf doesn't know what she's doing. Snickers is great with her, doesn't kick and has accepted the calf as her own. We have helped the calf suck and get some milk. Of course, we have no idea what she's getting from "momma", but she is still eating about a pint from the bottle. We have stopped electrolytes and such.
The problem is she seems very weak. I know she's a baby and will sleep, but when she stands, she is very wobbly and she seems to sleep a LOT. Momma is calling her and she doesn't respond (probably b/c she doesn't understand). She drinks water well, but doesn't like to get up at all. She's pooping lying down (runny, custard color. Gal said it was due to the de-wormer). We have seen her pee also (standing). I plan to get her some electrolytes right away (is gatorade really ok?), a tube feeder (just in case) and some vitamin B and antibiotics (just to have on hand, in case). I have not taken her temperature, and will get a thermometer for that today also. (I know, how unprepared are we!?) We will also get her some calf feed for future use or see if she will eat it now.
What should I try to do right away? And is there anything else I need to get? She has access to momma full-time, but she is uninterested. Do I give her Vitamin B? LA200? Just electrolytes?
As naive as we are, we figured we would just bring her home, put her on our nurse cow, and ta-da! Everything would be hunky-dory. Boy, do we have a lot to learn or what!? Thanks so much for your help everyone!!
We got a Jersey milk cow already in milk a couple weeks ago. She calved at her previous owners a still-born calf, so she did not come with a calf, just a bunch of milk. We are drowning in milk, so got the bright idea to get a bottle calf to help with this ordeal. (even after feeding to all the other animals, giving it away to willing consumers, making cheese, ice cream, you name it, we have plenty.)
Anyway, the jersey heifer calf we got came from a dairy (or so we are told), and was with mom for the first 2-3 days so got colostrum (or so we are told). We bought her from an "in between" person who seems interested in making money. (LESSON LEARNED!!) I would say she is almost 2 weeks old, but I have no idea how to tell that for sure. The gal said the calf was de-wormed, had a vitamin B shot, had a shot of LA200 to "protect her from anything she could have gotten from the other calves" and was fed electrolytes and milk replacer. She gave us a needle with a dose of LA200 in it and were told to give it to her if she seemed weak. We were sent home with a bottle of gatorade and told to feed it to her when we got home. We did, she seemed fine. We put her on our jersey and the calf doesn't know what she's doing. Snickers is great with her, doesn't kick and has accepted the calf as her own. We have helped the calf suck and get some milk. Of course, we have no idea what she's getting from "momma", but she is still eating about a pint from the bottle. We have stopped electrolytes and such.
The problem is she seems very weak. I know she's a baby and will sleep, but when she stands, she is very wobbly and she seems to sleep a LOT. Momma is calling her and she doesn't respond (probably b/c she doesn't understand). She drinks water well, but doesn't like to get up at all. She's pooping lying down (runny, custard color. Gal said it was due to the de-wormer). We have seen her pee also (standing). I plan to get her some electrolytes right away (is gatorade really ok?), a tube feeder (just in case) and some vitamin B and antibiotics (just to have on hand, in case). I have not taken her temperature, and will get a thermometer for that today also. (I know, how unprepared are we!?) We will also get her some calf feed for future use or see if she will eat it now.
What should I try to do right away? And is there anything else I need to get? She has access to momma full-time, but she is uninterested. Do I give her Vitamin B? LA200? Just electrolytes?
As naive as we are, we figured we would just bring her home, put her on our nurse cow, and ta-da! Everything would be hunky-dory. Boy, do we have a lot to learn or what!? Thanks so much for your help everyone!!