Why raising bottle calves is tougher than you think!
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2023
- If you’ve ever raised bottle calves, you know how much work it is. If you’re not diligent, you can have a healthy calf one day, and the next day he's gone.
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I enjoy your stories! Thanks for taking us along.
You're so welcome!
The trick to raising bottle calves is to love them. We enjoy feeding and watching them grow.
That also helps!
Good stuff from days gone by, that's one way to lower input cost, and rescue some calves.
It sure is! Thanks for stopping by again.
😊
He sure didn't put you out of business did he? haha
He did not! Thanks for watching.
😏
How did he stop the scours?
I can only tell you what works for me. Different farmers do different things. Don’t give them any milk or formula for 12-16 hrs. Only give them electrolyte during that time, to prevent dehydration and decrease gastric inflammation. I know that seems like you’re starving them, but you’re not. After 12-16 hrs., the scours should subside, and the calf will start acting better: ears up, less lethargy and have more energy. When you begin giving milk replacer again, the first 24 hrs., give only a quarter of a bottle (measure the milk replacer and water for just that amount), 4 times that day. If they tolerate that, try a third of a bottle three times a day, the next day, then the following day, half a bottle two times a day, until you work your way up to two bottles a day. If they are unable to take electrolyte from a bottle (too lethargic, etc.), you will need to give it to them with an esophageal feeder. This has worked for me so many times. I hope it works for you. Good Luck!
I just realized that I didn’t answer your question. My dad did the same thing. He was big on preventing scours, which he said was from overfeeding. So, he wouldn’t start them out on a whole bottle twice a day. Depending on their size, he would start them out on 1/4 to a 1/2 of a bottle twice a day, and would gradually increase the amount per feeding over the course of a week or two.