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calf sucking problem

T

tlakota

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Joined
Jan 7, 2007
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209
Location
aberdeen,sd
I have a calf that was born on tuesday. Yesterday i noticed he was looking kind of ghant and was trying to suck but couldnt get the nipple in his mouth. I got the cow in the headgate and i just had to pull the teat back a lil bit so he could get a straight shot at it. He sucks it good but second i leave him he cant get the teat in his mouth. The front to teats are normal size and dont hang down very low, the back 2 are a lil bigger but still easy enough to suck. He just cant figure it out. Ive been getting the cow in the headgate 2 times a day and letting him suck her as long as he wants. Just keep doing this until he catches on?
 
He may have already caught on. Do you have him in a small pen with his mother? I've done the same thing, thinking the lil bugger didn't catch on until I caught him nursing by himself :roll: Otherwise, keep it up until he catches on (I know, it's a pain) :wink:
 
Yep, keep it up if in doubt. If you think he is gaining strength, and fooling you, you could separate him for a while, make him a little hungry, and then watch when you put the cow back in with him. Prior to putting the cow back with him, you could "prime" his appetite with a little taste of bottle milk if you wanted, just don't give him too much.

I know how it is to have extra projects, but look on the bright side, next fall when you're ready to ship the calf, you won't probably remember this little bit of extra work!

Good luck!
 
A couple of years ago we had a calf that WOULD NOT suck for 4 days. Got talking to our vet about our "stupid" calf, he suggested that maybe it had meningitis and to try using Trivetrin/Borgal for 3 days. The calf was sucking on it's own within 6 hrs. The way you describe the symptoms sounds a lot like our calf acted.
 
gcreekrch said:
A couple of years ago we had a calf that WOULD NOT suck for 4 days. Got talking to our vet about our "stupid" calf, he suggested that maybe it had meningitis and to try using Trivetrin/Borgal for 3 days. The calf was sucking on it's own within 6 hrs. The way you describe the symptoms sounds a lot like our calf acted.
Click to expand...

We also have had a "stupid" calf, (he is sucking this morning), wondering what this Trivetrin/Borgal is? can't find any description on the Internet that tells me anything, and can you get it in the States? Anyone???
 
Yanuck said:
gcreekrch said:
A couple of years ago we had a calf that WOULD NOT suck for 4 days. Got talking to our vet about our "stupid" calf, he suggested that maybe it had meningitis and to try using Trivetrin/Borgal for 3 days. The calf was sucking on it's own within 6 hrs. The way you describe the symptoms sounds a lot like our calf acted.
Click to expand...

We also have had a "stupid" calf, (he is sucking this morning), wondering what this Trivetrin/Borgal is? can't find any description on the Internet that tells me anything, and can you get it in the States? Anyone???
Click to expand...
I don't know what the generic/brand name for it is in the US but I can give you the active ingredients and maybe you can cross reference it. Each ml/cc contains Trimethoprim--40mg Sulfadoxine--200mg Dosage-- Cattle and Swine 3ml per 100lb body weight daily IM or IV Our vet recommends 3 to 5 days, longer than 5 days can create kidney problems
 
tlakota said:
I have a calf that was born on tuesday. Yesterday i noticed he was looking kind of ghant and was trying to suck but couldnt get the nipple in his mouth. I got the cow in the headgate and i just had to pull the teat back a lil bit so he could get a straight shot at it. He sucks it good but second i leave him he cant get the teat in his mouth. The front to teats are normal size and dont hang down very low, the back 2 are a lil bigger but still easy enough to suck. He just cant figure it out. Ive been getting the cow in the headgate 2 times a day and letting him suck her as long as he wants. Just keep doing this until he catches on?
Click to expand...

BTW, how is your calf doing? :)
 
Did you ck inside the calf's mouth for anything abnormal....i.e. cleft of some sort?

It doesn't have to be a BIG malformation to throw a calf off from nursing.
 

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