Bucket or nurse?

[karl e. lutz the great]

I have 6 week old nursing calf and need to get info. I red somewhere that if you start a calf on a bucket the rumen may not readily activate. I am wondering if I switch to a bucket with the milk will she still get the required nurishment.
I have tried it already and she downs 2 times as much in 1/2 the time, but still bucks me for more food.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I've fed calves both ways and didn't notice a difference in the calves' growth. If I had multiples, I'd do buckets. If there's only one, I'd do a bottle. But that's just me personally.

 

[karl e. lutz the great]

Bottle nursing is sweet and forms a bond I did not know would exist with a cow, but it is inconveinient as far as conflicting scheduals go. This little calve was born by c section and the dam was uthinized after birth.We have become very attached to her but time for the feeding is not as easy to come by. I really enjoy her nudges and watchiing the kids run with her and hope that she remains as friendly after weening, Thankyou for your input.

 

[Bossroo]

If it was me, I may enjoy the nudges and watching the calf run with the kids now, but when it grows up I may be nudged into the ground and my kids end up in the hospital due to the grown up bovine's jubilant playing with me or my kids. I will keep that calf to have respect for me and my kids by keeping it more aloof.

 

[karl e. lutz the great]

probably is good advice. She is a belted galloway but 8 or 900 pounds is pretty critical mass.