Orphan Calve need help bottle feeding PLS HELP

[WhispertheCalve]

We just had a calve born few days ago and its mother past away this morning we found the calf all by itself out in the field we grabbed it up and brought it to the house i bottle fed a calve before but this calve wont take the bottle can anyone help the calve has some fight in it and doesnt look bad its nose is a lil dry i dont know if thats bad or not i really dont know much about cows but im slowly learning does anyone have tips on how to get it to take the bottle

 

[purecountrycow]

You can try to put a tube down his throat and pour milk in the tube. I heard of other people doing that to feed him. Try that,,it should work. Good luck!

 

[Beekissed]

If you tube him, he may not be able to suck/swallow later, having never developed the reflex. I've had better luck using a large syringe, clamp his little mouth around it and slowly syringe the milk into him until he has to swallow. You'll notice his tongue will start a sucking motion. I'd keep with the syringe and occasionally try the bottle but open the nipple hole a little more so he won't have to suck hard to get a mouthful....he may just catch on in this manner.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I'd let the calf get good and hungry. Then back it into a corner and straddle it so it's head is between your legs (you're both facing the same way). Then put the nipple into it's mouth and use one hand to squeeze it's mouth closed in a rhythm similar to suckling. I've found this works really well. Make sure the milk is nice and warm, but not too warm. Usually once they get a taste of the warm milk they'll start suckling.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

I agree that using a syringe is the better idea. It may take several days to get him to suck a bottle but keep SLOWLY dribbling milk into his mouth via the syringe while cradling/holding his mouth on it. Little calves need dextrose in their system to function for energy so you need to make sure he takes in something in a reasonable amount each day to keep him going.
Tubing can be very dangerous to a calf if done by someone inexperienced. You could aspirate him by getting milk into the lungs.

 

[currycomb]

sounds like he only knows mom has the warm milk. you may need to let him get a little hungry, then dribble some milk into his mouth with a syringe or a bottle. just be persistant, he knows how to suckle, just not from a bottle. maybe a little honey on the nipple???

 

[WhispertheCalve]

can they eat while they r laying down cuz now all he wants to do is lay down when we first brought him to the house he was running trying to break down the fence but now he just wants to lay im so worried and will a turkey baster work?

 

[Pumpkinpup]

can they eat while they r laying down cuz now all he wants to do is lay down when we first brought him to the house he was running trying to break down the fence but now he just wants to lay im so worried and will a turkey baster work?

Oh my, that does not sound good to me. A turkey baster will work but if it were me, I would get some re-sorb in him ASAP. Sounds like his glucose level is bottoming out. If you don't have re-sorb, give him warm pedialyte with some sugar disolved in it to boost him.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

How long has he been without eating and are you certain he got colostrum from mother within the first 12 hours after birth?

 

[she-earl]

Have you taken the calf's temp? It should be 101.5 to 102.5. If it is over 103, I would give it antibiotics - Nuflor, Pencillin, Draxin, etc. I would also rub it and show it affection. I would be concerned about using a turkey baster because it will probably be faster than the calf can handle. If you can a little taste of milk in its mouth and then wait a little bit, it may decide it tastes pretty good. You can feed a calf laying down but it should suck it. Do you know someone that could tube it if you are not comfortable doing that? I would suggest an electrolyte mixture since it may have something to "jumpstart" the calf. Where are you located?