Tricks Getting a Calf to Drink from a Bottle (2024)

FAQs

How do you get a stubborn calf to take a bottle? ›

Start by inserting one or two fingers into the calf's mouth. As the calf begins to suck, insert the bottle nipple in its mouth. It may be necessary to straddle or stand beside the standing calf and support its head upward while the calf is backed against a solid fence, wall (corner is best), or vehicle.

Automatic calf feeders - For calves fed through an automatic calf feeder, automatic waters are provided in each pen of calves. These waterers should be selected and installed such that the top is no higher than 28 inches from the floor and provide water that is at least 3 inches deep.

If the calf can't or won't drink, you may need to use an esophageal feeder. This is a plastic tube that is attached to a bag or bottle containing the colostrum. Use caution if using a feeder tube. The feeder tube is designed to bring milk to the esophagus, not the stomach.

Lubricate the ball tip of the tube with the liquid you are feeding. To insert, slide the tube down the left side of the calf's tongue, which will cause it to swallow. Wait patiently for the calf to swallow, then pass the tube down the esophagus, while keeping the calf's nose below its ears.

Use an esophageal feeder to administer liquid feed that is not consumed by suckling. Be sure the feeder is thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and rinsed between calves. 6. Feed oral fluids (electrolytes) to correct dehydration, provided the calf is strong enough to stand and has no abdominal distension.

Getting 1-2 pints of colostrum into such a calf will be all that is necessary to stimulate its appetite and the next thing you know, they are on the teat and nursing. Other breeders use some warm electrolyte mix with glucose in it to stimulate the appetite and start that vigorous sucking reflex.

Thus, there is the potential for calves to go up to 24 h without food before slaughter. In addition, calves have no access to water during transport, which may last up to 12 h [Animal Welfare (Calves) Regulations, 2016].

Severely dehydrated calves that are unable to suckle need intravenous fluids for effective resuscitation. Intravenous fluid therapy is also indicated for sick calves without obvious dehydration, such as calves with strong ion acidosis, ruminal acidosis (rumen drinkers), severe pneumonia, septicemia, or hypothermia.

Cattle can only survive a few days without water and addressing the water needs of cattle is a complex process depending on water quality, weather patterns, time of day, feed moisture content, and animal factors such as bodyweight and stage of production.

These calves have immature lungs and struggle to oxygenate their tissues and get rid of carbon dioxide. This results in a condition called acidosis which diminishes the suck reflex and impairs absorption of the antibodies in colostrum.

How long should a calf be bottle fed? ›

How Long Does the Calf Need a Bottle? A beef calf is usually eating 1-1.5% of its body weight on a dry matter basis by the time it is 10-12 weeks old. A calf eating this much solid feed is likely ready to be weaned off the bottle.

Recommendations on how much to feed birth to weaning

Calves should be fed daily approximately 10% of their body weight (1 quart of milk weighs 2 pounds). For example, a Holstein calf weighing 90 pounds at birth would be fed 4.5 quarts (9 pints) of milk daily or 2.25 quarts per feeding when fed twice daily.

Although it is recommended to offer free drinking water (called drinking water hereafter) immediately after birth, producers wait, on average, 17 d to first offer drinking water to newborn dairy calves.

If the cow won't let the calf nurse, you can force the cow to do so by putting her in a stall or the chute. Before you let the calf nurse, you might want to tie up or secure the cow's hind legs with a set of hobbles to stop the cow from kicking or walking away.

Thus, there is the potential for calves to go up to 24 h without food before slaughter. In addition, calves have no access to water during transport, which may last up to 12 h [Animal Welfare (Calves) Regulations, 2016].

At 7 weeks of age, calves should be fed only 0.5 lbs of milk solids (½ gallon of milk). Calves should be weaned when grain intake is approximately 3 lbs/day, which typically occurs at 7–8 weeks of age in the Step method. Maintain calves in the same environment for at least 1 week after weaning.