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Post by twocrowsfarm on Apr 10, 2022 11:38:39 GMT -5
We have what I believe is a first calf heifer. Calf was born with weak calf syndrome. We mused it back to health. It’s 5 days old now. It’s on its feet and taking a bottle. Mum is really attentive protective licking. But when calf walks back to nurse mum always turns to face it.
Any suggestions? These are new cows to us and will not really let us handle them
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Post by kansasdexters on Apr 11, 2022 8:08:52 GMT -5
Put the cow in a chute with a head gate, so that she is safely restrained and you have access to her udder. You can make a chute, alleyway, and a corral using portable panels, if you don't have a working set-up yet. Once the cow is in the chute, you can use a 2x4 board or 2-inch pipe across the back of the alleyway or chute to keep her from backing up, and you can put a halter on her and restrain her head, if you don't have a head gate. The chute or alleyway should be about 24-inches wide, so she is supported side to side. If she is a kicker, you should put a rope around her (see video link below). Now, you can safely bring the calf to suckle her udder. You may have to do this several times a day for several days. After the calf suckles her, put them both into the corral together, so that it's easier to move her back into the alleyway and chute, when it's time to feed the calf again. Keep the corral clean by picking up the manure daily. Keep fresh water and good hay available to the cow at all times. During this time of daily interaction, you will be gentling the cow and having her get used to you and the new routine. If she won't let you brush her when she is in the corral, do it when she is restrained in the chute. Brush her all over, every day, and watch how she starts to relax when she knows what you are doing. The more you can make this a predictable routine, the sooner she will know what is happening and relax because it isn't something that will hurt her. Here is a video of how to properly place a rope on a cow that kicks when you or a calf touches her udder (I prefer this way compared to a belly rope tied near her udder). www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBF9rtTwIRg |
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