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Post by Fran on Feb 8, 2014 8:12:29 GMT -5
Went out this morning and I have 2 heifer calves. 2 momma's are paying attention to 1 baby and none to the other. Both babies are black. One momma is a first-freshener. I know I will have to do all the tests, but in the meantime. Any ideas?
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 8, 2014 8:40:13 GMT -5
First of all congratulations! Take the cow with the better nature and more likely to get a result from and take her with the calf to a separate area and see what you can do to get her to take the calf to get the colostrum. It's best if you remove her far enough so she can't see or smell the other baby. I have to run now but I'll finish some more in a bit when I get to the farm. Perhaps some others will chip in with some ideas in the meantime.
Hans
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 8, 2014 8:43:10 GMT -5
Oh, I should add that it's more likely that the first time mom is the one who has abandoned the baby, so I would probably try to separate them on that basis.
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Post by Fran on Feb 8, 2014 9:10:38 GMT -5
Both moms are very friendly. One baby was drier and first mom, sassy, didn't look as swollen and drier than other mom. Rosemary was still draining pretty well and that calf was pretty wet. I've got them separated and rosemary is licking hers and she has tried to nurse bit I don't think she's managed yet. Sassy is not licking hers and it is not trying to nurse. It's laying down in the stall. If you go in there or baby gets up and moves, sassy does pay attn to it. But she's standing at stall door mooing mostly.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 8, 2014 9:19:43 GMT -5
Who is the experienced mom? Sassy?
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Post by Fran on Feb 8, 2014 9:24:59 GMT -5
No rosemary
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 8, 2014 9:26:58 GMT -5
OK, i looked them up. Sassy is the heifer mom, and Rosemary probably took her calf thinking it was hers. By the time Rosemary calved she had already adopted Sassy's calf as her own. But it's probably too late to get Rosemary to take her own calf. So Sassy is probably looking for her calf. I may have made a mistake in my prior post as I was in a rush...
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 8, 2014 9:30:59 GMT -5
You probably have the best chance of getting Sassy to adopt the "orphan" calf right now as she is the one who is probably most confused. Can you milk Sassy to get colostrum? See what you can do to restrain Sassy and guide the calf to Sassy's udder after expressing a little milk from a couple of teats.
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 8, 2014 9:31:47 GMT -5
Is your number on the ADCA a mobile phone and do you have it?
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Post by Fran on Feb 8, 2014 9:42:51 GMT -5
864 270 3033
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Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 8, 2014 9:44:58 GMT -5
Fran, I know you're probably busy. I called your number on the ADCA and left you my mobile number. Call if you would like, but unless somebody has something else to add I'd say try to get Sassy to take the orphan calf as I mentioned in my earlier post. You'll have to genotype at least one of the cows and one of your new heifers to determine who the real mother is, but the first priority is getting some colostrum in both calves and hopefully guiding Sassy and the calf that is in with her to nurse. I'd guess that Rosemary and the calf with her will figure it out, but keep an eye on them just in case. Can you separate them more than they are so Sassy is more likely to take the calf?
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Post by emgiger on Feb 8, 2014 10:24:43 GMT -5
Fran,
Hans is correct. First things first, both babies must get colostrum soon. New mamas will sometimes reject their babies and it sounds like this is what happened. A couple of things……I would try to get Sassy and baby in very tight closed quarters to see if she has any interest in the baby. If not, I would constrain Sassy in a head gate or squeeze chute. Lift the baby to the udder and see if she will suckle. If Sassy tries to kick then tie her leg down. If this fails you should try to milk Sassy. If you have never milked you might want to try a cannula (if you have one).
If all of these efforts fail, then you need to move the baby to Rosemary and see if she will take her.
I have had this happen more than once with a few heifers. You have to be extremely consistent with forcing the baby on the mother, whether she likes it or not, thus the reason for constraining her in a chute/headgate. The last time this happened to me it took me approximately three days of putting mama in the chute and forcing her to allow the baby to feed. She finally took to him. Remember to keep them in a very small space (only if she is not trying to hurt the baby). Another thought…..take a towel and and rub the baby and then rub it on the mama. They need to get used to each other's scent.
Please keep us updated!
Eileen
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Post by Fran on Feb 8, 2014 10:33:33 GMT -5
Hans, I went out and got sassy and baby up. Tied sassy and milked her enough to rub all her teats and baby's mouth. Baby was not interested. Then I turned sassy loose came back in and called for baby bottle. Susan called as I was going back out (have to keep checking on my 3 yr old grandson) and when I get out there baby is nursing sassy. Yayyyyyy now I just need to make sure the baby with Rosemary nurses. I've seen her try and seen a little milk around her mouth but I want to make sure. Thanks Hans and Susan for your phone calls. You have no idea how much they meant!!!
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Post by cddexter on Feb 8, 2014 10:34:02 GMT -5
Fran, figure out as best you can who belongs to whom. Then take the other cow and calf, milk the cow, feed the calf and keep doing this for a day or so, keeping them together, or together but separated by a low wall so the calf doesn't get stepped on, or try to nurse again on its own and get kicked away: major discouragement. The calf will start to smell 'right' to the cow, and she should accept it. If the calf is weak (hasn't nursed, or gets butted away and so has figured out it's dangerous to try) you may have to force feed it once or twice to get it started (tube, ask an experienced neighbour or the vet...it's too easy to get the tube down the wrong hole and end up with milk in the lungs and she'll drown). Once the calf is feeling more energetic, it will try to nurse. You'll have to be there for that, so it doesn't get kicked and thus discouraged again. You can stand by the cow, tied up and against a wall (the cow), with one leg (yours) braced in front of the cow's hind leg and inside the stifle to prevent her kicking. The calf should be keen and nurse on her own. With a bit of luck, things should be okay within a day or so. If not, you'll have to keep them separate, and manage the nursing at least twice a day minimum, and/or use milk replacer, OR simply milk the heifer, and let the mature cow have both calves. DNA testing will let you determine who's who when the time comes. Good luck, cheers, c.
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Post by Fran on Feb 8, 2014 10:47:52 GMT -5
Thanks Eileen, I actually took the towel and rubbed the baby that is in with rosemary and then took the same towel and rubbed the baby that is in with sassy. Don't know if it helped or not but that baby is now nursing sassy. Yes, I watched to make sure. Thanks so much for your quick response.
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