The calf does not drink milk: what to do and how to feed the baby, the causes of the problem

The appearance of offspring on the farm is an important and exciting event for any owner. Little calves are active and very funny, but in order for a cow child to develop well, grow into a he althy and productive animal, you need to take care of him from the first hours of life. What to do if the calf does not drink milk, why this happens, these questions concern many novice farmers.

The need for colostrum consumption

A calf's gastrointestinal tract is not fully functional by the time of birth. The baby does not have its own antibodies that help it fight infection and resist colds. That is why, like a human baby, colostrum is vital for him.

If the calf does not receive colostrum in the first hour after birth, immunity will not form, the pet will often get sick and may die. It is with colostrum that the baby receives the antibodies and minerals necessary to start the immune system. In the first 3 days after birth, the pet is given only colostrum, 5-6 times a day. Daily consumption - 6 liters. If the calf suckles well, he is left with the cow, he feeds on his own colostrum.

This method is called suckling. The calf is kept together with the cow for the first 1-1.5 days. Then the baby is transferred to a separate stall.

The animal may not have a sucking reflex, then the hostess needs to direct the baby to the udder, wet the finger with colostrum and let it lick. For the first feeding, the animal consumes 1-1.5 liters of colostrum. If he fails to suck on his own, the valuable product is milked out, poured into a bottle with a nipple and given to the pet. In this case, it must be heated to + 35-37 ° С.Warm up colostrum by dipping the bottle in hot water, you can not heat it on a stove or gas.

From day 2, the calf should be given, in addition to milk, warm boiled water, first 0.5-1 liter after feeding, then the amount is increased. From the age of 10 days, the animal should have free access to clean boiled water. Boil and slightly heat the water up to 3-4 weeks. After a month, drink water at room temperature.

Why does a calf refuse milk

Nature is the love of newborns for milk, if a small calf refuses to drink it, you need to find the reason. Pathological or behavioral factors may come into play.

Pathological

It happens that after birth there is no sucking reflex in the calf, in this case the baby is fed from the bottle, forcing to suck.

Important: colostrum and milk are given slowly, in small portions, soon the calf will learn to feed on its own.

A newborn calf may suffer from digestive problems, sometimes stomach pain or diarrhea. In this case, the help of a veterinarian is required. The animal refuses to eat with the following diseases:

• dyspepsia;
• gastroenteritis;
• salmonellosis;
• pneumonia;
• colibacillosis.

Diseases are diagnosed by a veterinarian, he examines the baby and prescribes tests. It is necessary to treat the calf immediately, any pathologies develop very quickly in babies.

Behavioral

A he althy animal can refuse milk, this happens if:

• proposed drink is cold;
• calf sucks badly, doesn't eat well and gets very tired;
• instead of milk, he is offered a substitute.

A pet at the age of 1 month is given only whole warm milk, without herbal supplements. If the cow does not have milk, give the baby a quality formula prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions.

What can replace

If the cow does not have colostrum or it is not enough, prepare a nutrient mixture. 2-4 raw eggs, 1 teaspoon of fish oil and s alt are added to a liter of whole cow's milk, everything is mixed and heated by placing in a container of hot water. The mixture is given to drink from a bottle, then supplemented with colostrum.

From 5 days they switch to milk. If there are several cows on the farm, they mix milk from different animals and give a calf, so they strengthen the immunity of weakened animals.

If necessary, you can give your pet a whole milk substitute, this is, in fact, milk powder, which is diluted before consumption. From now on, he should have free access to water.

Transition to artificial feeding

From the 3rd week, additives are added to the calf's milk. Mix oatmeal with warm water and add to milk. Boiled mashed potatoes are added to slightly diluted warm milk. After a month, the animal begins to gradually accustom to hay. It is finely chopped and offered to the pet no more than 50 grams on the first day, gradually increasing the dose. Hay is moistened with s alted water so that the animal does not prick and gets used to new food faster. One feeding is replaced with wheat or oatmeal porridge. If the calf is born in the summer, fresh, slightly dried grass is given instead of hay. Hay or grass is tied up in small bundles and secured in a calf feeder.

Root crops are introduced into the diet: carrots, boiled apples, potatoes. After a month, the diet should contain: s alt, about 5 grams per day, chalk - 10 grams. After consultation with the veterinarian, vitamin complexes are added.

A calf receives milk up to 2.5-3 months. Its dose is reduced, replacing first 1, then 2 milk feedings, then only evening drinking is left. Whole milk is gradually replaced with skim milk (reverse milk left after separation). Feed pellets for calves are introduced into the diet.

Prevention

To grow a livestock strong and he althy, you need to keep it in a clean, dry barn. It is better not to use sawdust as bedding. Milk bottles and pails should be clean and washed after each feeding. The nipples are additionally boiled in a 2% solution of baking soda. The stall with the pet is cleaned and aired daily.

Enter the calf stall in clean clothes, wash hands before feeding.Give babies warm milk and water. Root crops are washed before cooking; rotten, moldy vegetables are not used. Carry out regular veterinary examinations. Follow the vaccination schedule.

He althy babies are active, they have a cold nose and a dry tail, clean clear eyes. If the animal is lethargic, refuses water and food, diarrhea, you should contact your veterinarian. If you treat the calf responsibly and with love, there are no problems with rearing.

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