Cow refusing newborn?

Go Green · Apr 3, 2019

One of my cows had her fourth calf this morning and she wont pay any attention to him. When i found him this morning he was laying by himself and the cow was standing 20 feet away among the other cows. Its 35 degrees and windy here so i carried him into the barn but she didn't follow. I got a bucket of grain to get her to follow me into the barn and locked her in with him. I poured some grain on him to get her to lick him off and she did but she knocks him down when he tries to stand. He did manage to try and nurse and she kicked him away. She has always been very attentive before this and usually helps take care of the other calves.

WH1 · Apr 3, 2019

I have had this happen before also. As long as she is not trying to kill it she will most likely come around and start taking care of it over the next day or so. Not sure why they do that sometimes. Some people have said it is a hormone imbalance. In some cases perhaps for some reason another cow cleaned the calf off before she did and now she doesn't think it is here. My cow it took about 2 days... I stood in pen with her a few times per day to make sure the calf nursed. She would let it nurse if I stood there talking to her and petting her but as soon as I got out of pen she would kick. As long as he is getting a belly full she will probably straighten out in a day or so. Good luck.

matt999 · Apr 3, 2019

Try this has worked for us.

OKshorthorn · Apr 3, 2019

If you have easy access to a chute, put her in it in the morning and night and get the baby to nurse. If she still kicks, take a rope and place it in front of her udder, tying it pretty tight across her back. I'm not sure what this does, but she won't kick. 3 days is the most we have had to do this in order for the cow to take the calf.

Good luck.

Go Green · Apr 3, 2019

Thank you for the responses! i will try these things and keep you in the loop.

Is Tylan considered penicillin?

trevorgreycattleco · Apr 3, 2019

Redwine Cattle said:
If you have easy access to a chute, put her in it in the morning and night and get the baby to nurse. If she still kicks, take a rope and place it in front of her udder, tying it pretty tight across her back. I'm not sure what this does, but she won't kick. 3 days is the most we have had to do this in order for the cow to take the calf.

Good luck.

Agreed. 100%. If you can get some milk from momma and rub it on the calf. She will recognize her scent somehow. It’s worked here. Patience is a virtue with this