Has a calf suckled?

[aj]

I had a weird thought today. I was tagging and weighing a baby calf today(1 of 4). He was fairly big born at night so I was wondering if he had sucked yet. I was considering whether to tube him or not when he took a leak. Does this mean he has sucked or not? I know if I see a calf defecate I always thoght that mean't a calf had eaten. What about a calf taking a leak? Any thoughts out there?

 

[sawboss]

One of my son's heifers calved last week and the calf did not suck for two days and still urinated.  We were at the point of tubing the calf when I noticed the plug of gunk in the rectum had not been passed completely.  I caught the calf and cleaned the obstruction and the calf immediately went to the cow and started nursing.

 

[red]

I guess I'd have tubed it fairly quickly. Not sure I'd have waited 2 days.

Red

 

[ROMAX]

Ididn't think they would live that long not sucking,i'm kinda anal about calves sucking i'll catch the cow and put the calf on just in case.Half the time i iprobably don't have to but lets me sleep at night.

 

[kanshow]

Does it hurt to tube them if they have sucked and you didn't know it?

 

[aj]

If I want to go to bed or if its cold and if its a first calf heifer alot of times |I'll just give it half a tube and I can forget about it for a while. Sometimes 1st calf heifers ar slow coming into milk also. I guess a baby calf would be hydrated through the cord enough that he probably could uran8 without drinking then.

 

[red]

I don't think so but if we tube we don't give E-coli vaccination since it's in milk replacer.

Red

 

[ROMAX]

Good idea to tube a first calf heifer as she might not have enough colostrum or be into her milk and it will help the calf get going better.

 

[Davis Shorthorns]

Does it hurt to tube them if they have sucked and you didn't know it?

No it doesn't unless something happens while you are tubeing them.

 

[sawboss]

I tried to bottle feed and pail feed, lack of experience is a quick teacher.

 

[farwest]

A trick is when a heifer calves or even cows in cold weather a to give them just a taste of clostrum in their mouth. Even a syringe full squirted in their mouth will spark their appetite and get them going after it. I've seen it prevent a lot of messing around.

 

[simtal]

another diagnostic tool we use is to feel the calf's flank.