Vaccinating an Orphan Baby Calf - Need an Answer in 30 minutes

[chambero]

Just got a call that one of my cows SEVERELY prolapsed having a calf early this morning.  Momma had to be put down because she was a long way from a lot and it was too wet to get a trailer to her.  On my way home to take care of baby that hasn't sucked yet.  We don't ever vaccinate calves until they are two or three months old.  I've got to stop and by some of the powdered colustrum to feed her and was curious what those of you that do vaccinate infants do use.  Supposedly I've got a very good heifer calf if I can keep it alive till I find nurse cow.

 

[DL]

The MOST important thing is getting colostrum or replacer or supplement in her - with orphans I recommend that you give the first 4 feedings (ie 2 days) of colostrum supplement - ie Lfeline or Colostrix - I think they are about 6 to 8 dollars each - these are supplements not replacers - if you can find replacer do as it says on the bag.

Re vaccinations - I don't treat orphans who get sufficient immunoglobulins any different than babies on the cow - alpha 7 is the only vaccine I give at birth - also give  BoSe and ADE

she should be fine 

 

[kanshow]

Good Luck!  I would follow the advice DL gave.  After you've finished with the series of colostrum feedings, get her started on a good milk based milk replacer 4X per day if possible.  Don't worry about the vaccinations until she is the age you normally give vaccinations. 

 

[JWW]

agreed from above, give the calf  powder colostrum for 2 days or so

call your vet, you may want to IV immuoglobulins to the calf, usually done to calves that haven't gotten colostrum and it past 24 hours. might be a good idea if this calf is a possible good one. they are kinda expensive but worht it if a nice heifer in my mind.


vaccinations- depends, i agree if calves get good colostrum then no worry, but we give a preventative 7-way colostridum shot to all our calves at about 7-10 days old. don't know if it helps the calves, but i sleep better at night, and its been 4 years since we have lost a calf that 2-3 months old  from clostridium

-JWW

 

[afhm]

Give it a dose of probiotics, either the gel or Fastrack makes a liquid dispersable you can put in the milk.

 

[jnm]

"we give a preventative 7-way colostridum shot to all our calves at about 7-10 days old."

How do you catch them at seven days old?

 

[chambero]

Calf is doing fine.  Found the colostrum replacer and the calf was strong enough to still suck 2 quarts down.  Just a giant heifer calf out of a 3 yr old momma (her second calf) and a Lifeline son we have.  Shouldn't have been that big by pedigree, but it was.  Momma must have just had to push to hard.  I'll give her our normal Vision 7 vaccine tomorrow.

 

[CPL]

Would it have been worth it to try and milk some colostrum out of the cow?

 

[JWW]

"How do you catch them at seven days old?"

ha- good question, sometimes we put the mama cows head into a bucket of feed while the calf is nursing and someone else runs around and snags the calf's leg while its nursing, other times, corner them in the loafing shed


- milking the colostrum out of the cow would have been idea, but due to the situation it may not have been possible. i am still an advocate for IV immunogobulins too, but sounds like you all got things going real well, good luck with the new heifer calf!

-JWW