What do you do?

[txshowlamb]

Ok I just got back from a show yesterday and I notice at all of the shows we have gone to my calf wont drink water we try bringing water from home he still wont and by the time he gets in the ring he is sunk in....But yesterday he looked the best he ever has! I was very proud and happy I got to use adhesives first time this year first time ever for me using adhesives actually lol it was fun. So my question what do you all do about the water to get them to drink.....I ended up drenching him with electrolights do any of you all do this??? And also I saw people using a CPS to pump their cattle with 5-10 gallons of water what are you thought on this?
Brittney

 

[dori36]

This sounds sort of goofy, but I've had cattle drink if I mix a little Kool Aid in it.  I guess the sweetness encourages them to drink it!

 

[shortyjock89]

This sounds sort of goofy, but I've had cattle drink if I mix a little Kool Aid in it.  I guess the sweetness encourages them to drink it!

We put a box of Jell-o in a water bucket and that works too....there's actually a few things you can do.  Sometimes just giving them hay works..we've also salted their feed, or just put a handful of salt in their mouth. We've even mixed up a big thing of gatorade for a set of steers we showed for some people.  A water filter is also a good investment.  I would use it a couple days at home first to get them used to the taste of it, and then use it at the show.  Think of what makes you want to drink...if it works for us, it usually works for cattle too! 

 

[Ruchian]

A lot of times we put a little bleach in their water back home for a while before the show since the water at most shows has more chlorine in it.  Also if we are going to be watering out of a bucket at the show, we use a bucket before hand as well.

 

[kane1598]

I would be scared to use bleach/pumping.  I have seen people almost kill there calves pumping them up. We put vanilla extract in their water if they don't drink.

 

[BCCC]

I wouldnt be scared to use bleach in their water, we do it all the time it keeps them drinking at shows and keeps your tanks clean. Pumping isnt the best option but it does work good to get them filled.

 

[Jill]

If the rules allow it, we pump them

 

[yousesteers]

We use the KOOL AIDand sprite  method the carbonization in the sprite will make them look fuller as it lets off in side of them same as it will make the bottle expand and if they just absolutely refuse to drink which very seldom happens  stick a pump in them can only remember two steers in 20 plus years that we pumped very regularly and we always went to the trailer to do it I see a lot of people just do it in the grooming chute any more it used to be frowned upon much more than now it seems

 

[CM Cattle]

I have had the exact same problem at shows, they get there and won't drink anything, then they start to sink in. I would be afraid to pump them, but I think I'll try some of the other suggestions at the next show and see if I can get my steer to look a little better.

 

[BCCC]

I am going to have to try the sprite at my next show I have heard about it but never tried it

 

[TJ]

I have had the exact same problem at shows, they get there and won't drink anything, then they start to sink in. I would be afraid to pump them, but I think I'll try some of the other suggestions at the next show and see if I can get my steer to look a little better.

I've tried it all & a lot of good suggestions in this thread...  flavorings will help... kool aid, jello, gatorade (which also gives them electrolytes), sprite, or a little molossases.  A handful of salt placed in their mouth helps.  Feeding dry beet pulp helps.  Lots of hay helps.  Withholding water before the trip helps.   A filter helps, although I've never used one, but if you do all the other things, you should be OK.  

I've pumped calves, but I will never do it again, unless it is an emergency.        


BCCC... sprite works & the bubbles help blow them up.  Sprite (carbonation) & Gatorade (electrolytes) makes for a good flavoring combo with extra benefits. 

 

[BCCC]

I have had the exact same problem at shows, they get there and won't drink anything, then they start to sink in. I would be afraid to pump them, but I think I'll try some of the other suggestions at the next show and see if I can get my steer to look a little better.

I've tried it all & a lot of good suggestions in this thread...  flavorings will help... kool aid, jello, gatorade (which also gives them electrolytes), sprite, or a little molossases.  A handful of salt placed in their mouth helps.  Feeding dry beet pulp helps.  Lots of hay helps.  Withholding water before the trip helps.   A filter helps, although I've never used one, but if you do all the other things, you should be OK.  

I've pumped calves, but I will never do it again, unless it is an emergency.        


BCCC... sprite works & the bubbles help blow them up.  Sprite (carbonation) & Gatorade (electrolytes) makes for a good flavoring combo with extra benefits. 

Will they drink the sprite plain? I would think the bubbles would scare them off

 

[TJ]

IDK... we never offered it straight, always mixed.  I'm sure they would drink it straight, but you better start them well before the show & it will be expensive doing that.  We have pumped with sprite straight & it certainly adds fill, but again, I personally wont be pumping any calves anytime soon.   

 

[Diamond]

I use beet pulp in the muck buckets, Im not sure how many gallons they hold but its around 4-5 reg. buckets. anyways I let the pulp sit over night so it expands and releases its 'flavor' into the water  and they drink it better then anything I have tried. My steer this year would drink down a whole one so he could eat the pulp at the bottem, and man did he look good when he went into his class.

 

[OH Breeder]

Congrats on your first outing. That is great. Glad you had fun.

We wash the tanks out at home with bleach. The smell is always left over. We never pump. Also, get the calves use to being bucketed at home. We get our use to being tied and water bucketed at home. Or when you feed water. We have salted the feed the night before a show.

Now, in Ohio there are Livestock Tampering Rules.


State of Ohio's Livestock Tampering Exhibition Rules
The exhibitor, their family members and others acting on the behalf of the exhibitor will follow Chapter 901 Livestock Show Reform Law under the Ohio Revised Code and all rules under Ohio’s Livestock Tampering Exhibition Rules as set forth in Sections 901-19-1 through 901-19-21 and Section 901-19-33 of the Ohio Administrative Code.
A. Pumping of Cattle is Prohibited
Ohio’s Livestock Tampering Exhibition Rules 901-19-13 unacceptable practices mandatory rule prohibits using a stomach tube or pump for any purpose other than relieving gas. If a stomach pump is used for medical purposes to relieve tympany or gas on the day of show, then the animal will not be permitted to show for that day.

 

[HeiferShower14]

lol BCCC i might try the sprite at the beef expo

 

[yousesteers]

On the Sprite we put 1-2    2 liter bottles in a 5 gallon bucket then flavor it with koolaid and fill bucket with water

 

[amss101]

We take away all the water tanks about 4 days before leaving for a show and only water them out of a bucket.  The first day, they never drink but by day 2 they're coming around.  By day 4 they have forgotten their tanks and know at the show what that bucket is for.  It's a lot work at home considering a tank is easy but we don't have any trouble w/ not drinking much anymore.

 

[red]

I use a filter at the shows. It helps remove some of the city water taste & smell.
If you're going to add kool-aid or sprite start before you go to show.
I've never pumped & wouldn't do it if even allowed in Ohio. You need to make sure someone knows what they're doing if you do it. also check w/ your state rules.

Red

 

[kanshow]

I too think that 'training' them to drink from buckets needs to be done prior to showing.  We pour a can of coke/pop in the bucket for a few days at home & then do the same at the show..  the main thing is to make the water smell the same.  The heifer we showed last year was a good drinker, she'd even drink from the hose on the washrack.