Whether you have dairy or beef cows, there will come a time when you find yourself with an orphaned calf to raise. You will have to take the place of "mother cow", his biological mother, who, for one reason or another, refuses to have anything to do with the newborn calf. If everything you have tried to get the mother to accept the calf fails, then you will have to take care of the orphan yourself.
Steps
Step 1. Place the calf in a warm and safe place
The place must protect it from bad weather and other animals; a small enclosure in a barn will suffice. You can buy, or build your own, the calf enclosure. It must be of sufficient height not to allow the calf to come out in case it occurs to him to go for a ride.
- Make sure you cover the pen floor with plenty of straw for the calf to sleep on (for calves born in winter or early spring). Don't just put the calf in the barn without any bedding. Calves are much more sensitive to cold than cows, so they need a thick layer of straw to keep them warm.
- For calves born in the summer you will need to provide an area that is out of the sun for most of the day. However, calves do need vitamin D, so do not deprive the orphaned calf of access to sunny areas, where it can also go to sleep.
Step 2. Purchase calf care and feeding materials as soon as you can
Colostrum is the first necessity and you need to have it on hand before anything else. You can find colostrum powder in agricultural consortia and large animal veterinary suppliers.
- You have to give the calf colostrum within 24-72 hours of birth. After this period of time, the calf can easily become prone to even fatal diseases.
- Give a dose of colostrum every 2-3 hours. The dose depends on the weight of the calf, it will be about one or two quarters per meal. If the calf does not immediately latch onto the bottle you will need to use an esophageal feeder, especially if the calf is weak from the cold or as a result of a difficult calving.
- If the young calf is hungry, he will immediately latch onto the bottle, especially if you give him a taste of the powdered milk, putting a few drops on his nose and mouth. Young calves that have not been nursed naturally learn much faster. Older calves will adapt less easily because they are used to sucking milk from their mother.
Step 3. Feed the calf with the bottle or bucket every 2-3 hours, until it is 4-5 days old
In the meantime, you can gradually start changing the colostrum with powdered calf milk. Then you can start giving milk 3 times a day: morning, noon, evening. Make sure you give the calf a daily dose that corresponds to 10% of its weight.
As the calf grows, the number of daily meals may decrease. When the calf reaches one month of age, reduce its meals to two a day, and when it reaches two months, keep one meal a day. Bottle-fed calves are usually weaned at the age of 3-4 months
Step 4. Give the calf plenty of fresh water to drink
Keep a bucket of water in the pen that the calf cannot spill. Calves are curious and in no time yours will realize that that clear liquid in the bucket is good to drink.
Step 5. Give the calf a ration of high quality calf food
Find weaning food for calves in specialized consortia. This food is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, energy and other important nutrients necessary for its growth.
Make the hay it needs accessible to the calf. You have to test the hay, to make sure it is of excellent quality, because often, despite the beautiful appearance and even if green, it is poor in nutrients and therefore only serves to fill the stomach. The hay must consist of 60% of legumes (alfalfa or clover) and 40% of grass
Step 6. Ask the vet what vaccinations and vitamins / minerals should be given to the calf
This will depend on the age and health condition of the calf and the area in which it lives. Among the injections a newborn calf needs to receive are vitamins A, D, E and selenium (alone for areas with selenium deficiency!).
Additional vaccinations will be required if the cow has not been vaccinated against diarrhea, or if the calf has not received colostrum from the mother. Some vaccinations will need to be given at the age of 2-3 months, usually followed by boosters
Step 7. Keep the area where the calf lives clean
Replace the soiled straw with fresh straw every day, and use a rake or shovel (or pitchforks for removing horse manure) to remove the feces and dirty straw. Also check the area where the calf eats and, if the calf has "soiled", remove everything, including any food you find on the ground.
Step 8. Keep an eye on the calf for signs of disease
If you get diarrhea, infections (such as joints or navel), breathing problems, or anything that seems out of the ordinary, call a vet right away.
- It is natural to worry if the calf starts coughing without you knowing why. Sometimes this happens because some food has got stuck in their throat, and if they are sneezing, it's probably caused by inhaling too much dust or bits of food. If the coughing and sneezing are not regular then there is nothing to worry about. If you start coughing frequently and develop other symptoms, call your vet.
- If you do not eat meals at regular intervals, the calf's stomach will become irritated and he will get diarrhea. To prevent it, you need to maintain a regular meal frequency.
- Check the calf for ticks, fleas, lice and other parasites that could lead to disease. Use a spray that can keep mosquitoes and flies away.
Step 9. Continue to take care of the calf with commitment, and in no time you will see it transform into a large and healthy bovine
Advice
- Maintain regular schedules for breastfeeding, treatment, and necessary health interventions. This routine will help keep the calf's fragile digestive system in good condition.
- Raising the calf outdoors (in early spring, summer, autumn) is much easier and simpler. Your best bet would be to get him a companion animal (especially a goat) to show him how to lick the salt, where to eat and drink and where to sleep.
- Always keep colostrum on hand, even if you don't have cows to give birth. You cannot know when you will need it.
- If possible, let the calf have an area where it can graze. Calves can start eating grass a few days after birth.
- Give the calf a daily dose of milk that is equal to 10% of its weight. Divide the quantity into 2-3 parts, to be supplied to the calf during the day.
- A wire mesh is enough to mark the area where you want to keep the calf.
Warnings
- Calves are strong animals, so be sure to handle them without risking being kicked or butted.
- Dairy calves are more susceptible to death from disease than beef calves. Use more care and attention when raising an orphaned suckling calf.
- Do not tame the young bulls. If not educated correctly, young bulls can become very dangerous adult bulls to humans. To prevent this, do not make friends with the young bull, or castrate him as soon as possible.
