People who raise beef cattle or dairy cows must have had to take care of an 'orphaned' calf. You have to act like a mother calf when the mother calf refuses to take care of her. You have to take care of the calf if you have done everything but the mother still cannot accept her calf.
Step
Step 1. Put the calf in a warm and safe place
Place the cow in a place that protects it from bad weather or other animals. A barn with a small cage inside is sufficient. Cow pens, whether purchased or made, are also great for these calves. The fence should cover enough area to prevent the calves from escaping if they want to roam.
- Be sure to put straw on the ground for the calves to sleep on (applies to calves born in winter or early spring). Don't just put the calf in the barn without putting a bed on it. Calves are more susceptible to cold weather than adult cows and thick straw bedding will keep them warm.
- Calves born in summer should stay in an area where they are protected from the sun. However, calves also need vitamin D. Don't keep them out of total sunlight.
Step 2. Purchase rearing equipment and feed the calves as soon as possible
Colostrum should be a priority and available before you buy any other equipment. Powdered colostrum can be purchased at your nearest pet food store or veterinary clinic.
-
You must Feed calves colostrum within 24-72 hours of birth. If given after this period of time, the calf will be more susceptible to life-threatening diseases.
-
Colostrum should be given every 2-3 hours. Depending on the calf's weight, you should give 0.95 or 1.9 liters of colostrum per feed. If the calf doesn't want to drink it straight from the bottle, use an esophageal feeder, especially if the calf is weak due to cold weather or the birth process.
When hungry, the calf will immediately accept the bottle, especially if you force him to taste the milk by rubbing formula milk on his nose and mouth. Calves that are young and have never suckled from their mother will learn to suckle from a bottle quickly. Older calves are much more difficult to bottle feed because they are used to suckling from their mother
-
Step 3. Feed the calf by bottle or pail every two to three hours for a few days after birth
Between these periods, you can slowly change the formula from colostrum to normal formula for calves. After that, you can start feeding the calf three times a day: morning, noon and night. Be sure to give the calf 10% of the calf's body weight every day.
Over time, the number of feedings may begin to decrease. Reduce feeding to twice a day when the calf is one month old, then once a day when the calf is over two months old. Stopping bottle feeding can be done when the cow is 3-4 months old
Step 4. Always have drinking water available
Provide a bucket filled with water that the calf cannot turn/spill over. The calf is always curious, and will soon learn that the clear liquid in the bucket is drinkable.
Step 5. Give the calf good quality food specifically for calves
Foods specially formulated for calves can be purchased at your local pet food store and are great for helping calves grow. This food contains a lot of protein, calcium, phosphorus, energy and other essential nutrients that are essential for the growth of calves.
Also provide a good quality hay calf. Try feeding the hay first to make sure it's of good quality because hay that looks good often contains more of the other ingredients, even if it's green. Straw should consist of 60% legumes (alfalfa or clover) and 40% grass
Step 6. Discuss the types of vaccinations and vitamin/mineral injections your calf will need with your veterinarian
Depending on the health condition and age of the calf and where you are located, the calf needs certain injections such as vitamins A, D and E, selenium (only if you are in a selenium-deficient area), etc.
Calves will need more vaccinations if you don't vaccinate them for diseases like scour (calf diarrhea), or if you don't give them colostrum from their mother. Calves aged 2-3 months, must be given certain vaccinations. At that age, calves also often need special fluids
Step 7. Keep the calves' living quarters clean
Replace dirty hay every day with fresh hay. Use a pitchfork and shovel (or a type of pitchfork made specifically for cleaning cow dung) to remove soiled dung or hay. Also check for any "accidents" at the calf feeder, and if so, clean up the soiled food.
Step 8. Watch the calf for signs of disease
Call your vet if your calf has scour (calf diarrhea), infection (such as joint or belly pain), breathing problems, or any symptoms that seem unusual.
- A coughing calf is easily mistaken for something serious. Sometimes, cows cough or sneeze because they accidentally ingest too much dust or food and choke on the food. You don't have to worry about it if it doesn't happen often. However, contact your veterinarian if your cow is coughing a lot and has other symptoms.
- Irregular feeding can cause the calf to have abdominal pain and diarrhea. Regular feeding will prevent this from happening.
- Check for fleas and other insects capable of spreading disease on the calves. Spray also insect repellent to reduce the number of flies and mosquitoes.
Step 9. Continue to feed and care for the calf until weaning time and watch it grow into a healthy cow
Tips
- Make a feeding and feeding schedule for cows and their health history. This ensures that you take care of it regularly so that it doesn't hurt the calf's fragile digestive system.
- Raising calves outdoors (in early spring, summer, and early fall) is one of the best and easiest ways to raise cows. It's also a good idea to give cows to animal friends (especially goats) to show them places to lick minerals, drink water, eat, and shelter.
- Always have colostrum on hand. You don't know when you will need it.
- If possible, let the calf have an area where it can eat grass freely. Calves can start eating grass when they are a few days old.
- Give milk as much as 10% of the calf's body weight every day. Divide this amount into 2-3 feedings.
- Wire fences are good enough to confine calves in the area.
- Leave the calf in an open and safe place.
Warning
- Dairy calves are more susceptible to death from disease than beef calves. You have to be extra careful when giving colostrum to dairy calves by bottle.
- The calf is a strong animal. So, make sure you take care to minimize the risk of being bumped or kicked.
- Don't keep bull calves as pets. Bulls can be very dangerous to humans. To prevent this, don't befriend him or castrate the calf as soon as possible.
