Free for all suckling

[davidw]

I have two young cows, almost identical sisters although one is one year older than the other. Their calves seem to suckle from either one of them and sometimes the older cow will suckle both calves at the same time. One of the cheeky calves has even started to steal milk from a heifer that has isn't due to calve for a week or so. I've not seen this free for all suckling before, is it common?

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I don't think it is common unless cows are trained to multisuckle. Some will just not entertain this at all.

I lost a cow due to eating plastic and twine this year, and when she was ill I realised it was not going well. Her mother who had a new calf at foot came into the area where I was nursing the cow, and I shut them all in together. The calf of the ill cow transferred interest to granny with no effort from me, and granny took on grandson as well as son. Shortly after I transferred granny with son and grandson to a small field with her mother, and over the course of the summer I have often seen great granny suckling the orphan calf as well.

Duncan

[Louisa Gidney]

I've had cows whose calves have, as it were, invited a friend for tea and both calves have suckled from one cow.

[SteveM]

we have had a couple of cows who haven't minded a 2nd calf joining in, mormally around this time of year so perhaps as mum is starting to dry up or loose interest the calf looks else where.