Calf required for company

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:27 pm

URGENT
----------

This is a long shot, but a friend in the midlands had 2 cows, one with a calf. The other calved and died after 2 days leaving the new calf without a mom. He has had colostrum for 2-3 days and is now having about 2 litres of man-made milk a day and is looking healthy. The owner cannot bring the group into a shed and can't leave the calf out in the hope it might suckle the other cow. Although, there was a sign that she might allow it apparently.

The owner is hand-rearing the calf, which she has done before and that doesn't bother her, but she wants company for the calf, which will be kept inside until ready to go out. Ideally a calf that has lost it's mom, or maybe a weaner if there's anyone who weans early! We don't till 8-12 months so can't help. The owner is an experienced stockperson, mainly sheep. She cannot take a full-sized animal, it has to be something smaller but doesn't have to be a dexter. She's been offered a jersey calf but wants a beef animal.

Any ideas?

Edited By Broomcroft on 1223227822

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 6:41 pm

Hello Clive,

Many dairy herds use a beef bull either on the less profitable cows or as a sweeper. So it may well be worth asking a local dairy farmer, he would be likely to know who nearby was calving at the moment and whether they use a beef bull or not, even if he couldn’t help out himself. Also as the beef calf is a by product, it is more likely that they would be amenable to selling one.

Stephanie

moomin · Post by **moomin** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:56 pm

If this happens in my herd I get the calf used to a bottle and let it run with the rest of the herd, call it twice a day, and they will come running to the bottle. They often go in the back door when other calves are feeding and top themselves up. [Often get "cradle crap" this way but they don't worry!!]. Dexters are survivors and very quick learners.
I use a lamb bottle and teat - works better than a calf teat.
Di

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:14 am

Thanks for the advice. My friend is going to go down the bottle feeding in the field route Di. The calf already runs over to be fed in the barn, so it should work out in the field as well.

But she would still like another calf if anyone has one, in the midlands area around Bridgnorth, Bewdley, Worcester.

Many thanks