When a calf is weaned from a cow, it becomes necessary to water it yourself. There are several methods of feeding a baby. The first is to feed from a nipple for 2 weeks and expose the water. Next, teach him to lap and immediately feed him semolina and hay. The second is learning to lap independently from the first day of weaning from the mother. The first method is more natural. Recommendations for teaching a calf to drink from a bucket without using a finger are the same for both options.
What is it for?
There are many instructions on how to teach drinking with your finger. In many cases, it is difficult to wean a baby that is accustomed to drinking only with a finger.It is more convenient to immediately accustom the suckling baby to lapping on its own. During the first 24 hours, the calf is fed every 4 hours. For the next 4 days, the interval is increased to 6 hours and then switched to milking mode so that the baby always receives fresh milk.
In addition to lapping up milk, the calf will be able to quench its own thirst from the first days of life. Without enough water, the baby will grow slower and get sick. Water is introduced from the 3rd day of the foal's life. Either through the nipple between milkings, or, if the calf is already able to lap, then fresh water should always be available.
How to train a calf to drink from a bucket?
Regardless of the time of weaning from the mother, the training recommendations are the same.
A method that allows you to quickly teach lapping milk or weaning it off your finger is as follows:
- A fastening for the bucket is made. This could be a ring on a post into which a bucket of milk is inserted. Or a larger container is attached, inside which a bucket is inserted. The milk container must always be clean and sterile.
- A nipple is attached to the bottom of the bucket. It should either be large enough so that the calf does not swallow it, or it should be well secured to the bottom.
- Milk is poured several centimeters above the level of the pacifier.
- If the cub shows interest in the bucket, then no other action is required from the farmer. If he goes around the container, then proceed as with the finger method: the baby is fixed with his feet, the hand is moistened with milk and given to the baby. In several approaches, lower your finger into the liquid until the baby begins to suck the pacifier.
- When the baby stops responding to the pacifier, it is removed. Usually the training process takes from 2 to 7 days.
At any age, you can teach yourself to drink, in particular water, if you put a pinch of salt on your tongue. Salt makes you thirsty, so the baby will go lap up the water himself.And a calf that knows how to lap is simply left with milk; it will quickly learn to feed itself.
Tips for livestock breeders
Here are tips from experienced farmers and veterinarians:
- Some calves have a stronger sucking reflex and are difficult to wean off the finger. To avoid the process of painful weaning from the finger, it is better to avoid this method immediately. Then they recommend either training with a pacifier and removing it soon, or not taking it away from the mother until they learn to lap.
- Don't be afraid to miss one feeding. The calves become hungry quite quickly, and at the next feeding they will react to the smell of milk and try to get it. If water is available, one missed feeding will not harm the baby's development.
You can teach a calf to lap itself easily and quickly if you know all the methods and use them. You need to try different options and not be afraid of harm if proven methods are used.
