New from AR/OK area

[hooligan]

Ahoy!
I am new to this forum but have been on BYC for a few years-though I haven't logged in there for about a year as I no longer have chickens

I am wanting to take in a calf soon and will be going to a local auction (Wister, OK) this Sat. to see if I can find one in need of a home. I am really only looking for downed or sick calves that wouldn't have much of a chance without one on one care. Silly, I know-to want to go through all the extra work, but I want to save one.

I don't really know a lot about calf care but I am here to learn so I will be checking out threads and if you can suggest other places for me to look, PLEASE let me know! I live in the Ft. Smith area.

 

[ksalvagno]

 

[jhm47]

I wish you luck, but a newbie getting a sick or downed calf is a sure recipe for disaster for the calf and the newbie. Please rethink your plan, for your sake and for the calf's sake. There are people who have the skills necessary to take these kind of calves and nurse them back to health, but they have years/decades of experience. Even these people lose a very high percentage of these calves. Calves that come from sale barns have been exposed to every virus, parasite, and bacterium imaginable. Without the skill and knowledge to recognize the symptoms of these often fatal conditions, you will have a poor result.

I would suggest that you get a calf from a private source, where it has had been fed colostrum milk, and is healthy. It may cost a bit more, but you will come out ahead in the long run.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Jhm is sooo right.

Please get a good book from the library and read up on animals before you get one.

Research is so necessary, even if you have one that is NOT SICK, let alone if one is.

I bought a little goat in Sept 09, the breeder said she had allergies, turns out it's a rare strain of pneumonia, ($300. in tests later) and I have already purchased several antibiotics and nothing has worked. So here I have a sick goat, no idea how to make her well.

Please only purchase a healthy animal from someone locally.
Sale barns are not the place for individuals to purchase animals.

DonnaBelle

 

[hooligan]

I have been reading everything I can on cows via the net and have read one book a year or so ago. I'd like to get the FFA book on cattle as it looks pretty informative, the one I read was a history book.

The reason I wanted a downed or sickly one is because it would have little chance of survival if someone didn't step in and help it. I don't mind the vet bills.