New to raising calves

[Micki21965]

Hi,
I am new to raising calves and have a few concerns/questions. We bought to holstein calves at auction. One is 110 pounds and has scours. The other is 97 pounds and won't take a bottle tonight. We got them last night and fed both 2 quarts of medicated milk replacer (all my local feed store had) well both took there bottles great. This morning again both took there bottles, but I noticed that the 110 pound one had water like stool. I gave him electolytes this afternoon but he only took about a pint. He has been drinking water from a bucket so I set the bucket up with electolytes. Well tinight he seems to be doing better but the 97 pound calf won't take his bottle. I took his temp and it was 100.8. I don't know what to do for this little guy. Any information would be greatfully appreciated

 

[jhm47]

Get in contact with a vet ASAP! Your calves are in serious trouble, and you need someone with real expertise like a vet. You must make sure that the replacer is real milk protein, and not soy protein. Then, keep those calves hungry for at least a week. This means underfeeding them slightly (no more than 1.5 quarts per feeding. They will seem ravenously hungry, but they will survive just fine for a week or so. Overfed calves are often dead calves. Don't let them have access to water till they are started on dry feed, or at least till they are 3 weeks old. Let me repeat----GET IN TOUCH WITH A VET. NOW! And---good luck! Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[larryj57]

JHM47 gave me the best advice on bottle calves,keep them hungry and make sure they are not on a soy based milk repacer.
I raised 6 Jersey calves since last oct ,using his advice and they are REAL close to butchering size/age. Thanks JHM>