Week old calf trying to nurse on pregnant heifer...bad?

[amysflock]

This morning I caught little T-Bone, Sheila's bull calf, attempting to nurse on Bridgit, who's due to calve any time...and Bridgit just stood there letting him (Sheila was right there, too). I got him away and it looked like he didn't get her plugs out on the right two quarters, but both teats were slimed. He seems very interested in Bridgit and while he will run back to Sheila as "home base," he's definitely hanging out around Bridgit.

Is this going to be a problem? I don't know whether it's possible to get her colostrum or what, or if it's maybe just an indication that she'll calve today?? (I will say her flanks are very hollowed out this morning...I could easily fit my fist in the right side hollow; otherise, udder and vulva changes are about the same as the past 24 hours.)

 

[Farmer Kitty]

You do need to try and keep him from nursing on her. Bridget's calf will need the colustrum.

Hopefully, she will calve soon and then have her calf to take care of and will discourage Sheila's from nursing on her.

 

[allenacres]

amy we had the same problem with Wellington, Nylas calf. Once he figured out how to nurse, he became a piggy and kept trying to nurse off Reba also. This was a few days before she gave birth.
Pretty funny watching Reba try and run away since a wee calf was trying to chase her, and then Nyla trying to chase after her calf. (Reba was actually trying to run from Nyla, not the calf.) Whenever I could I would chase the calf off her, but he did get some of Rebas milk.

 

[wynedot55]

the joys of having cows.id pen the springing cow away from the pair.an leave her in a pen until she calves.that way the calf cant suck her.

 

[amysflock]

I think we'll just have to be ready with the powdered colostrum. I felt Bridgit's udder today and it does feel a tiny bit smaller...but maybe that's me anticipating the worst. She didn't seem to even mind him nursing on her...almost looked a little blissed out.

We're really starting to "get" in what ways our setup is lacking for cattle management...if we lock Bridgit up, that means Sheila and T-Bone can get out (the one gate is either "main" gate or stall gate, swings to latch either way), and the second hotwire isn't up yet. So, we'll have to make due for now, but my brain is definitely starting to work up the possible changes we can (will have to) make once it's weaning time a few months from now, because this setup is not going to work!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

At least you have time to correct things before it's serious! It's all a live and learn. What sounds good or works good at one place doesn't always at another.

Is there a way you can run a small electric fence within the one you have to separate them until the calf comes?

 

[allenacres]

"We're really starting to "get" in what ways our setup is lacking for cattle management..but my brain is definitely starting to work up the possible changes we can (will have to) make "

That's a farm ownership disease ya know.

She is probably feeling blissful, if her udder is full, because its making her udderly comfortable.

 

[Thewife]

I can only go by my own personal experience here, I would get them separated asap.
If a bigger stronger calf gets in the habit of draining the wrong cow, that doesnt leave much food for her own baby.
If a cow gets tired of, or sore from, another calf nursing her, she might get a little kicky when her own calf tries to nurse.

 

[amysflock]

Amy, how does that tape-looking fencing work for you? Is it battery powered?

Our paddock doesn't have any electricity to it (the barn, either), and our hotwire runs from the well pump house, down the hotwire on the side of our backyard, then around the permitter of the pasture, to the back corner of the barn. Any fencing inside the paddock would have to be separate, I think.

DH suggested he could put a pallet in the opening to the one stall, but then how the H*LL am I supposed to get food and water in to her, un-nail the stupid thing? Ugh. Water would have to be by buckets anyway, as our hose barely reaches to the trough as it is (right on the other side of our backyard fence, which shares a fence with the paddock), and the stall is on the far side away from it.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

We've used that white tape fence. It is electric but, does work well as the cattle can see it. We use it around the corn silage pile where we had trouble with them breaking through the other stuff.

Depending on your fencer a small area fenced off inside the large pasture should be fine.

Depending on your stall setup, you could nail a couple boards across the end and then be able to poor the water over/through it. Sounds like that is another thing you need to work out.