How to Save a Bucket Calf

Raising a bucket calf involves taking a calf off its mother immediately so that it never nurses from a cow. While this is done on a regular basis on cattle farms, bucket calves are more frail than regular calves and can become ill easily. Knowing how to properly raise them will increase your chances of saving your own bucket calf.

Things You'll Need

  • Bucket
  • Milk replacer
  • Probiotics
  • Antibiotics
  • Calf starter feed
  • Water
  • Shelter
  • Pen
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dip your fingers into the milk replacer and allow the calf to suck the milk off your fingers. Once the calf is seeking your fingers, dip your hand into the milk and bring your fingers up until the calf seeks them and sucks them in the milk. Repeat until the calf is drinking the milk from the bucket.

    • 2

      Provide a small pen, shelter, clean bedding, fresh water and a companion for the calf. Another calf is ideal, but a goat or any animal small enough and patient enough to bond with your orphan calf will work. Give the calf a salt-lick and calf-starter pellet immediately so it can begin the process of learning how to eat.

    • 3

      Provide probiotics in the milk-replacer to assist the digestive tract's development and prevent diarrhea. The calf must develop a healthy rumen to process solid foods, and the addition of probiotics to its diet is an excellent way to help the gut develop and stay healthy. If the calf becomes ill, it may be necessary to give it antibiotics, which will help it fight off infection.

    • 4

      Observe the calf closely three times a day. The calf should appear alert, it should have a wet nose, and its tongue should be either black or pink. If any of these are lacking, or if there are watery stools that occur more than twice an hour, call a vet and have the calf examined. Sick calves can go downhill very quickly, so treatment is important if the calf is ill.

    • 5

      Feed the calf 10 percent of its body weight in milk morning and night. Dividing this into additional feedings can be good for the calf, as it will naturally get hungry between feedings. Follow the instructions on the milk-replacer and begin teaching the calf how to eat solids by adding some calf starter pellets to the bottom of the bucket when the calf is nearly finished.The calf will slurp up the calf-starter with the milk and begin to learn the flavor and texture of solids. At four to six weeks, you should be able to wean the calf to solids, which will make it healthier as it will be getting all its needed nutrition through the feed you can provide for it.