How to Care for Orphan Calves

Several situations can lead to a calf becoming orphaned. The cow may have been a first-time mother and lacked the experience to care for her calf, or may have been sick or old. The calf may have been one of a set of twins and the cow rejected one of her young, or the cow may have died due to problems calving. Regardless of the reason for the calf becoming abandoned, it's now up to you to take care of it. This can be a challenging but rewarding experience and may even provide a learning experience for your kids.

Things You'll Need

  • Topical disinfectant
  • Colostrum from a cow that has just calved
  • Milk replacer
  • Calf bottle and nipple
  • Buckets
  • Pellets or other solid calf feed
  • Green hay or grass
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dip or swab the calf's navel with a 2 percent iodine solution or another topical disinfectant to prevent bacteria from entering and causing illness.

    • 2

      Monitor the calf's umbilical cord for infection daily. If it is long, you can cut it to about 3 inches before disinfecting; it will dry and fall off in a few days, and the navel will heal.

    • 3

      Disinfect a calf bottle and nipple; this is the easiest method for feeding an orphaned calf, though some may need help learning to nurse from it.

    • 4

      Give the calf colostrum from another cow if possible. Colostrum is the first milk the cow produces after calving and contains vital antibodies to protect the calf from disease.

    • 5

      Feed your orphaned calf milk replacer, which is available at feed-supply companies.

    • 6

      Split the calf's total daily milk into small feedings every three or four hours. This schedule helps prevent scours, severe diarrhea that can lead to dehydration and death.

    • 7

      Keep the milk temperature constant throughout your calf-feeding program to prevent problems; feeding milk at different temperatures may cause the calf to refuse it or develop scours.

    • 8

      Train your calf to drink its milk from a pail. This is more challenging than feeding your calf with a bottle, but it cuts down on feeding time later.

    • 9

      Back your calf into a corner, dip two fingers in the milk bucket, and place your fingers in the calf's mouth. If your calf is easily spooked, you can straddle its neck for more control.

    • 10

      Lower your hand slowly into the bucket when the calf starts to suck; it should follow your hand into the milk. Repeat this process until the calf learns to drink from the bucket. Be patient; it may take several repetitions before your calf catches on.

    • 11

      Provide fresh water for your orphaned calf at all times. It will start to drink water at about a week of age and milk will not give it enough liquid to prevent dehydration.

    • 12

      Give your calf small amounts of solid food, such as pellets, in its milk when it reaches about three weeks of age. This will begin to prepare your calf for weaning.

    • 13

      Introduce small amounts of green hay or grass at this stage. This will aid in the development of the calf's digestive system and ensure its health once it's weaned off of milk.

    • 14

      Begin weaning your calf from milk when it is three to six weeks old, depending on its health and how well it's eating.

    • 15

      Reduce the amount of milk you feed your calf gradually over a one-week period once it is reliably eating solid food.