How to Care for an Abandoned Cow Calf

Caring for an abandoned cow calf is very rewarding, and you will acquire some great animal-handling skills in the process. Caring for a calf from birth to weaning can also introduce children to taking on responsibility for another living creature. Learning to calculate feed quantities and record growth patterns puts math and biology concepts to practical use.

Things You'll Need

  • Pen or enclosure
  • Sterile bottles
  • Sterile knife or scissors
  • Calf teats
  • Colostrum
  • Clean buckets
  • Fresh water
  • Bottle of 7 percent tincture of iodine
  • Disinfectant
  • Whole milk or milk replacer
  • Calf starter pellets
  • Clean towels
  • Straw
  • Square hay bales
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare a clean, dry and draft-free pen or enclosure to minimize stress for the calf. The enclosure must be big enough for the animal to move around and stand comfortably. You can use square bales of hay to create a small pen within a shed. Good ventilation is essential to reduce disease. Cover the floor with fresh straw and replace it when soiled.

    • 2

      Wipe any remaining afterbirth and dirt from the animal using a clean towel and boiled warm water. Trim the umbilical cord to within 2 to 3 inches of the calf's belly with a sterile knife or scissors. Dip the cord stub into a bottle of 7 percent tincture of iodine to promote healing and prevent the entry of bacteria. Handle the calf gently but not too much as this may induce stress.

    • 3

      Feed the calf colostrum, 2 to 4 quarts, within the first few hours after birth. Continue to feed colostrum for 3 to 4 days. Colostrum is the first milk produced by a cow after calving and is high in protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. It also contains the immunoglobulins needed to protect the calf from infection. You can get colostrum from a freshly calved cow, or in frozen form from a dairy or farm produce store. Begin feeding fresh whole milk or a milk replacer on the fifth day. Feed twice a day using a sterile bottle and calf teat or train the calf to suck from a bucket. Each day it should consume enough milk by weight to equal about 10 percent of its birth weight (1 quart of milk weighs 2 pounds). Provide calf starter pellets and fresh water at all times.

    • 4

      Wean the calf off milk when it is eating 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of calf starter for three days in a row. This can take 6 to 12 weeks. You can do the weaning abruptly or gradually by cutting back to one milk feed a day for 4 or 5 days before eliminating completely. Gradually add hay and grain to the diet and give the calf time outdoors with other calves and cows.

    • 5

      Consult with a local veterinarian to work out a vaccination program to protect the calf against respiratory, digestive, and other disease pathogens. It is essential to have clean hands and keep all feeding and other calf-handling utensils clean or sterile when caring for your calf.