How to Feed a Calf

A variety of situations arise when you need to know how to bottle-feed a calf. Sometimes, the cow is simply not producing enough milk. In the case of twin births, the cow may only have enough milk for one calf. Infection in the cow's udder, death of the mother and a variety of other problems means that a cattle farmer needs to be prepared to hand-feed a calf if he wants it to survive.

Things You'll Need

  • Calf bottle with nipple
  • Milk-replacement formula
  • Bleach or sterilizing liquid
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine how much milk replacer the calf needs every day by calculating 8 percent of the calf's birthweight. The result is roughly the amount of liquid it needs throughout the day (see Reference 1). Mix half of that for a morning feeding. Feed the remainder nine to 12 hours later. Always mix milk replacer according to the directions on the bag. Ensure that the mixture is a consistent temperature as consistency encourages the calf to feed. Put the liquid into a sterilized calf bottle.

    • 2

      Take the calf to a safe area such as a private pen or a calf hutch so you are out of the way of other animals that could disrupt the feeding.

    • 3

      Straddle the back of the calf and gently squeeze it between your knees. Bring the bottle over the top of the calf's head and try and get the nipple into its mouth.

    • 4

      Hold the bottle at a downward angle toward the calf. This keeps milk on the nipple at all times to prevent the calf from sucking in air bubbles. It also mirrors the natural drinking position for the calf.

    • 5

      Clean and sterilize all feeding equipment after each feeding. Clean the nipple thoroughly, using bleach or another disinfectant to ensure that no milk remains and that no bacteria can grow on the feeding equipment.