How to Get a Bottle Calf to Eat

Bottle-raised calves are often calves taken from dairy cows shortly after birth. Dairies want their cows producing milk for human consumption, and so they are happy to let buyers take the newborns off their hands. Baby calves are usually greedy eaters, but occasionally when being bottle-fed, a calf will be reluctant to nurse. There are several steps you can take to get the persnickety animal to nurse with gusto, including the technique of overhead feeding.

Things You'll Need

  • Calf starter
  • Bottle
  • Vitamin B complex
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the bottle halfway with warm milk replacer. By starting with half a bottle, you don't risk wasting as much milk in cause the calf won't feed. Make the milk nice and warm as it will be more palatable to the calf.

    • 2

      Straddle the calf. Hold the calf firmly between your knees, with its head facing forward.

    • 3

      Drip a few drops of milk on the calf's nose. If the calf is still reluctant to nurse, place a few drops of milk on its nose and wait for it to lick it off.

    • 4

      Lean forward until your chest is over the calf's head. This will give it the same sensation it would get feeding from its mother.

    • 5

      Place the bottle in the calf's mouth several times for about 15 minutes in the morning. If the calf doesn't suckle the bottle, stop for the morning and try again that evening.

    • 6

      Talk to the baby calf while feeding. The calf will grow accustomed to your voice and eat more readily when it hears you.

    • 7

      Give the calf a shot of vitamin B complex, which will stimulate its appetite.