How to Bottle-Feed a Week-Old Calf

Cows that have given birth to calves on farms often do not get the chance to feed their calves after the first days. Mothers are milked by a machine and the milk is sold commercially; thus, the milk is conserved for commercial use and human consumption instead of the calf. In these cases, you must bottle-feed the calf daily to ensure the calf is well fed. Powdered bovine milk replacer is sold commercially to feed calves.

Things You'll Need

  • Milk bottle
  • High-quality bovine milk replacer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain high-quality bovine milk replacer.

      Follow the instructions on the bag to mix the milk-replacer. Fill a milk bottle half-way with the formula.

    • 2

      Place the calf in a small pen to avoid distractions.

      Sprinkle a small amount of milk replacer powder on the calf's nose.

    • 3

      Stand in front of the calf.

      Avoid touching the calf until it licks the milk replacer powder off its nose.

    • 4

      Press the milk bottle's nipple into the calf's mouth.

      Remove the bottle if the calf does not nurse the bottle. Repeat the procedures in Steps 3 and 4 for approximately 15 minutes. If the calf does refuses to nurse, stop and try again later in the day. Generally, calf feedings should be 9 to 12 hours apart.