Things You'll Need
- Calf bottle
- Calf replacer
- Bucket with nipple assembly
- Calf halter
- Calf leash
Instructions
Remain calm. A newborn calf should be easy to catch, but a larger one will be more difficult if it's scared. Move slowly around the pen and speak in soothing tones. Do not get angry or frustrated, this will only scare the calf more.
Sit down on a chair or crate in the pen. This will help you be more patient and will make you appear less threatening to the calf.
Hold the bottle out in front of you so that the calf can see why you're there. If the calf has been bottle fed before, but you are new to it, then the calf should come to you as soon as you are calm. If the calf has never been bottle fed, you may need to catch the calf.
Get a partner to help you. Sometimes it's easier to catch a calf if someone can distract it and someone else can grab a hold of him. If you are able to catch him, even for a minute, try and squeeze some of the milk from the nipple on his lips. This will help him understand why you're there.
Get a bucket with a nipple feeder assembly or hold the bottle down, so that you are out of sight. The calf may come to eat if it can't see you. Try and hold the bottle through a fence slat or gate, keeping yourself hidden. Buckets with nipple assemblies are also sold and can be hung from a stall wall. Once the calf sees the nipple, but no person, he may come to eat. Once he does, you may be able to catch him, if necessary.