The calves are here!

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The calves are here! The guy brought them 65 miles (on the freeway) in the freezing cold in the back of his pickup. They are a bit skinny but I will fatten them up (worked on my husband!)

They went out in the pasture for about an hour and a half today. I am terrified they will get bloat as they have been penned up and underfed. I gave the two of them about a coffee can of "calf starter" this morning (a little more than they usually got). I have been checking them every half hour. Once I went out and they were lying down and so I assumed they were sick and made them get up and walk around so I could look and see if they were bloated.

I want to let them loose again but am nervous they will overeat (the grass is really green and lush but not long). The lady at the feed store said they need a cow magnet?? Do they really?

Am I being too worried about bloat??

Here are some pictures of them if you are interested- http://hometown.aol.com/wwodahs/cows.htm

Amy

-- Amy Richards (tiggerwife@aol.com), October 31, 2000

Answers

I have absolutely no idea why a calf should be given a cow magnet. They are sometimes given to cows who may eat stray pieces of wire nails, etc. to keep them from passing into, and puncturing, the intestines, eventually killing the animal.

I think I would keep them inside for a couple of weeks to get really up on their feet before letting them outside. Bloat shouldn't be a problem this time of year.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 31, 2000.


Like Ken says, those magnets are put in a cow to collect stray metal they might eat sometime down the road. Find someone else for advise. Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), October 31, 2000.

I looked at their picture, they are really beautiful! I love little calves. Are they both girls? I really love the spotted one. I am hoping to get me a good milk cow again.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), October 31, 2000.

I would really ease the into fresh pasture, you might want to get some "CORID" to keep the scours away, give them some dry hay and watch them closely for shipping fever!

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), November 01, 2000.

Amy, they are lovely little ones! God bless you for giving them a wonderful home. Please keep us posted on their progress.

-- Phyllis (almostafarm@yahoo.com), November 03, 2000.


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