How to Care for an Orphaned Calf

If you raise livestock, there may be times when you'll have to care for an orphaned calf. In such cases, you'll take on the role of the mother cow, providing the care she would normally give when she abandons her calf. If all attempts to encourage the mother to nurture her calf fail, you will need to personally raise the abandoned young animal.

Prepare a warm, secure, and safe bedding area for the calf. Look for a location that can protect the calf from the elements or other animals, such as a barn with an enclosed fence. A purchased or homemade livestock pen can also serve as a shelter for the calf. The fence should be secure enough to keep the calf from wandering off.

• Place straw on the ground to give the calf a place to sleep (especially useful in winter or early spring). Do not keep the calf in a barn without sufficient bedding. Calves are more vulnerable to cold than adult cows, so they need a thick bed of straw to stay warm and comfortable.
• If the calf was born during the summer, you should prepare a shaded area to protect them from the heat. However, calves also need Vitamin D, so leave some space for sunlight to reach them so they can bask in the sun.

Purchase the necessary food and medical supplies as quickly as possible. You should prioritize buying colostrum from a local pet shop or a veterinary clinic specializing in large animals before getting any other supplies.

• You must feed the calf colostrum within 24 to 72 hours after birth. Failing to do so could lead to health issues and increase the risk of fatal diseases.
• Feed the calf colostrum every 2 to 3 hours. Depending on the calf's weight, give them 1-2 liters of milk each time. If the calf doesn’t know how to drink from a bottle, you should use an esophageal tube feeder to deliver the milk, especially if the calf is weak due to cold weather or a difficult birth.
• If the calf is extremely hungry, it will readily accept the bottle, especially if you gently rub milk powder on its nose and mouth. Calves that have never nursed from their mother will quickly adapt to bottle feeding. Older calves may need more time to adjust because they are used to nursing from their mother.

Provide milk to the calf in a bottle or bucket for 2 to 3 hours a day until they are a few days old. During this time, you can transition from colostrum to regular milk powder for calves. Afterward, you can feed them three times a day: morning, afternoon, and evening. Calves need to consume milk daily that equals 10% of their body weight.

• As the calf grows, you can reduce the number of feedings. Feed them twice a day until they reach one month old, and then once a day when they are over 2 months old. By the time the calf is 3 to 4 months old, you can begin weaning them off milk.

Continuously provide clean water for the calf. Choose a water bucket that the calf cannot easily tip over. They are curious creatures and will quickly realize that the liquid in the bucket is drinkable.

Feed the calf high-quality livestock feed. Specially formulated calf feed that promotes balanced growth is available at livestock feed stores. These feeds are rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, energy, and other essential nutrients for development.

• Additionally, you should offer high-quality hay. Test the hay composition to ensure perfect quality, as fresh-looking hay may sometimes be of poor quality. The hay should consist of at least 60% legumes (alfalfa or clover) and 40% fresh grass.

Consult a veterinarian for recommended vaccines and necessary vitamins/minerals for the calf. Depending on the calf's health, age, and environment, they may require Vitamin A, D, E, selenium (only in selenium-deficient areas!), etc.

• If the calf has not been vaccinated for diseases such as diarrhea, or failed to absorb the mother's colostrum, you must schedule additional vaccinations. Calves aged 2 to 3 months need repeated vaccinations for certain diseases.

Maintain a clean environment in the livestock barn. Replace bedding daily, using a pitchfork or shovel (or one of the tools typically used to clean horse manure) to remove soiled bedding or manure. Additionally, inspect feeding areas to ensure they are free from contamination. If any food has been soiled, dispose of it immediately.

Watch for abnormal signs in the calf. If the calf has diarrhea, infections (such as joint inflammation or umbilical issues), respiratory problems, or any suspicious symptoms, you should call the veterinarian immediately.

• Sometimes, you may be alarmed to hear a calf coughing or choking for no apparent reason. It could be due to food caught in the throat or accidentally inhaling dust or too much food. If the coughing or sneezing occurs occasionally, there is usually no cause for concern. However, if the symptoms persist and other signs appear, you should contact a vet immediately.
• Feeding the calf at inconsistent times can cause discomfort in its stomach and diarrhea, so it is important to stick to a regular feeding schedule to prevent this.
• Inspect the calf for ticks, fleas, lice, and other parasites that may spread diseases. Additionally, you should use insect sprays to eliminate flies and mosquitoes.

Continue feeding, nurturing, and caring for the calf until it transitions into the weaning phase and becomes a healthy cow!

• Create a feeding, care, and health-check schedule for the calf. This ensures that everything follows a proper routine and prevents any negative effects on the calf's sensitive digestive system.
• Raising the calf outdoors (during early spring, summer, and early autumn) is one of the easiest practices. You can raise the calf alongside other animals (especially goats) to help it get accustomed to food, water, feeding areas, and the barn.
• Always have colostrum on hand in case it's needed. There may be times when you will require this important supplement.
• If possible, you can let the calf graze in the field. They begin to eat grass when they are only a few days old.
• Provide the calf with a daily milk intake equivalent to 10% of its body weight. Divide the milk into 2 to 3 portions each day.
• Ensure the wire enclosure is strong enough to contain the calf inside.
• Place the calf in a well-ventilated and secure area.

• Milk-fed calves are more vulnerable to diseases and have a higher risk of mortality compared to beef calves. It is crucial to be extremely cautious when raising milk-fed calves using a bottle.
• Calves are strong animals, so it’s important to understand the correct way to handle them to reduce the risk of being headbutted or kicked.
• Do not keep male cows as pets. They can be dangerously unpredictable due to their lack of submissiveness towards humans. To prevent unfortunate accidents, avoid close interaction with male calves or consider neutering them as soon as possible.