Bottle feeding calves can be a little tricky. You need to find the milk replacer that you want to use for the duration of feeding. The key is to get the calf to nurse the bottle. If this is unsuccessful, you can try to feed the calf the milk replacer out of a bucket. Sometimes a calf will nurse the bucket better than using a bottle. If both of these attempts do not work, you will need to purchase an esophageal tube feeder. If you are unfamiliar with using one of these, contact your veterinarian to show you how to properly use the tube so that you do not miss the stomach and put the milk in the lungs.
These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution
Welcome
eXtension is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America.
Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts
I am having to bottle feed a baby calf. What do I need to do and watch for?
Last Updated: March 06, 2008
Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts
Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.
This resource area was created by the: Beef Cattle community
Resource Area Feeds
In This Resource Area
Cattle Facts:
Beef Tips:
- Reproduction
- Breeding and Genetics
- Herd Health
- Management
- Nutrition
- Pastures and Forages
Glossary: