How to quickly train a calf to drink without a finger out of a bucket, the best methods and tips
When weaning a calf from a cow, it becomes necessary to water it independently. There are several methods for feeding your baby. The first is to feed from the teat and expose the water for 2 weeks. Next, teach to lap and immediately feed with semolina and hay. The second is teaching yourself to lap on your own from the first day of weaning. The first way is more natural. The guidelines for how to train a calf to drink from a bucket without using a finger are the same for both options.
What is it for?
There are many instructions on how to teach drinking with a finger. It is difficult in many cases to wean a baby who is accustomed to drinking only with a finger afterwards. It is more convenient to immediately accustom the sucking cub to self-licking. On the first day, the calf is fed every 4 hours. 4 subsequent days, the interval is increased to 6 hours and then transferred to the milking regimen, so that the calf always receives fresh milk.
In addition to licking milk, the calf will be able to quench its thirst on its own from the first days of life. Without enough water, the baby will grow more slowly and get sick. Water is introduced from the 3rd day of the foal's life. Either through the nipple between milkings, or if the cub already knows how to lap, fresh water should always be available.
How to train a calf to drink from a bucket?
Regardless of the time of weaning, the training guidelines are the same.
The method for quickly teaching milk to lap or weaning it from the finger is as follows:
- A bucket mount is made. This can be a ring on a post, into which a bucket of milk is inserted. Or a larger container is attached, inside which a bucket is inserted. The container with milk must always be clean and sterile.
- A nipple is attached to the bottom of the bucket. It should either be large enough to prevent the calf from swallowing it, or well secured to the bottom.
- The milk is poured several centimeters above the dummy level.
- If the baby is interested in the bucket, then no other action is required from the farmer. If he bypasses the container, then they act as with the finger method: the baby is fixed with his feet, the hand is moistened with milk and given to the baby. In several approaches, the finger is dipped into the liquid until the baby begins to suck on the nipple.
- When the baby stops responding to the nipple, it is removed. Usually the training process takes 2 to 7 days.
At any age, you can teach yourself how to drink, in particular water, by putting a pinch of salt on your tongue. Salt makes you thirsty, so the baby will go to lap the water himself. And a calf who knows how to lap is simply left with milk, he will quickly learn to eat himself.
Breeder tips
Here are some tips from experienced farmers and veterinarians:
- Some calves have a more sucking reflex and are difficult to wean from a finger. To avoid the process of painful weaning from the finger, it is best to avoid this method immediately. Then it is recommended either to teach with a pacifier, soon removing it, or not to take it away from the mother before learning to lap.
- Don't be afraid to miss one meal. The calves get hungry quite quickly, and the next feeding they will react to the smell of milk and try to get it. If water is available, one missed feeding will not harm the development of the baby.
You can easily and quickly train a calf to lap by itself if you know all the methods and use them. You need to try different options and not be afraid to harm if you use proven methods.
