sheath infection

[Anonymous]

This is a question for all of you, but especially to you, Mr. Van Ord.
When I was at the 2008 Northeast animal power field days in tunbridge last year
I had a chance to attend a demonstration in which Andy Lyon was explaining
what he knew about training calves. The calves were a pair of holsteins that
you could clearly see that they had been sucking on each others sheaths in an
attempt to milk. I heard you (Mr. Van Ord) say that this was a practice that
should not be allowed due to the possibility of infection.
Is there any way to stop this without resorting to tying or segregating,
and at what age will they stop?

Thanks,
Miles

[Carl Russell]

I have only found that separating them will do the trick. Those calves were pretty young for all that we had going on. I was trying to get them weaned, which was a bit earlier than really preferable, but I was trying to get them on solid food before they went to another farm.

They had been tied separately for the most part, but within a week of the event they had a few days on a pasture, as we were busy and chose to take the easy way to give them some exercise. Well they found a way to keep themselves busy, and try to satisfy their urge to suckle, even though they had been bucket fed from week two.

It is an important discipline, and in this case a set-back that I was not proud of. Once they get into that habit, it can take a more energy to correct it than it would have taken to prevent it. they really should have separate pens until they are well beyond the urge to suckle.

There are nursing rings that go in their noses, which have spikes to irritate the suckee, so that he won’t stand for it, but I have had mixed results, and there are other benefits to keeping and handling the calves separately anyway.

Carl

[Howie]

I think that Carl pretty much coverd it.
It is easy to prevent it, but it will take quit a while to stop it.
Keep them out of reach of each other for the first couple weeks then keep them out of reach for about an hour after feeding. Ideal time to be working them.
A calf should be bottle fed, not bucket fed. I have never seen a mother carrying a bucket.

[Author]

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