Expert: Eileen DuJardin - 5/17/2011

Question
we had a baby calf born on our farm but when she was born the mother wasn't producing milk and had enlarged utters and had a mass growing on it as well. we had a vet come to our farm and look at the cow and determined that the calf could nurse of the mother and we shouldn't have to bottle feed the calf. the mother and calf have been doing fine until fine until earlier today when the calf stopped nursing and won't take a bottle. the calf is laying around acting like it is dying. the calf also has an enlarged tongue. what do i need to do because i don't want to lose this little calf???? please help ASAP. thanks

Answer
A new born calf is only going to nurse the cow a few times for a short duration for the first couple of days.  It may look like the cows udder hasn't been nursed, but unless you're watching them all the time, you may be missing it.

A bottle isn't a good option if you can get the calf to nurse the cow.  Can you keep the calf away from the cow, but within sight, and put them together two or three times a day?  Then you'll be able to tell if the calf is able to nurse the cow or not.

If the calf has a swollen tongue, that may be due to a hard birth, and being "stuck" in the birth canal for a period of time.  

The main question is.. have you seen the calf nurse at all?  You'll need to call the vet for the swollen tongue.  That may prevent the calf from nursing.