Big Suckling Calf

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I have a 10 month old heifer beef calf that is still nursing. Her mother is due to calf next month. Problem is, most of my family says I don't have to worry about seperating them because if they were out in a large herd, they wouldn't be monitered that closely. Question = do I have to seperate the calf from the mother BEFORE she freshens? Is it absolutely necessary for her to produce colostrum? I have an electric fence seperating them right now but they beller back and forth all the time and I have relatives camping in the yard the next few nights. Have any of you ever experienced not letting the cow dry up all the way? Thanks !!

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), July 04, 2001

Answers

well, guess I'm gonna answer the post myself. My daughter got the brainy idea to call the vet. (why I never thought of that) - anyway, he said YES you do have to seperate them because the older calf will continue to suck and not allow the younger one any - plus the new calf needs the colostrum to help prevent disease, etc. Not what I wanted to hear - got the problem of trying to come up with a permanent place to keep her. There's always something - isn't there?

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), July 05, 2001.

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