How to Raise Baby Cows
Mama cow does the best job of rearing her young, but if you find yourself as the surrogate mother, here is how you raise baby cows.
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Instructions
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Colostrum is the most important thing you can give a new born baby cow. This is mothers first milk and is full of antibodies and nutrients vital to the new calfs development. If the mother has died and colostrum isn't an immediate option, try visiting a local dairy farm and ask them if they have some extra colostrum. This first milk also helps open up a baby cow's digestive tract and prepared their bodies for life as a cow.
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Provide your baby cow with lots of attention and a warm, dry place to sleep. Baby cows grow at a fast rate and sleep a lot. You will need to buy two fifty pound bags of milk replacement powder and bottle feed the baby calf two to three times a day. You can get a bottle and nipple at your local feed store, along with the powdered milk. Feed the baby calf powdered milk for at least two months and then you can wean the calf off of milk and give it a diet of water and a high protein calf starter grain. Hay is of course the staple of a baby cows diet.
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If you've done a good job feeding your baby cow, and have treated any sickness, you'll need to vaccinate eventually. Your local large animal veterinarian can give you free advice as to which shots you need to give your cow and for a small price, he/she can do it for you. It is illegal not to vaccinate cattle. Entire herds can be wiped out if it isn't done. Put your baby cow on pasture as soon as you can. Lush green grass is excellent to help your baby cow develop properly and grow quickly.
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