Newbie in Horowhenua

Kia ora
I am new to this site. I am on 1 ha fertile land just south of Levin.
Amongst my vege garden, chooks, fruit trees and sheep, I recently started feeding young calves. 2 are doing super but the new 5 day old one seems reluctant to drink. I have read earlier threads which have been useful and I am trying not to panic. It is a beautiful angus cross bull calf in great condition with a shiney coat who was with mum for 4 days.
I am hoping it just needs time to settle. It has drunk maybe 400ml milk today and some electrolytes. Any advice would be gladly taken!
Many thanks
Jo

Hi and welcome Jo, how far south of Levin, I'm on McLeavey road.
Perhaps your new calf is still getting used to leaving Mum and getting used to a different teat. Leaving his mother if he was with her for 4 days can be a bit stressfull too.
It may take him a couple of days, just make sure he is getting little and often. His appetite should pick up soon.

Hi Sue! Thanks for your prompt warm reply. I am probably almost opposite you on CD Farm Road (surrounded by cabbages)!
Yeah I am hoping it is just re-adjustment but also worrying about dehydration as from what i can glean that is often the killer. He is still bright & alert and has moved from one corner of the shed to the other to the nice bedding I had put down for his night time so that cheered me up. He has had a dribble of warm every few hours which i figured is better than nothing & more like nature. I am also trying to leave him alone so lessen stress etc.
Cheers
Jo

How old are your other calves? Is the new guy close to them? He might be feeling a bit lost, if they are being fed in the morning he might show more interest and drink at the same time.
Is he still less than a week old-if I read your post right-he is 5 days old and been on Mum for 4 days? Had he been fed off other than a cow before you got him?
Hope tomorrow brings his appetite, good idea to keep the liquids going but he probably doesn't like the taste of it as well as powdered milk-it will take time!
We'll have to have a Horowhenua get together at some stage!

If you are trying to train him to drink out of a bucket rather than with a teat, that can take some time to learn. And male babies tend to be lots more stupid than females (.

The other calves are abit older (and hilarious chasing chooks!) about 8-10 days. He watched them run at the milk bar this morning. I have put little one in its own bedroom tonight after a small drink so he doesn't get harassed by the boisterous ones. He had a one day at the milk bar (with real milk) between mum and my house and was slightly reluctant but did drink, I will have a chat to dairy farmer tomorrow morning as well. Thanks for your ideas, Yes would be good to meet up one day!

Yip teat feeding....

Got some fresh colustrum this morning and the it was guzzled down! Think he doesn't like the powdered milk....

Good to hear!
Just try mixing colostrum with the powdered gradually and he should be right!

Jo, unless you have lots of free grazing, you are probably hugely overstocked. If all your 1 h is pasture, that will comfortably run up to 8 sheep or perhaps 3 cattle. The problem with sheep running with cattle is that sheep eat and need very short grass, and cattle need longer grass. Thus you need at least 3 paddocks to provide this.

Hi Longridge
I don't think so, there are a few ewes & lambs running around, then the 3 calves in the shed & yard paddock.

Once they are weaned the calves are going to my parents place on 6 acres, then onto 100 acres....so yeah sort of got lots of free grazing!

Thanks
Jo

Whoever suggested feeding calves electrolytes in ice cream containers - THANKS!

I can't find the thread again but it worked really well for a sick calf who has since bounced back, and I have tried for different things like introducing moo-sli - they def seem to like the containers. I'm glad now that my flatmate ate so much ice cream!