Three Weeks Early

The fall cows are not suppose to start calving until the first of September.  And the Hereford bull wasn't put in until a week later.   So the Hereford cross calf  born Thursday is at least 3 weeks early.  Joe said it was shear luck that he even saw the calf.  The cow had had it then left it to be back with the herd.  Joe was able to get her and the calf up.   But the calf is not very vigorous.  

It weighs about 40 pounds.  It sucked 1/2 a bottle of colostrum Joe went back with but the next feeding he wouldn't nurse.  

I ended up having to tube feed him.  

He wasn't doing any better the next day so we loaded him up and brought him back to the house.  There was no way he would be strong enough to nurse the cow, so Joe turned her back out.  

He was born Thursday.  I have had to tube feed him 3 times so far.  This evening he did manage to nurse about 1/2 of what we were trying for.  Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.