Bonding A Cow To An Orphan Calf

In last weeks video, I spoke about one of our calves that had passed.
Later that day I took delivery of this lovely little chap, a 2 week old orphan calf.
I locked the Mum and the new calf in the barn, and was advised to keep them locked in together for 5 - 7 days. During this time I have been trying to feed him formula - just in case.
Some days he drinks it, some days he doesn't...... Which could be a sign he is getting some milk from the cow (?).
The instructions on the bag recommend 2 x 2 liter feeds per day, we have been doing 1 feed a day of 2 liters. We want him to be a little bit hungry so he keeps trying to get milk from Mum.
Hunger is a great incentive!
Today is day 6 and I have opened up the gate to allow the 2 of them to got outside, in the corral.
Some sun and green grass will be nice for them both. In the evening they will be locked back inside, out of the cold night air.
I did consider letting Mum back out into the paddock with the others, but she is still company and will be generating body heat which will be nice for the calf on these cold nights.
We have named the calf 'Socks' because of his white back feet.

[@skellyy1]

Will keep my fingers crossed and hope they bond.

[@NE_Victoria_Australia]

Thank you. It can be a bit hit n miss sometimes. But we will make sure he is fed and warm and hope for the best. :-)

[@toriwolf5978]

Good luck let us know if she accepts that calf as her own ❤

[@NE_Victoria_Australia]

Thank you for the comment Tori. Indeed I shall keep the updates coming through. I plan to keep them together regardless though. As company, and as a 'heat' source for the calf - it is Winter here now! :-)