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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Management |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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Milk formula. A 'humanised' brand of baby milk is the key to raising a rhino. One must use a baby preparation with a full cream base. I have always used Lactogen, and on the following formula have raised four baby rhinos without any difficulty whatsoever; one from the day it was born. (Still in the foetal sac).
Feed four hourly during the day, i.e. 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and when the calf is very young, once at night, at 10 p.m.
Initial ratio = 8 scoops milk powder to 24 fl. ozs. water. Gauge amounts by appetite demand. All baby animals know what they want and know when they have had enough.
After a few days, increase the ratio to 10 scoops Lactogen: 24 fl. ozs., and aim for 1 scoop per 2 fl. ozs. You will then be mixing 12 scoops of powder per 24 fl. ozs. When the calf is having this ratio, that is Full Strength, and the milk base will be mixed according to this for the entire time it is on milk (about 18 months).
Because one will be soon dealing with sizeable quantities, it is much easier to do the scoops by measurement. At 41/2 months the calf will be taking 41/2 pints of milk 4 times a day. One can drop the night feed after a month.
At 5 months old the calf will be taking 51/2 pints per feed. Having achieved Full Strength ratio, one then introduces the Cereal. Start by adding 1 tablespoon of Nestum baby cereal and 1 tablespoon Energex wheat germ two times a day, then three times a day, and finally to all feeds. At about 4 months each feed will be:
41/2 pints warm water; 7 ozs. Lactogen powder (7 ozs. = 45 scoops); 5 tablespoons Nestum Cereal; 2 tablespoons Energex; 1 tablespoon Glucose, Pinch of Salt
At 5 months each feed will be:
51/2 pints Water; 9 ozs. Lactogen; 9 tablespoons Nestum Cereal; 1 tablespoon Glucose, Pinch of Salt
The calf will very soon begin to browse a little, and at this time it can go onto 3 milk feeds per day. The cereal can a be changed to oatmeal uncooked, and the calf will now have:
6 pints Water, 10 ? ozs. Lactogen Powder, 11 ozs. Oatmeal (15 tablespoons), 4 tablespoons Energex, Salt
This is the maximum milk feed. As the calf browses more will be noticed that its appetite for milk drops, and the lunch time feed can be dropped.
The calf will probably go off its food whilst teething. Don't hasty to give drugs. Mix milk according to demand. Always allow some ticks, but not too many. It is important that calf acquires an immunity to tick borne diseases, and the way to do this is to allow it to have some ticks on it.
Feeding, and the quantities to give, is really a matter common sense. A lot of cereal and a lot of Vitamin F are essential to the good health of a rhino calf. On the above formula, the calf will gain about 1 kg per day.
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Raising a baby rhino
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