New to this cow stuff

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cliffo

New member
Joined
Jan 12, 2011
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3
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Extreme Southern California
OK. As the title says. I/we are new to this calf raising thing.  My Daughter has joined FFA and is raising a feeder calf for the fair, and I have a question or two on her behalf.  So, please be understanding cause I might not know the proper way of addressing issues.
When she bought the calf he was 29 days old and is now 61 days old. Our fair is in about 7 weeks and he needs to be at least 250 lbs. in order to go to the fair.  As of today he tipped the scale at 168 lbs. She is feeding him three times a day, morning he gets one bottle of milk replacer with about one ounce of fresh start then he gets his bucket with some show chow (grain) and alfalfa, lunch he gets more grain and alfalfa, dinner he gets another bottle (no fresh start in this one) and his grain with alfalfa.  He has been gaining about 10 ish pounds a week and at this rate it will be close by fair time, he needs to be at least 250 lbs..  After reading some of the other posts here, I am wondering if he should be feed more and I was wondering about the molasses?  I don't know how much grain he is getting at feed times but he does share a pen with another calf. My daughter thinks the other calf is eating his feed when she leaves for class, cause she will sit there while he eats and shoos the other calf away.  I know this is long, and I am sorry for that... But, we are new to this and looking for advice.  Thank you for any help or advice given.. I also don't know what breed he is, but I will ask her ASAP....
 

farmboy

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Apr 21, 2007
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5,652
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south webster ohio
i say cut out the milk and watch the hay. alfalfa can lead to problems if to much is ingested. The calves need fed seperatly if you think one is hogging the grub. the milk won't help his gaining and the hay might be filling up. Its good to have hay but not too much
 

cliffo

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Joined
Jan 12, 2011
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3
Location
Extreme Southern California
You guys rock!!! Thanks for the quick replies...!  Would putting molasses on the grain, maybe, help him eat when he gets feed? I am working nights right now so I was even thinking about going to the pen and taking him out of the pen and feeding him apart. It's rather a joke, IMO, how they have the pens set up. But, they are school pens..  What are these implants???
 

ALTSIMMY 79

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Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
672
Location
Spring Creek , Iowa
Just an implant for growth that they put in they're ear . A small pelet , your local vet would probably let you use the gun to do it with or maybe borrow from someone . Good luck ! 
 
J

JTM

Guest
I think I would try to get the calf to eat as much grain as possible. 4 lbs. a day maybe? If you can get some grass hay that would be better. Depending on how the calf reacts, I would try to slowly wean him from the milk replacer over the next two or three weeks. On a gradual basis, less milk and more grain. Make sure it has water too.This will help the stomach adjust. You may need to get some feed that has something in it for coccidiosis or scours, a medicated feed. With a calf this small there is going to be some risk in changing the feeding program around too much. There would be some risk in doing what I am saying also, that is why I suggest the medicated show feed and doing it gradually. Good luck!
 

angus88

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Dec 16, 2010
Messages
29
Location
The Good Life SE NE
I have a lot of years dealing with bottle calves, and they make an intense feeding milk replacer which is a good way to get the calf going in the first 60 days, it's by Land O Lakes.  My suggestion would be to give the calf a starter feed with molasses and just leave it in front of the calf free choice and some good quality hay.  I would also make sure the calf has clean water, I use those little buckets and I have cleaned them out daily in the past.  I use the rule of thumb for all my animals---the more water they drink, the more they will eat, which means the more they will gain.  I am very picky with my tanks and how clean the water is with all my animals and show animals.  I'm thinking it wouldn't hurt to sprinkle some milk replacer over the feed along with some fastrack or some kind of probiotic with the feed, this will help tame down that "milk belly".  Mixing in some calfmana or anamax in the feed can help too and keep the calf of track.  You can even get a high fat supplement to mix into a show feed when you get the calf switched over and that helps, but for now I would use a starter feed high in molasses and let the calf have at it along with free choice water.  Hope this all helps and good luck!!!!!!
 

texas111

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Jan 10, 2011
Messages
154
The Alfalfa needs to be cut out and replaced with sudan or coastal.  dont feed too much hay as this will act as a filler.  keep the calf on a free choice feed.  You should figure the number of days untill show and his weight to see what his average daily gain needs to be to hit show weight.  be cautious switching his feed as this could lead to scours and bloat.  probiotics would be a good idea to keep his ruman (stomach) in good working order.  I believe sprinkiling calf manna on his feed morning and evening would help you out.  the milk replacer is not helping you to add weight.  its just meeting some of his nutritional requirements.  try cutting his replacer down gradually over a week, then pour the coals to him.  the more feed he recieves the more he will gain.  dont feed too much hay.  he only needs a flake or less a day.  remember it is in your best interest to stay away from alfalfa.  I know it has more protien but it doesnt break down well in the ruman.  it is a legume and rumanants do better on grass type hay.  Talk with your ag teacher about the calf and he should be able to help you out.  Thats what he is there for.  Good luck!!! <rock>
 

texas111

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Jan 10, 2011
Messages
154
oh yeah and dont forget to implant the calf.  It sounds intemidating but its actually really easy and cheap to do.  Best of luck to ya
 

Fossey

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Jan 19, 2010
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carpenter, iowa
When you are weaning him off milk don't change how much you feed per feeding just cut it to once in the morning for a week to ten days then off milk. You also might want to pour both of  them if you havn't already, implant will help alot to add weight. Free choice the grain but also make sure it stays fresh.
 

cliffo

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Jan 12, 2011
Messages
3
Location
Extreme Southern California
This board has been A LOT OF HELP!!!!  (clapping)
I once again thank you people for all of your input. As for cutting the milk. He started off with three times aday and two bottles every feeding. This will be the last week of one bottle two times a day.  Next week he will be getting one, once a day.  I think he might not be getting enough grain... We are gonna bump that up and this Saturday we are going to see what the molasses (a little) mixed into the grain does. I. myself would like to see him just tear up the feed when he gets it. I am gonna try to leave work early today and I will be showing all of this to my daughter and hopefully she will use this site for when she needs help.  Thanks again and keep the good advice coming.. Thank You everybody!!!!!!
 

mykidsluvshorthorns

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Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
94
Location
southern Indiana
I know alot of people do things different the only advice I have or I should say what we do is halter our calves up and feed seperately we have found that we know exactly how much each calf eats and we weigh our feed. if they dont eat all of it we watch them close for a day or 2 so we usually catch one getting sick and can medicate faster plus gets them use to being tied they get 45min to eat then we pick up bowls untie and give hay this has worked great for us and we learned it on here when we was new a few years ago. and all the other post have been good sound advice for your calf.
 
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