We have a pretty good heifer with nice rib shape. But on show day she can eat and drink a bunch but she doesn't fill to her potential. She doesn't eat the night before. Then the day of she gets 1/4 of her normal feed and as much natural full and beet pulp as she can eat. And she doesn't drink...
Most club calves are percentage breeds. Which means they don't have enough of that breed to be purebred. For example, to be a shorthorn they need to be at least 50% shorthorn to be purebred. If they are less they become a Shorthorn Plus. To be a Chianina heifer they only need 6% to be a...
A friend of mine had the same issue. They pulled there's off feed for a week and put the calf on straight hay. Maybe try just hay for a few days to see if there is any difference?
Rinse and comb as much as possible. Just like said above don't leave them wet. I rinse 3 times a day. I get them before the sun comes up from the turn out and rinse then feed. Rinse around lunch. Then I rinse right before dark and turn them out. Let as little sunlight as possible touch them...
I had a steer that would do this. I worked with him everyday. I started using a show halter with him. Every time he kept his head up I would reward him with releasing pressure. When he dropped his head I would apply pressure again until he kept his head up. It takes a lot of work but overtime...
If you have a quiet barn at home put a radio in the barn and have it on all the time. The barn and home should be almost the same for them otherwise they will be stressed out. I hope this helps I had the same issue with one of my steers but after putting the radio out it helped out a lot. :)