Best ways to grow hair on calves

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Justin69.o

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 18, 2012
Messages
94
Location
iowa
What is the best products and techniques for the price out there for growing hair on calves?
 

twistedhshowstock

Well-known member
Joined
May 2, 2011
Messages
758
Location
Nacogdoches, TX
The basics for hairgrowth are pretty simple.  Keep the calf clean, keep them dry, keep them cool, keep the hair conditioned, and keep them in the dark as much as possible.  Cattle's bodies grow hair when it is needed to keep them warm,  by keeping them as cool as possible and out of the daylight we trick their body into thinking that winter is coming so they need to grow hair.  Mother nature generally does this for them as the daily temps get lower and daylight gets shorter in the fall, as that happens their body produces more melatonin which signals hair growth, fat cover, and a decreased metabolism to sustain them through the colder months.  You can use a melatonin supplement, but they really are not designed for continuous use.  You wont hurt your calf by keeping them on a melatonin supplement, but their body will become acustomed to the higher levels and it kinda throws off the whole tricking mother nature thing.  I generally recomend putting them on a melatonin supplement 60 - 90 days prior to the big show, this not only gets the increase in melatonin level to trigger hair growth, but by doing it this close to show time you have fresher, new hair growth which generally looks a lot better anyway.
Beyond all of that it takes work, work, and more work.  Calves need to have their hair worked daily for optimal hair growth and training.  In my opinion they should be rinsed, brushed, and blown at least once a day.  Two or three times a day if temps are warm and you dont have a cool room or mister system to keep them cool throughout the day.  Not only does the rinsing and blowing stimulate the hair which keeps it healthy, but the rinsing during the heat of the day aids in cooling the animals core body temp which allows for more hair growth.  If the calf's core body temp is high, then they are going to pant, sweat, and shuck hair to cool themselves.  Remember to only RINSE daily, dont shampoo more than once or twice a week unless you absolutely must.  Shampoos strip the natural oils of the hair and skin, which results in dry flakey skin and dry brittle hair. I do recomend applying some type of conditioner daily. There are several things that work.  I think Sullivans Kleen Sheen and the productslike it are very good, some leave in, spray type conditioners for human hair are very good also.  Or you can follow the link above and mix one of the many home remedies, I think they all work really good.  I will say that avoid the heavier products like Revive for daily use unless the calf has flakey skin.  I will use Revive once or twice a week about a week or so before a big show just to get some bloom and luster to the hair, and I use it fairly lierally the night before show.  I find that when used the night before the show the oiliness of the revive tends to coat the hair and keep any manure or dirt from really adhearing to the hair overnight and makes show day wahing much easier.  But I find that the heaviness of those type products can be a little much for daily use and actually hinder good hair growth, especially in the summer.
 
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