Calf Hutches vs. Stayin On Momma Til Weaning

[FutureBreeder2013]

ive always seen beef calves kept with their mommas but i wondered if hutching them would do any harm as of muscling and weight

 

[farmboy]

more harm than good, leave em on momma

 

[FutureBreeder2013]

alright thanks

 

[ROMAX]

Ithink it would be a big pain in the a$$

 

[justme]

I think keeping them on mama is the best thing.  We do have a bottle calf in one, granted she is an exceptional heifer, she's doing fabulous in it.

 

[farmboy]

every bottle calf i have ever dealt with usually never catches up... but they do make for nice pets in the pasture when they learn to take care of them selves

 

[justme]

Zach...I'm an old pro at bottle feeding.  Use to feed 50+ a time on bottles in Ohio.  I'm bet you $10 that this heifer will at least win her class a couple times this year in MO, and if I were more confident I'd bet on Jr. nationals. 

 

[farmboy]

Zach...I'm an old pro at bottle feeding.  Use to feed 50+ a time on bottles in Ohio.  I'm bet you $10 that this heifer will at least win her class a couple times this year in MO, and if I were more confident I'd bet on Jr. nationals. 

notice i said usually don't catch up, some of them do

my first 4-h calf was heifer who's mom died with a twin in her. we raised her on a bottle and kept a lamb in the same pen with her. when she got big enough she would wonder around the lawn and woods all day with that stupid lamb and just mess around. that was fun. I assisted her with the first calf, he was half way out where she couldn't push any more, if she had stood up he would've came right out. that calf won reserve best county steer. very productive bottle calf if you ask me. she's got an awesome heifer calf this year, i think my niece will show her

 

[justme]

dang no bet I guess

 

[yousesteers]

I would leave them on the Cow I dont see what the advantage would be to take them off like in the Dairy industry Most not all will do better on the cow and if you take the calf off and put them in a hutch you now have to buy milk replacer for the calf and still feed the cow without her doing any of the work raising the calf