Feeding a new calf

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I'm in 4-H and applied for the Shayr a Heifer program. I'm going to get an ayrshire calf and I'm wondering about future things. I don't have access to silage so would she do alright being raised on pasture and grain and hay? I really have no Idea, I'll have her until she is two and then I'll sell her, my guess is that she will not have calved by then so I'm not going to worry about milking.

Thanks, Suzanne

-- Suzanne (hugging_calves@yahoo.com), March 22, 2001

Answers

Suzanne:

See if your library can get you a loaner copy of Raising a Calf for Beef by Phyllis Hobson. It is a Garden Way book (didn't check the Countryside Book Shelf - they might have it also.) Even though she is a dairy breed, principles are the same.

Dairy cattle come into first heat far earlier than beef breeds. But then I've had two calve on me, both beef breeds, plus one Jersey- cross I aborted, which couldn't have been much more than nine-months or so when they were bred. If she will be running with a bull, you can pretty well assume she will either be bred or will have had a calf by two years of age.

You would need to start her out on milk replacer (unless you have access to your own cow or goat milk) and then gradually introduce her to calf grains, good hay and green grass as she gets older. You can gradually wean her off the milk replacer as she gets just a bit older. Once a calf gets to be about 200 pounds, it can pretty well live independent of momma, natural or you.

The bag of milker replacer will give their recommendation for the amount to feed, but I have about a ten-day old bottle calf who is taking about twice that, plus wanting more, without scouring. About up to 2 1/2 gallons of it a day. I do add one raw egg a day. May not make a difference, but I don't think it hurts either.

Be particular about the calf you accept. If it didn't nurse off momma for at least a day, don't accept it. If a calf doesn't get that initial colostrum direct from momma, it is fighting an uphill battle, and as often as not, loses.

Raising a bottle calf can be fun. When mine hears me coming, he starts bawling and then nudges me until I sit down on the bale and get the bottles ready for him.

Have fun, but just be ready for a disappointment. Renee can tell you about that, having just lost two of her auction bought bottle calves.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 22, 2001.


I know the basics as I have worked for the University of Wisconsin River Falls Dairy Farm for 2 years raising and showing calves. These calves are bought from the Select Ayshire Auction so I'm assuming that they have been taken care of. Also the man who is in charge of this has been doing it for years with out a problem. basically, I know how to feed a calf through about 12 months, but after that with no access to silage, would her growth be stunted by pasturing her, I definately would still use some grain and vitamin suppliments. I'm also wondering if she will need Hay in the summer or if the grass (It's a good pasture) would be sufficient?

Thanks again, Suzanne

-- Suzanne (hugging_calves@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.


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