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Transitioning to starter feed
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<blockquote data-quote="Lucky_P" data-source="post: 1755689" data-attributes="member: 12607"><p>Most of the information out there is geared toward dairy heifer development... for a reason. Beef bottle/bucket calves are a minor thing, and something of an anomaly (and yes, I've raised quite a few through the years). If you treat your beef bottle calves like a dairy heifer, they'll grow off well - and if they're heifers, they'll probably make productive beef cows. You may spend more on a steer than you really have to, but I have no idea if it'll pay off in the long run. </p><p></p><p>Back in the Dark Ages, when we were raising dairy calves, I tried to get all steers weaned by 4, or at most, 6 weeks of age... heifers I would bottle feed on out to 8 weeks. Bottle feeding milk replacer is the most labor-intensive and expensive part of raising a bottle calf. </p><p>Every time I fed, or even if I just passed by, from Day One, I'd cram a handful of calf starter in their mouths, and kept FRESH calf starter in front of them at all times. Once the steers were consuming 1.5-2 pounds of starter per day, I quit the bottle altogether, and rapidly upped their grain ration to 5 pounds daily ASAP. Usually turned them out into a grass lot during the day to allow them to start picking a little grass, too.</p><p></p><p>Your calves look pretty good. I agree with Buck. Just be sure to keep them on a quality 15+% starter/grower ration. A growing calf needs the extra protein and mineral supplementation a grower ration is formulated with. I've seen some wrecks when folks followed well-meaning, but ignorant neighbor's advice to feed 10% horse/mule feed... calves got out to about 400 lbs and started having pathologic fractures of long bones and vertebrae, because the Ca<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /> content/ratio was fine for an old horse in maintenance mode, but totally unsuitable for a growing calf.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lucky_P, post: 1755689, member: 12607"] Most of the information out there is geared toward dairy heifer development... for a reason. Beef bottle/bucket calves are a minor thing, and something of an anomaly (and yes, I've raised quite a few through the years). If you treat your beef bottle calves like a dairy heifer, they'll grow off well - and if they're heifers, they'll probably make productive beef cows. You may spend more on a steer than you really have to, but I have no idea if it'll pay off in the long run. Back in the Dark Ages, when we were raising dairy calves, I tried to get all steers weaned by 4, or at most, 6 weeks of age... heifers I would bottle feed on out to 8 weeks. Bottle feeding milk replacer is the most labor-intensive and expensive part of raising a bottle calf. Every time I fed, or even if I just passed by, from Day One, I'd cram a handful of calf starter in their mouths, and kept FRESH calf starter in front of them at all times. Once the steers were consuming 1.5-2 pounds of starter per day, I quit the bottle altogether, and rapidly upped their grain ration to 5 pounds daily ASAP. Usually turned them out into a grass lot during the day to allow them to start picking a little grass, too. Your calves look pretty good. I agree with Buck. Just be sure to keep them on a quality 15+% starter/grower ration. A growing calf needs the extra protein and mineral supplementation a grower ration is formulated with. I've seen some wrecks when folks followed well-meaning, but ignorant neighbor's advice to feed 10% horse/mule feed... calves got out to about 400 lbs and started having pathologic fractures of long bones and vertebrae, because the Ca:P content/ratio was fine for an old horse in maintenance mode, but totally unsuitable for a growing calf. [/QUOTE]
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