Crazy Farmgirl
Well-known member
Based on my experience as manager of a deacon farm for 2 years where we had 250-300 calves on milk at any given time the bottle is better.
The boss and I had differing opinions about the bottle issue (he was for the bucket I was for the bottle) we did an experiment for 2 months. Half of the calves from each farm each week were put on buckets the other half bottles. At the end of the 2 months the calves that had been on the bottle were on average 25 lbs heavier, had 75% less scours and been treated for various illnesses 60% less and death rate was 30 % less than the bucket calves. We then switched over to complete bottle feeding of the calves and saved over $5000 in medications the next year and had a 95% survival rate. We did have a machine to mix the milk replacer in but I delivered it in 5gal igloo coolers and then used a 2 qt pitcher to fill bottles 24 at a time. We carried a bucket of sanitizing rinse and bottles and nipples were sanitized between calves and refilled. It was not the easiest way but it worked and the extra maney saved got us all a raise and calves were the healthiest/heaviest calves around so it was worth it!
Feeding out of a bucket will certainly not be the demise of the calf but in my OPINION for the healthiest most profitable animal the bottle is best.
The boss and I had differing opinions about the bottle issue (he was for the bucket I was for the bottle) we did an experiment for 2 months. Half of the calves from each farm each week were put on buckets the other half bottles. At the end of the 2 months the calves that had been on the bottle were on average 25 lbs heavier, had 75% less scours and been treated for various illnesses 60% less and death rate was 30 % less than the bucket calves. We then switched over to complete bottle feeding of the calves and saved over $5000 in medications the next year and had a 95% survival rate. We did have a machine to mix the milk replacer in but I delivered it in 5gal igloo coolers and then used a 2 qt pitcher to fill bottles 24 at a time. We carried a bucket of sanitizing rinse and bottles and nipples were sanitized between calves and refilled. It was not the easiest way but it worked and the extra maney saved got us all a raise and calves were the healthiest/heaviest calves around so it was worth it!
Feeding out of a bucket will certainly not be the demise of the calf but in my OPINION for the healthiest most profitable animal the bottle is best.