Bottle calf as 2026 show steer 🤔

[Taco-Bug]

Hi guys!
So I was thinking here soon I might get a bottle calf to raise as my 2026 show steer. My family has a really nice milking cow who can have her calf any day now and all her family members has had really high milk production (enough for two calf's + milk for my family). Depending on her milk production I would have the calf on her milk out of a bottle. I was curious what all of your thoughts were on this idea. Money wise I'd generally be spending about the same amount, due to the money I save from not having to spend 2k on a full steer that would get put into the extra feed I would need for this calf as I would have him for longer. I did some research and it seems like all the calves that haven't made weight were on formula instead of actual plane milk from a dairy cow.

As always tips and constructive criticism/feedback are always welcome! Have a wonderful day!

 

[M.Magis]

I think the biggest issue would be a very limited selection of calves to pick from. Just depends on the type you want, probably won't find a lot of "clubby" type calves available as bottle calves, at least around here. My kids have each raised calves from the bottle, a nurse cow would certainly help. It takes a lot of milk replacer and grain to get bottle fed calves to reach their potential.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

Dairy show cattle are raised on bottles. I raise three jersey heifers on 1.5 gallons of my cow's milk a day (plus a little grain and hay) until they were over 8 months old and now they are fine and fat yearlings on grass. But it will be hard to find a black beef calf or any kind of calf for sale these days. Good luck

 

[Taco-Bug]

Dairy show cattle are raised on bottles. I raise three jersey heifers on 1.5 gallons of my cow's milk a day (plus a little grain and hay) until they were over 8 months old and now they are fine and fat yearlings on grass. But it will be hard to find a black beef calf or any kind of calf for sale these days. Good luck

Thanks a bunch for the info! Thankfully all the breeders around me are angus beef!