Bottle calf feeding

[TMRwife]

Have our first bottle calf this year. It seems to me that the standard 2 qts/2 times a day is a little generic. Our calves range in weight from 65 to 95 lbs. Logic would suggest that a 95 lb calf would require more to eat than a 65 lb calf. I have been feeding 2 qts in the morning and 2-1/2 qts at night. I am sure this little bull calf would eat more if I offered it. He weighs approximately 80 lbs. We have put calf manna out for him, and I try to give him some of that with each feeding as well, though he has not acted interested in eating it himself. Any thoughts?

 

[larryshoat]

Milk replacer recomendations are for a 100lb holstein calf, a smaller calf needs less. Be very cautious and increase milk slowly.


Larry

 

[randiliana]

You are certainly right about it being pretty generic.

I like to feed about 2%-2.5% of body weight. That works out to about 1 cup (250 ml) of milk per every 10 lbs of calf. A 60 lb calf would require 1.5 L (1 L = 1 quart) of milk, a 100 lb calf would require about 2.5 L(quarts) of milk. A good rule of thumb to use when you are feeding colostrum too.