Bottle calf goals

[MurraysMutts]

So I guess the goal is to get them off the milk and onto grass as soon as possible right?

Let's discuss ways to do that!

The way I've been going at it is feeding grain from day one basically. That gets the rumen going. Then introducing hay. Milk all the while feeding grain and hay.

I've been speaking with friends and neighbors, and their theory is if you want to get them on grass as soon as possible, feed grass!

I've always thought the grain would start the rumen in the fastest was possible. But I've also heard grain and hay/grass require different "bugs" in the rumen to digest said foodstuffs.

What's the consensus?

 

[SBMF 2015]

I'm not sure if grain vs hay makes much difference at that young age. Both are probably helpful.
Maybe a teacher would be the fastest way to grass. I've watched 3 day old calves "eat" hay because there momma was. They will mimic bigger calves and nibble grass just because everyone else is.

 

[Ky hills]

Some may not agree with me, but I think it best to continue feeding those bottle calves grain along with grass. They should pick up eating grass on their own at a pretty young age. Some of our bottle calves are picking around on what ever they can find this winter.

 

[Hereford2]

I have always fed grain and either had them on grass and grain from day 1 or limited hay from a month old and all the grain they want . And my calves grow almost as fast and well as the calves on my nurse cow. But I also switch them to once a day milk at 2 weeks in warm weather and 1 month of age in cold weather.

 

[Nesikep]

Yep, I found that if they have a "teacher", that's the fastest way to get them eating.. I've had calves chewing cud at 10 days old, while others it takes them a month, and bottle babies are notoriously slower

 

[bird dog]

That's one of the benefits of rolling out your hay. The babies can eat right along side their moms without getting pushed around or stepped on.
They will start at just a few days of age.

 

[MurraysMutts]

The 2 I'm working with now are definitely ruminating. Right at 2 months old. Ive not weighed them. I guess timing plays a big role as well eh?

Willy was very young when I got him but he was nibbling grass in the pen. Took right to grain.
Dolly was older and already on grain.

Sounds like timing is gonna play a big roll as they develop.

 

[Hereford2]

My goal right now with bottle calves is to not freeze while I'm feeding the calves lol, yesterday it was 15 degrees and super windy, today it was 8 degrees slight breeze. I'm also giving my calves 50% more replacer powder in their bottles per feeding. To help them keep from shivering their fat off..

 

[MurraysMutts]

My goal right now with bottle calves is to not freeze while I'm feeding the calves lol, yesterday it was 15 degrees and super windy, today it was 8 degrees slight breeze. I'm also giving my calves 50% more replacer powder in their bottles per feeding. To help them keep from shivering their fat off..

I hear that! I want a bottle calf barn! Then we can all be out of the cold. Fortunately weather has been nice past few days. B4 that, not so much.

 

[Hereford2]

I have a shed that can hold up to 10 calves, and it is warmer than the outside, but going back and forth on the side by side without a windshield is Cold...

 

[SBMF 2015]

Not bottle babies, but they still like their warm shed!

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

@MurraysMutts - love your windmill.
@SBMF 2015 - good little shed for the babies.
We built 12 x 20 3 sided sheds for our nursing calves
This was our first "calf shed"

After writing that statement - I remembered my first "calf shelter" was a big culvert pipe that just happened to be in the same field as newborns. The calves decided it was much better in the culvert than out in the wind, so we put straw in it for them!! LOL Gotta start somewhere.
Here is my sheds now. We put 1 strand hi-tensile around the shed area - maybe 30 x 40' to 40 x 60' - so the calves never have to wallow thru mud to get out of their shed. When it is muddy and warm, they lay in the grass outside the shed. Really pizzes off the dams.

 

[SBMF 2015]

@MurraysMutts - love your windmill.
@SBMF 2015 - good little shed for the babies.
We built 12 x 20 3 sided sheds for our nursing calves
This was our first "calf shed"

After writing that statement - I remembered my first "calf shelter" was a big culvert pipe that just happened to be in the same field as newborns. The calves decided it was much better in the culvert than out in the wind, so we put straw in it for them!! LOL Gotta start somewhere.
Here is my sheds now. We put 1 strand hi-tensile around the shed area - maybe 30 x 40' to 40 x 60' - so the calves never have to wallow thru mud to get out of their shed. When it is muddy and warm, they lay in the grass outside the shed. Really pizzes off the dams.

Jeanne I love the silo roof idea!
Your current calf shed is really nice. I would be scared to teach my calves to go under a hot wire. They seen to learn that on their own.
My shed is 8w x 12L. Those are my fall calves. Their mommas are out eating hay. That pic was yesterday morning. It was 5degrees, so no mud.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

@SBMF 2015 - obviously the cow can't "fit" into your calf shed, but when your land gets "soft", don't the moms trash up the area, standing around bawling at their calves?
The silo worked great, until a windstorm demolished it! We realized how great it was for the calves to have protection, hence building the 3-side sheds. We bought used tin for the sides & roof. First shed we built cost about $6-700. Well worth it!!
Calves instinctively look for a hiding place. There will be 2-3' of weeds/grass all around the shed, so the calves automatically "hide" in the area. Does not take very many hours of wind for them to find the shed. Yes, calves "learn" how to go under 1 strand, but by the time we go to pasture, the regular 1 strand around our pastures are lower than the shed area, and they get zapped, quickly learning not to wonder under these lower fences. LOL

 

[Silver]

We put free standing panels up in front of the calf shelters and bed that area down as well.

 

[SBMF 2015]

@SBMF 2015 - obviously the cow can't "fit" into your calf shed, but when your land gets "soft", don't the moms trash up the area, standing around bawling at their calves?
The silo worked great, until a windstorm demolished it! We realized how great it was for the calves to have protection, hence building the 3-side sheds. We bought used tin for the sides & roof. First shed we built cost about $6-700. Well worth it!!
Calves instinctively look for a hiding place. There will be 2-3' of weeds/grass all around the shed, so the calves automatically "hide" in the area. Does not take very many hours of wind for them to find the shed. Yes, calves "learn" how to go under 1 strand, but by the time we go to pasture, the regular 1 strand around our pastures are lower than the shed area, and they get zapped, quickly learning not to wonder under these lower fences. LOL

Your right. It could become a muddy mess if I don't manage it. I bed the shed with corn stalks. It only takes about half of a 42" rnd bale to bed that shed so I spread the rest of it on the ground in front for the cows to lay on. That shed is on runners so if it gets muddy sloppy in one spot all I have to do is hook on to it and slide it to a new dryer place in the field.
When the fall pairs come off pasture they winter on corn stalk residue so it doesn't matter. I can move the shed all over. Next spring the cows come off and the field gets chisel plowed and planted in corn again.

So you creep feed your calves in their "calf only area"?

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I don't creep feed the main group (spring - Jan/Feb) - just the fall born calves. I have a hanging bucket inside the shed & I will start them on WSC, oats & protein pellets around Jan. It takes some of the pressure off the cows during winter and gets the calves ready to wean in March/April. My fall group is kept separate from my spring - and my spring 2-3 year olds are kept separate from my spring mature cows. I keep a large round dry bale of hay in the sheds. The calves eat on it and we bed their pen with it. It also acts as a wind break on severe blustery days.
Being able to move your shed around is perfect. I don't have enough land to make anything like that be practical. My sheds are actually made on skids - but I sure wouldn't want to try to move them!!

 

[Son of Butch]

Bottle calves, hands down a calf starter feed develops the rumen faster.
A calf's rumen is tiny, so nutrient density is important for bottle calves.
They don't have the luxury of milk on demand like their brothers with a
mama and end up having to wait for a bottle.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Bottle calves, hands down a calf starter feed develops the rumen faster.
A calf's rumen is tiny, so nutrient density is important for bottle calves.
They don't have the luxury of milk on demand like their brothers with a
mama and end up having to wait for a bottle.

I know that's right. They are always ready for that bottle! Would be nice if time allowed 3 milks a day.
Depends how fast the rumen gets going and grown to grass ruminating capabilities??
For me it's so hard to know when I can get them off of feed and milk and on good spring/summer grass only.

 

[Silver]

My goal right now with bottle calves is to not freeze while I'm feeding the calves lol, yesterday it was 15 degrees and super windy, today it was 8 degrees slight breeze. I'm also giving my calves 50% more replacer powder in their bottles per feeding. To help them keep from shivering their fat off..

I've been warned I don't know how many times to not up the powder ratio beyond label recommendations. Have you had any bloat issues doing this?