Can some one tell me about the price of bottle calves? I was looking to maybe get some in the future to raise and sell. Can you make money off the little things. I am not real serious about getting one yet, I was just thinking. Thanks kaneranch
ctlbaron":25kghkgp said:Bottle calves will varie in price by breed. Jerseys usually between $40.00 and $60.00 depending where you get them. Holstines,Ayreshire are usually from $90.00 to $125.00.
kaneranch":25kghkgp said:Can some one tell me about the price of bottle calves? I was looking to maybe get some in the future to raise and sell. Can you make money off the little things. I am not real serious about getting one yet, I was just thinking. Thanks kaneranch
If and when you get into them, use the best of the best Milk Replacer, and Starter Feed. I saw some Calves sell the other day, that had been weaned and were real "Pot Bellied" they sold real cheap. This is because of cheap Replacer and improper feed.
MoGal":3sspc3xv said:Prices are a little better here. Nutrena Milk Replacer is $19.16 for a 40 lb sack and Milk Starter Plus (which is a pelleted form of Milk Replacer) is $15.96 for a 50 lb bag. Crimped corn is $3.20/50 lbs and sweet feed 9.50% protein is $4.50 a bag. I mix a bag of each all together and feed with free choice minerals.
Two of the calves I've gotton are 2 to 3 weeks old and are not interested in drinking milk and go after the grain and I feel that they are getting what they need thru the Milk Plus. If I'm wrong, someone please correct me and thanks.
I also feed electrolytes in the water about 2 times a week about 1/2 a pkg at a time. But I've also done that for my cows a couple of times during this hot humid weather.
milkmaid":3cw6k19a said:If and when you get into them, use the best of the best Milk Replacer, and Starter Feed. I saw some Calves sell the other day, that had been weaned and were real "Pot Bellied" they sold real cheap. This is because of cheap Replacer and improper feed.
Can you get them looking better if you feed 'em right, or is the damage already done? Seems like someone could make some decent money if they knew what could be improved with a little quality feed. :?:
Over here - Jersey/Holstein crosses (bulls) were $85/calf @ day-week old last I checked. Holstein $120-150 or so. Holstein/Brown Swiss cross $170 at one dairy - that's too much. I like the Brown Swiss cross but you can't make money buying them at that price. Beef breeds upwards of $200 if you can find 'em.
I can and do buy quite a few bottle calves. Lately I've been raising everything on a nurse cow - much much cheaper that way. For instance, typical milk replacer is $40-45/50lbs. 1lb/day = 50 days of feed, runs you about $6/week or a little over last I pulled out the calculator and figured it. Nurse cow on pasture - grain bill $8-9/week, divided by 4 calves = $2/calf/week or a little over. Save yourself $4/hd/week x 4 calves, that's saving $60 month in milk replacer. Initial cost of cow does have to be considered, though. ;-)