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Bottle fed calf timeline and targets and growing them
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<blockquote data-quote="greggy" data-source="post: 1616606" data-attributes="member: 38479"><p>Hi Cowgal,</p><p></p><p>I only bottle feed as long as I have too, I look closely so I can cut it ASAP, but they have to be consuming enough pellet which is formulated for them, it is just a plan to help rumen develop, and cut my labour and costs.</p><p></p><p>Often I see very large well bred Angus cows, at times they walk past my place & in spring they have calves tagging along, so at times I could get pretty close to those little calves to get a fairly good look at them, they are little tanks, chubby, well fed calves that walk a lot, when compared to mine, well, I have to admit, many looked like rats compared to them <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>With more thought, that is probably unfair, mine are not well bred stud animals with mothers on unlimited feed and supplement, and in fact, many are turning out very well, main diff is they are not "fat", they have a healthy layer of fat, in the right spots, and you can see well conditioned muscle, like a mini version of a cow in very good condition, the top of back is near smooth and well rounded, but it is not all of them, it has to be difference in genetics and breed make up, and that is ok, some probably develop faster anyway, there is only really one laggard of group pf 9, and that could be a lot of her genetics too, she is not as angus as some of them in this group. </p><p></p><p>Other group is mainly Hereford, only the one that got sick is clearly behind, and I do not think she is as hereford as the others either, but I know why she is behind, anyways, after a month, she is pushing and shoving to get what she wants, and is the leader or starter of playful games, got out a few times, and was climbing over 4ft high hay bales, naughty calf.....a def recovery <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>I will be making choices though later, it makes sense to hold the ones that do best with little attention, because those calves should do well.</p><p></p><p>I was reading something that suggested cattle can grow for 5 years, I was thinking they would need to do most growing in 18 months, but if they have longer, then they have time to catch up. In the other thread, seems most wait till over 18 months too breed, if I follow this, they all have time to catch up, so will see how it evens out when none are on milk anymore, all are together and all have same feed regime, milk will get cut from everyone soon, then will merge all into one mob.</p><p></p><p>I was having thoughts of pulling the smaller ones too form a group, but that may be a waste of time, or may just be a lot of extra work for nothing.</p><p></p><p>I have about 15 under 6 months atm, how many have you done at once prior ?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="greggy, post: 1616606, member: 38479"] Hi Cowgal, I only bottle feed as long as I have too, I look closely so I can cut it ASAP, but they have to be consuming enough pellet which is formulated for them, it is just a plan to help rumen develop, and cut my labour and costs. Often I see very large well bred Angus cows, at times they walk past my place & in spring they have calves tagging along, so at times I could get pretty close to those little calves to get a fairly good look at them, they are little tanks, chubby, well fed calves that walk a lot, when compared to mine, well, I have to admit, many looked like rats compared to them :) With more thought, that is probably unfair, mine are not well bred stud animals with mothers on unlimited feed and supplement, and in fact, many are turning out very well, main diff is they are not "fat", they have a healthy layer of fat, in the right spots, and you can see well conditioned muscle, like a mini version of a cow in very good condition, the top of back is near smooth and well rounded, but it is not all of them, it has to be difference in genetics and breed make up, and that is ok, some probably develop faster anyway, there is only really one laggard of group pf 9, and that could be a lot of her genetics too, she is not as angus as some of them in this group. Other group is mainly Hereford, only the one that got sick is clearly behind, and I do not think she is as hereford as the others either, but I know why she is behind, anyways, after a month, she is pushing and shoving to get what she wants, and is the leader or starter of playful games, got out a few times, and was climbing over 4ft high hay bales, naughty calf.....a def recovery :) I will be making choices though later, it makes sense to hold the ones that do best with little attention, because those calves should do well. I was reading something that suggested cattle can grow for 5 years, I was thinking they would need to do most growing in 18 months, but if they have longer, then they have time to catch up. In the other thread, seems most wait till over 18 months too breed, if I follow this, they all have time to catch up, so will see how it evens out when none are on milk anymore, all are together and all have same feed regime, milk will get cut from everyone soon, then will merge all into one mob. I was having thoughts of pulling the smaller ones too form a group, but that may be a waste of time, or may just be a lot of extra work for nothing. I have about 15 under 6 months atm, how many have you done at once prior ? [/QUOTE]
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