Calf Gain -For Your Info..........

[MikeC]

Had a calf born 9 days ago that I weighed 4 hours after birth out of a first calf heifer. Weight - 86 lbs.

Weighed the calf again yesterday just out of curiosity to see what it had gained after this short of a period. Weighed 119 lbs. Heifer calf.

3.66 lbs. per day. Never really realized the growing curve started this young.

Just in case you might be interested.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Yup, that sounds right to me.

 

[redfornow]

Yep that sounds about right.

I had a small heifer 46 lb born and tracked her for awhile just to see that she was doing OK.
Gained 3 1/2 a day till I couldnt hold her up any more....

 

[Putangitangi]

I've measured as high as 4.3/day over the first 12 days from a two-year old heifer's calf; dropped back to 2.5/day from day 12 - 44, so the average to 44 days was 2.9/day.

Most calves grew really fast in the first couple of weeks - although I have some slow-to-start milkers whose calves gradually build up their gain over the first few weeks.

I don't usually weigh that frequently, just happened to do so last season and found the data really interesting.

 

[Susie David]

Try and lift them when they are two months old...they kick harder too. DMc