Calves eating too much hay

[Willstanton]

3-4month old calves seem to be eating a lot of hay. They're still drinking from mum adequately I think, but starting to look a bit full in the gut of hay.

Can this be an issue. Undeveloped rumen? Or nothing to worry about.

 

[jkwilson]

I’d say nothing to worry about. In hard times you can wean at 4 months.

 

[snoopdog]

They look good to me, hay + momma= mash the scale

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Nothing to worry about if they are still growing, and not potbellied . Their rumen was developed 2-3 months ago.

 

[Ebenezer]

Hay might not be high in something (protein or energy) so that they cannot get all they need. Might try a supplement (not a lick tub with urea) to see if that would satisfy them.

 

[TexasBred]

Hay might not be high in something (protein or energy) so that they cannot get all they need. Might try a supplement (not a lick tub with urea) to see if that would satisfy them.

They're getting most of their protein and energy from mom....they're eating the hay because cows just like hay. It's a good thing.

 

[Willstanton]

Thanks everyone. Prob worrying about nothing. Have traditionally been autumn calving here, so not used to having calves this size around hay. Cheers

Will

 

[farmerjan]

Look pretty decent to me. Sometimes ours will look a little pot bellied when they get to really chowing down on the hay. Then as soon as the weather warms up a bit, they seem to "grow out of" the gut and gain in size. Better a well developed rumen than not.