darned finicky calf

[spinandslide]

just the facts here

Calf went crazy over some alfalfa pellets my husband bought in bulk for our animals..I mean, she cleaned her tub and was wild child at feed time cause you werent fast enough. I weaned her then, since she was eating so well. eat her hay and loves grass. she was gaining beautifuly, started to look normal.

Husband got more feed, NOT alfalfa pellets, but more of a horse pellet..similar to safechoice..pressed pellet. calf wont eat it..so I buy some sweet feed to mix in and entice her..she ate it for a day or two and now wont..she picks at it..and shes picking at her hay as well..had abit of a runny nose yesterday AM, so I gave her with some Pen. and b-12(along with some micro gut paste)..weve had hot days and cool nights..no runny nose this am, but still, the pick and them look at me like wheres my REAL breakfast? bawling when I leave her pen..

I am going to attempt to get some alfalfa pellets tonight, but I hate to have to run around to try and apease this calf..husband whines hes never had so much trouble with calves as this one..

Should I make this calf suck it up and eat it, or should I get the alfalfa pellets and apease her abit longer and try mixing the pellets into it?

What would you do with this calf?????/

 

[shorty]

Did you check her temp , If she has a fever that could be why she went off feed.

 

[spinandslide]

no temp....
And shes acting like she wants grain, but she'll lick it, then look at me like WTF is this?

 

[shorty]

When she gets hungry enough she'll eat it .

 

[grannysoo]

When she gets hungry enough she'll eat it .

Well said! That calf is trying to train you....

 

[HobbyFarm]

My feed store guy laughs at me, he swears he wants to come back as one of my animals. I had a hard time getting mine to get off the starter to the grower - then from the grower only to the ranch hand creep & grower. I bought some molasses, and would hand mix it with the creep. My feed guy laughed the entire time as I was telling him why I was having to buy the molasses.... laughing as he was saying "they get hungry enough they will eat it" I didn't have any problem adding the Red Springs (Purina product) grower, but I do wipe their faces off later

 

[bigbull338]

you sgot a spoiled lil heifer on your hands.an she is pouting because she wants those alalfa pellets.she should start eating the other feed when she gets hungry enough.but id keep an eye on her.

 

[HobbyFarm]

She will eat it eventually although horse feed usually aint safe for cattle and visa versa. She may not like it.

I can understand why cow food isn't safe for horses, but why visa verse? Not questioning you - just wanna know.

 

[larryshoat]

When feeding cattle it is always a good practice to change feeds slowly over some time . Slowly add in the new feed as you take away the old feed .This procees may take several days .

Larry

 

[spinandslide]

When she gets hungry enough she'll eat it .

Well said! That calf is trying to train you....

Thats what I am thinking..I was OK with her being picky with the grain, but now shes being like that with my hay and even cut grass! I think shes on a hunger strike.

 

[spinandslide]

My feed store guy laughs at me, he swears he wants to come back as one of my animals. I had a hard time getting mine to get off the starter to the grower - then from the grower only to the ranch hand creep & grower. I bought some molasses, and would hand mix it with the creep. My feed guy laughed the entire time as I was telling him why I was having to buy the molasses.... laughing as he was saying "they get hungry enough they will eat it" I didn't have any problem adding the Red Springs (Purina product) grower, but I do wipe their faces off later

That might be an option..I hate dealing with molasses..sticky..but I know shes likes the taste of it.

 

[spinandslide]

you sgot a spoiled lil heifer on your hands.an she is pouting because she wants those alalfa pellets.she should start eating the other feed when she gets hungry enough.but id keep an eye on her.

Thats what I might do..
Also considering getting a sack of alfalfa pellets to mix in..unfortunantly, my husband's scheduale did not work out and we had to start the new feed with none of the old feed leftover..bad deal...

I hate having him away from home so much.

 

[spinandslide]

When feeding cattle it is always a good practice to change feeds slowly over some time . Slowly add in the new feed as you take away the old feed .This procees may take several days .

Larry

Yes Larry I know I boo-booed...but as I tol Bigbull, but husband's schedule prohibited him from getting the new feed before we ran out of the old feed..I wasnt happy, espc as Ithought he was getting the same type of feed(I really liked the alfalfa pellets and all my animals did as well)

We buy in bulk and he had my truck..he works and lives away from home alot.

 

[spinandslide]

She will eat it eventually although horse feed usually aint safe for cattle and visa versa. She may not like it.

I can understand why cow food isn't safe for horses, but why visa verse? Not questioning you - just wanna know.

Horses are more likley to founder than and get colic easier than cattle. Just like alot of the minerals out there say dont feed to horses. The feed for horses is specially formulated for horses.

TN-Both the sweet and the pellets are OK-ed for cattle...I dont doubt she doesnt particularly care for it, compared to the alfalfa from before, evidenced by her little hunger strike. Just need to know what would be the best course of action with the little coniver..wait her out..get some pellets and mix them in and make the change gradual..ect..ect.

 

[spinandslide]

thanks all..Ill just keep at it..she wont win this one.

 

[spinandslide]

update

W are eating better..I changed the ratio of sweet with the pellets...and will 3/4 and a 1/4..will work our way back up to half and half.

Interesting note, she got a small piece of cube out of my bucket for my heifer..she liked it...This wont hurt her? Im pretty sure it wont, but want to be positive..

 

[angie1]

Interesting note, she got a small piece of cube out of my bucket for my heifer..she liked it...This wont hurt her? Im pretty sure it wont, but want to be positive..

No. It won't hurt her.