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Cattle Boards
Breeding / Calving Issues
Feeding Orphan Calves
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<blockquote data-quote="msscamp" data-source="post: 367480" data-attributes="member: 539"><p>I look at it this way - regardless of how good the milk replacer is, it isn't as good as his mother's milk would be, so why would I want to feed him less? They don't call it milk REPLACER for no reason. ;-) If you suddenly double his milk replacer, then yes - he will probably develop scours. I increase the milk replacer by a 1/2 pint to a pint (depending on their size) per feeding for a couple of feedings, and watch the calf. If the manure remains consistent, then I will increase the milk replacer by another 1/2 to 1 pint and feed a couple more times. If the manure becomes loose, I back them down a little and let them adjust. I'm not trying to be a smart-ass here, but the easiest way to treat scours is to not let them start - everything I do is geared towards that. I do not subscribe to the feeding every 12 hours unless I'm weaning the calf off milk replacer - until then he gets at least 3 bottles/day, because a calf on his mother will nurse numerous times throughout the day. As the grain/hay consumption increases I start consolidating bottles into 3 feedings per day, and once I start the weaning process (usually around 2 to 2 1/2 months old), I start cutting down the middle bottle and eliminate it over the course of several days. At the same time, I start gradually increasing the grain I feed to make up for the loss of milk. Make sure you're milk replacer is milk and not soy, and that it is at least 20% fat and protein - 22% is better. A lot of people will say I'm wasting money, but it has worked very well for me and I will continue to do what I'm doing.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="msscamp, post: 367480, member: 539"] I look at it this way - regardless of how good the milk replacer is, it isn't as good as his mother's milk would be, so why would I want to feed him less? They don't call it milk REPLACER for no reason. ;-) If you suddenly double his milk replacer, then yes - he will probably develop scours. I increase the milk replacer by a 1/2 pint to a pint (depending on their size) per feeding for a couple of feedings, and watch the calf. If the manure remains consistent, then I will increase the milk replacer by another 1/2 to 1 pint and feed a couple more times. If the manure becomes loose, I back them down a little and let them adjust. I'm not trying to be a smart-ass here, but the easiest way to treat scours is to not let them start - everything I do is geared towards that. I do not subscribe to the feeding every 12 hours unless I'm weaning the calf off milk replacer - until then he gets at least 3 bottles/day, because a calf on his mother will nurse numerous times throughout the day. As the grain/hay consumption increases I start consolidating bottles into 3 feedings per day, and once I start the weaning process (usually around 2 to 2 1/2 months old), I start cutting down the middle bottle and eliminate it over the course of several days. At the same time, I start gradually increasing the grain I feed to make up for the loss of milk. Make sure you're milk replacer is milk and not soy, and that it is at least 20% fat and protein - 22% is better. A lot of people will say I'm wasting money, but it has worked very well for me and I will continue to do what I'm doing. [/QUOTE]
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