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Need Advice, First Bottle Calf, Already Read Milkmaids Info
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<blockquote data-quote="Lucky_P" data-source="post: 1017385" data-attributes="member: 12607"><p>Agree w/ dun.</p><p>I start putting out a small amount of a good quality PALATABLE(if they won't eat it, it doesn't matter what the protein level, etc. is) calf starter ration from Day One. Every time I feed or just pass by the calf's pen/stall, I cram a handful of feed in the calf's mouth. If they don't eat what I've put out in a couple of days, I remove it and replace with some fresh feed (so start out with small amounts). </p><p>Once the calf is consuming 1.5-2.0 lbs of feed per day, you can stop bottle feeding (cold turkey) and up their grain ration pretty quickly, up to 5 lb/day and then increasing the amount from there, as they grow. </p><p>I want 'em off the bottle as soon as possible - by 4-6 weeks of age, if they're eating adequately - that bottle deal is the most time consuming and expensive part of raising one.</p><p>A good grain-based starter ration is really more important for getting rumen function jump-started than hay or grass; most dairy folks, anymore, don't feed hay or graze developing heifers younger than 2 months of age - studies have shown that long-stem fiber/roughage in those younger calves actually impedes rumen development, compared to calves on a starter ration only.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lucky_P, post: 1017385, member: 12607"] Agree w/ dun. I start putting out a small amount of a good quality PALATABLE(if they won't eat it, it doesn't matter what the protein level, etc. is) calf starter ration from Day One. Every time I feed or just pass by the calf's pen/stall, I cram a handful of feed in the calf's mouth. If they don't eat what I've put out in a couple of days, I remove it and replace with some fresh feed (so start out with small amounts). Once the calf is consuming 1.5-2.0 lbs of feed per day, you can stop bottle feeding (cold turkey) and up their grain ration pretty quickly, up to 5 lb/day and then increasing the amount from there, as they grow. I want 'em off the bottle as soon as possible - by 4-6 weeks of age, if they're eating adequately - that bottle deal is the most time consuming and expensive part of raising one. A good grain-based starter ration is really more important for getting rumen function jump-started than hay or grass; most dairy folks, anymore, don't feed hay or graze developing heifers younger than 2 months of age - studies have shown that long-stem fiber/roughage in those younger calves actually impedes rumen development, compared to calves on a starter ration only. [/QUOTE]
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