I have a first time 2+ yr old first time heifer with a 3 1/2 month old bull calf. The heifer is bred well and a nice looking heifer, her bull calf is an AI calf out of a very good bull. When he was born I had hopes of him turning into my next clean up bull. But he is looking like an average calf and not growing as I had hoped, not small, but not a standout. The heifer I noticed looks like cr@p, not holding her weight and is the only one that still has a rough coat, all where wormed about three months ago, we have plenty of grass. While walking the herd yesterday I saw the answer, she had three calves including hers standing next to her udder. Her calf was nursing and sure enough another latched on pretty quick the third tried to get in but must not have been enough room. The heifer showed no objection at all.
The heifer is thin, but I'm hoping she breeds back, also I really want to give this bull calf a shot. Will the bull calf catch up after weaning with good hay and grain by the time he's breeding age? How soon after weaning and on feed should I be able to see if he's bull quality, how much of a chance do I give him? I wished he was getting all of his groceries.
Any chance the heifer will grow out of the shared milk program with maturity?
Thanks,
Alan
The heifer is thin, but I'm hoping she breeds back, also I really want to give this bull calf a shot. Will the bull calf catch up after weaning with good hay and grain by the time he's breeding age? How soon after weaning and on feed should I be able to see if he's bull quality, how much of a chance do I give him? I wished he was getting all of his groceries.
Any chance the heifer will grow out of the shared milk program with maturity?
Thanks,
Alan