New calf owner...need help

[Anonymous]

Hi ALL! I am a fairly new calf owner and need some advice! I have a 4 month old Jersey steer who I have bottle fed since he was 1 day old (weaned for a month and a half) was on calf starter feed about 4-5 lbs a day plus hay (good grass/alfalfa mix) he weighs about 175 now) and we also just bought a 7 month old White Park heifer who weighs about 300 lbs. I have started them both on a creeper feed (full pelleted feed as the feed store suggested) but am not sure how much to feed them.... as I am reading as much as I can about all this I am getting conflicting information. Is this the best feed to give them and how much? They are still getting a lot of the hay also... usually as much as they clean up in a day. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks! Star

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[Anonymous]

> Hi ALL! I am a fairly new calf
> owner and need some advice! I have
> a 4 month old Jersey steer who I
> have bottle fed since he was 1 day
> old (weaned for a month and a
> half) was on calf starter feed
> about 4-5 lbs a day plus hay (good
> grass/alfalfa mix) he weighs about
> 175 now) and we also just bought a
> 7 month old White Park heifer who
> weighs about 300 lbs. I have
> started them both on a creeper
> feed (full pelleted feed as the
> feed store suggested) but am not
> sure how much to feed them.... as
> I am reading as much as I can
> about all this I am getting
> conflicting information. Is this
> the best feed to give them and how
> much? They are still getting a lot
> of the hay also... usually as much
> as they clean up in a day. Any
> help or suggestions would be
> appreciated! Thanks! Star

Creep feed is generally considered a supplement feed. I would consult my feed supplier about a complete feed to be used with the hay. Horse feed is an example of complete feed, although I don't recommnend using it on cows, it usually cost too much. Look for a feed with about 16% protein and feed about 1% of boddy weight if the cattle are confinded. If on pasture, you can feed less feed with the hay, maybe about 1/2% of body weight.

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[Anonymous]

Thanks! I am heading into town later and will look into it! I really appreciate the help as will Holly and Otis ( the calves in question!) Star

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[Anonymous]

With two calves of such differing nutritional requirements I would hand feed the supplement rather then creep. You can go ahead and feed the creep feed as a supplement just make sure each gets the appropriate amount. I would think that the requirements by weight would be on the bag. If not, start at 1% and work up to 2% body weight. If the heifer starts getting fat, cut her back if you plan on keeping her for breeding. If you're going to eat her just go ahead and leave her at 2%. dun

> Hi ALL! I am a fairly new calf
> owner and need some advice! I have
> a 4 month old Jersey steer who I
> have bottle fed since he was 1 day
> old (weaned for a month and a
> half) was on calf starter feed
> about 4-5 lbs a day plus hay (good
> grass/alfalfa mix) he weighs about
> 175 now) and we also just bought a
> 7 month old White Park heifer who
> weighs about 300 lbs. I have
> started them both on a creeper
> feed (full pelleted feed as the
> feed store suggested) but am not
> sure how much to feed them.... as
> I am reading as much as I can
> about all this I am getting
> conflicting information. Is this
> the best feed to give them and how
> much? They are still getting a lot
> of the hay also... usually as much
> as they clean up in a day. Any
> help or suggestions would be
> appreciated! Thanks! Star



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