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<blockquote data-quote="backhoeboogie" data-source="post: 460502" data-attributes="member: 3162"><p>The nurse cow idea is fine, if you have the time. Do you have the time? They are all not neccessarily going to make nurse cows. You could potentially be putting 3/4 of them in a head gate (or else build a crate) to let the calves nurse, twice a day. Unless you have a nursing crate or head gate for each cow, that is a long duration each cycle. Don't think you are going to just turn them out to pasture and each cow knows which calves she is supposed to adopt. </p><p></p><p>I doubt very seriously that you will find pure bred calves to put on the cows of any beef breed. You are lucky to find any that are choice. I have set thru the Dublin, TX salebarn for over 16 hours and only saw a few cow calf pairs split that were the right age and decent. Depending on who is there looking and bidding, the cost could be prohibitive. </p><p></p><p>If I were going to enter this venture, I would build a portable nurse crate for each cow such that you could put feed in it and run the cow in. I would build a pen for each crate and house the calves. At feeding time, let the cow in, put feed in the end of her crate, shut the gate behind her once she enters, and then turn the calves in. The lower back of the crate would be open such that the calves could access her. </p><p></p><p>I would limit her to 4 calves and not 5. At two months, I would gradually cull the weakest calves off of each cow, weaning them to feed, while allowing the choice calves (keepers) to continue nursing. Once those calves are weaned, you could cycle another 4 calves onto the cow. </p><p></p><p>I would not allow the cow to nurse more than 8 calves, in two cycles. </p><p></p><p>If you have a really good nurse cow, you can turn her out to pasture with the calves at about one month or so. </p><p></p><p>Just my opinion, based on my experience with a nurse cow. You do what ever you want.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="backhoeboogie, post: 460502, member: 3162"] The nurse cow idea is fine, if you have the time. Do you have the time? They are all not neccessarily going to make nurse cows. You could potentially be putting 3/4 of them in a head gate (or else build a crate) to let the calves nurse, twice a day. Unless you have a nursing crate or head gate for each cow, that is a long duration each cycle. Don't think you are going to just turn them out to pasture and each cow knows which calves she is supposed to adopt. I doubt very seriously that you will find pure bred calves to put on the cows of any beef breed. You are lucky to find any that are choice. I have set thru the Dublin, TX salebarn for over 16 hours and only saw a few cow calf pairs split that were the right age and decent. Depending on who is there looking and bidding, the cost could be prohibitive. If I were going to enter this venture, I would build a portable nurse crate for each cow such that you could put feed in it and run the cow in. I would build a pen for each crate and house the calves. At feeding time, let the cow in, put feed in the end of her crate, shut the gate behind her once she enters, and then turn the calves in. The lower back of the crate would be open such that the calves could access her. I would limit her to 4 calves and not 5. At two months, I would gradually cull the weakest calves off of each cow, weaning them to feed, while allowing the choice calves (keepers) to continue nursing. Once those calves are weaned, you could cycle another 4 calves onto the cow. I would not allow the cow to nurse more than 8 calves, in two cycles. If you have a really good nurse cow, you can turn her out to pasture with the calves at about one month or so. Just my opinion, based on my experience with a nurse cow. You do what ever you want. [/QUOTE]
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