vclavin
Well-known member
Can anyone explain what causes this? I'm told bottle fed calves are this way but my heifers are not? Neighbors steer is... why?
Valerie
Valerie
Pot Bellied Calves
- Thread starter vclavin
- Start date
Or a belly full of undigested milk in the rumen. Basically it all boils down to something that can't be digested by the young rumen taking up space that more nutritious feedstuffs could have used, that is why it takes so long for them to grow out of that pot belly stage.
Lucky_P
Well-known member
What dun said.
Milk wouldn't normally be going into the rumen unless you were tubing them and depositing it directly there.
A normal calf nursing cow or bottle - and even one drinking milk out of a bucket - should get reflexive closing of the rumenoreticular groove so that milk bypasses the forestomachs and goes directly to the abomasum.
Milk wouldn't normally be going into the rumen unless you were tubing them and depositing it directly there.
A normal calf nursing cow or bottle - and even one drinking milk out of a bucket - should get reflexive closing of the rumenoreticular groove so that milk bypasses the forestomachs and goes directly to the abomasum.
cowman
Well-known member
Too much roughage and not enough concentrates, or they're wormy or both.
Dunn, what is the best thing to feed to get this out. I have a couple of holstein steers also that are a little potty.
Dunn, what is the best thing to feed to get this out. I have a couple of holstein steers also that are a little potty.
vclavin
Well-known member
Been busy so I'm just now getting back to read this.
My Jersey heifers, eating the high fiber diet, are NOT pot bellied. They also have free access to a small pasture.
The neighbors steer (we are babysitting) is pot bellied. He has been fed concentrates and not on pasture. Wormed early, whereas my heifers have been on bottle months longer.
Could weaning bottle calves so early contribute to the pot belly?
Valerie
My Jersey heifers, eating the high fiber diet, are NOT pot bellied. They also have free access to a small pasture.
The neighbors steer (we are babysitting) is pot bellied. He has been fed concentrates and not on pasture. Wormed early, whereas my heifers have been on bottle months longer.
Could weaning bottle calves so early contribute to the pot belly?
Valerie
hillsdown
Well-known member
vclavin":17w7vwr2 said:
Yes . I should say weening improperly and not feeding the required diet after weening can cause pot bellied scrubs.
Glad to hear that your gals are doing well V C. :D
As was pointed out, early weaning isn;t the problem. Early weaning withou the proper nutrition following weaning is the culprit. Too many people either cut out the grain completely when they wean the calves or they keep them at the 2-3 lbs a day without increasing it.vclavin":13teoqmo said:
TexasBred
Well-known member
Val I bet your calves are getting a mix with adequate protein and energy as well. Your neighbor's calves are probably just surviving. (For Now Anyway)vclavin":tiefak32 said:
vclavin
Well-known member
He was feeding them a full scoop of calf manna (only) twice a day (somebody told him to do this) and free choice hay. Can't believe his son lacked 1 point of being champion bucket calf.
Valerie
Valerie
vclavin
Well-known member
What exactly does it mean to be pot bellied? Droopy stomachs from lack of proper nutrition? He just looks like his belly droops really low.
Valerie
Valerie
TexasBred
Well-known member
Nothing else?? Calf Manna is more of top dress than a complete feed. Havne't looked at it in a while but use to be 25% crude protein but not highly fortified, so they'd get plenty of protein but not much grain and mediocre level of energy.vclavin":1kc8vjfo said:
alisonb
Well-known member
Pot belly is a sign of malnutrition, as Dun said the calf is either 'wormy' and unable to absorb nutrients adequately or/and the diet is not balanced. If the milk is being tubed or bucket fed and ending up directly in the undeveloped rumen instead of the abomasum this adds to the problem as it cannot be digested quickly enough. Val, you can wean a calf at a very early age if the rumen has developed adequately.
If one is going to feed hay aswell make sure it has a high protein content like alfalfa and it is just there to nibble on. Put out starter to encourage the calf to eat in it's first week. When you wean the calf you have to replace the milk protein so you will have to increase starter(protein) intake.
Here are some links that you may find interesting (they have been posted before) -
http://www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/dairy/nutrition/calves/rumen
http://www.heifermax.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/rumen-development1.pdf
http://www.calfnotes.com/pdffiles/CN019.pdf
If one is going to feed hay aswell make sure it has a high protein content like alfalfa and it is just there to nibble on. Put out starter to encourage the calf to eat in it's first week. When you wean the calf you have to replace the milk protein so you will have to increase starter(protein) intake.
Here are some links that you may find interesting (they have been posted before) -
http://www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/dairy/nutrition/calves/rumen
http://www.heifermax.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/rumen-development1.pdf
http://www.calfnotes.com/pdffiles/CN019.pdf
TexasBred
Well-known member
Val...just picture a bunch of old guys like me "bellied up to the bar"...that's pot bellied. ;-)vclavin":26dq6kha said:
vclavin
Well-known member
Thanks TB, I needed a laugh!!!TexasBred":kkuu2075 said:
Ok, I think i get the pic on pot bellied. LIke the pics of starving kids in 3rd world countries with the extended bellies. At least I can sound a little more inteligent when I'm asked.
Valerie
PS, Now that I think about it, this calf did have severe scours when they first got him. Almost didn't get it stopped. I suppose that could also affect the ability to absorb nutrients? maybe even for awhile after the scours are gone?
I am having this issue. I castrated and vac last week of June. I poured them then also. I weened 3 weeks ago. A little early but I was trying to get them off momma because of the lack of grass. They have been on creep since 1st week of June (Hubbard pellets) I have been starting to throw out some of the grain mix. They are in a pen w/an old round bale and in the last week or so they seem to be looking a little sad. There is a Omni fount so the water is always fresh and clean and they have a trace mineral block.
Should I up the grain ration? They are eating the pellet free choice or should I ween them off the pellet and start them on grain alone?
I would like to sell them in a few weeks but not looking like this. My show prospects are in the barn and look fine. They have been off the pellet for 2 weeks or so.
Should I up the grain ration? They are eating the pellet free choice or should I ween them off the pellet and start them on grain alone?
I would like to sell them in a few weeks but not looking like this. My show prospects are in the barn and look fine. They have been off the pellet for 2 weeks or so.
vclavin
Well-known member
I'm not the nutrionist as TexasBred, but, seems if the show prospects are OK, you should have fed the steers the same or very similiar. Bet the hay theya re eating (old round bale) has no or very little feed value. in short, they are Starving! They need better feed.BAR_R":2b9nviu2 said:
Valerie :2cents:
newcattleman
Active member
I have a question about this too. A few of my calves look a little pot bellied too. I have 14 calves between 150 and 250 lbs. (most about 200 lbs). They have all been wormed (pour on) and are weaned. I give them hay in the morning and they have access to a small pasture. At night they get grain. I mix 50 lbs of cracked corn with 40 lbs. of gluten and feed 2 lbs. of feed per calf per day. Do they need more grain or do I need to add something else to my grain mix. Thanks for reply.
They also have a salt block and a mineral block in the pen.
They also have a salt block and a mineral block in the pen.
