Pot bellies not so pot bellied

[jdcopkid]

I think things are looking up. Yea there's still a midget in there. I anticipate "they need more groceries" comments. These punks have everything they could want and don't finish off their grain so idk

 

[kenny thomas]

They are looking better. Starved, pot belly calves don't change very fast.

 

[jdcopkid]

They are looking better. Starved, pot belly calves don't change very fast.

These aren't starved not even close. They don't finish their rations every day

 

[kenny thomas]

These aren't starved not even close. They don't finish their rations every day

I wasn't talking about starved now. They were definitely starved when you got them. Your doing good with them.

 

[jdcopkid]

I wasn't talking about starved now. They were definitely starved when you got them. Your doing good with them.

Ohhhh ok haha well thank you!

 

[Lucky]

Our orphan calf is getting pot bellied eating just grass. We hoped he'd steal milk or find a mama but no luck.

 

[Travlr]

These aren't starved not even close. They don't finish their rations every day

Ummmm... I'm not trying to insult you but you have "dairy eye" and are applying it to beef calves. Beef calves don't look good when they have bones sticking out like dairy calves. You've also bought a bull using your dairy eye.

Now there are people on these fora that buy poor animals because they are cheap and they put some work into them and use a little magic and eventually sell decent looking animals that have gained significant weight and they come out fine on them. @MurraysMutts can give you some clues, I'm sure. He does a good job with starved animals. Of course maybe this is early and you are already on the right path, but regardless, when I look at your animals I think they are very underweight. I still think your calves have a messed up rumen unless somethings changed and not apparent yet.

 

[MurraysMutts]

They're coats look a bit better. It takes a while to turn around mismanaged calves. The best time is when the spring flush comes on. Less grain required. When did u worm them last?

I also agree. And you'll notice it more in person. The pot belly will decrease somewhat once they start eating the proper amount of nutrients and not filling up on hay and grass.

 

[jdcopkid]

Our orphan calf is getting pot bellied eating just grass. We hoped he'd steal milk or find a mama but no luck.

Ummmm... I'm not trying to insult you but you have "dairy eye" and are applying it to beef calves. Beef calves don't look good when they have bones sticking out like dairy calves. You've also bought a bull using your dairy eye.

Now there are people on these fora that buy poor animals because they are cheap and they put some work into them and use a little magic and eventually sell decent looking animals that have gained significant weight and they come out fine on them. @MurraysMutts can give you some clues, I'm sure. He does a good job with starved animals. Of course maybe this is early and you are already on the right path, but regardless, when I look at your animals I think they are very underweight. I still think your calves have a messed up rumen unless somethings changed and not apparent yet.

I didnt say they look good, but they look better. They are putting on weight. I've had them 7 weeks. We'll keep working on them

 

[jdcopkid]

They're coats look a bit better. It takes a while to turn around mismanaged calves. The best time is when the spring flush comes on. Less grain required. When did u worm them last?

I also agree. And you'll notice it more in person. The pot belly will decrease somewhat once they start eating the proper amount of nutrients and not filling up on hay and grass.

They were wormed when I got them. I've taken two of them to the vet and they've done fecal exams recently and they've all come back negative. They are eating about 5lbs of grain per head per day right now on top of grazing. They don't clean up the trough though so I haven't increased their ration in a few weeks.

 

[MurraysMutts]

They were wormed when I got them. I've taken two of them to the vet and they've done fecal exams recently and they've all come back negative. They are eating about 5lbs of grain per head per day right now on top of grazing. They don't clean up the trough though so I haven't increased their ration in a few weeks.

That seems like a lot of grain for their size. Hard to tell by pics tho!!

Keep on keeping on! They'll look nice n fat come spring!

 

[jdcopkid]

That seems like a lot of grain for their size. Hard to tell by pics tho!!

Keep on keeping on! They'll look nice n fat come spring!

Yea I'm terrible at weight guessing but I'd say the Brahma is 350 ish and the others under 300 with a couple close to 300? There's two in there a good bit smaller than all the others. Not sure if the video helps with size

 

[kenny thomas]

5 lb of grain 1.66% of a 300lb weight.
7 weeks isnt very long. By Christmas you should notice some difference.

 

[jdcopkid]

5 lb of grain 1.66% of a 300lb weight.
7 weeks isnt very long. By Christmas you should notice some difference.

Yea but they still don't finish it. I split into two feedings, morning and night and there's always some left over. They jump on it as soon as it hits the trough but they don't finish.. so I don't THINK it's a palatable issue

 

[jdcopkid]

5 lb of grain 1.66% of a 300lb weight.
7 weeks isnt very long. By Christmas you should notice some difference.

However it is high protein, like 18 ish % so I'm trying not to feed more than 2% body weight even if they start finishing what I'm feeding. Thinking about going to a more palatable 14% to see if they'd eat more

 

[kenny thomas]

Your doing fine. As long as their stool is firm they aren't getting too much protein.

 

[kenny thomas]

Yea but they still don't finish it. I split into two feedings, morning and night and there's always some left over. They jump on it as soon as it hits the trough but they don't finish.. so I don't THINK it's a palatable issue

Do you know whats in the feed? I have to add wet molasses to my feed to get them eating good.

 

[kenny thomas]

What you have is the kind i buy only mine usually are closer to 400lb. They didnt get that way overnight and they wont change overnight. Feed them good feed that they will eat and all the grass they want. I implant mine also.

 

[Warren Allison]

However it is high protein, like 18 ish % so I'm trying not to feed more than 2% body weight even if they start finishing what I'm feeding. Thinking about going to a more palatable 14% to see if they'd eat more

Protein grows frame and muscle. Carbs add fat and marbling. 18% protein is not too high for growing calves. Like @kenny thomas suggested, try adding molasses to it.

 

[jdcopkid]

What you have is the kind i buy only mine usually are closer to 400lb. They didnt get that way overnight and they wont change overnight. Feed them good feed that they will eat and all the grass they want. I implant mine also.

Yea I implanted about a week and a half ago. It feels like I've had them forever but I think that's cause all the issues I've had