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Question on Supplementing a newborn - farmerjan
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<blockquote data-quote="redcowsrule33" data-source="post: 1617570" data-attributes="member: 8629"><p>I've had to do this many times, supplementing calves out on pasture while on dam, for multiple reasons, to salvage the long-term value of the calf. While they do become better bovine citizens, they tend to slack off on performance after a few months unless they have access to creep. Good pasture doesn't cut it. If she is a valuable calf, you need to feed the heck out of her so she can keep up. Plan on 3 quarts twice a day unless she is getting quite a bit from mom. Wean as soon as you have an inkling she is getting behind and get her going on a high quality calf starter (I swear by Kent Sweet Flakes) before you pull the bottle. It is time consuming and expensive but if her value is high enough it's worth not having to play catch-up later or have a dinky calf. My theory is you should not be able to tell the difference between a bottle calf and a pasture calf at seven months. I understand that in most commercial situations you spend more on the calf than it's worth, but in your situation give her the best chance you can.</p><p></p><p>It's best not to have to mess with it in the first place but life isn't like that unless you are willing to sell the wet calf to someone who wants a bottle calf and you cull the cow. Comes down to whether you want A calf or THAT calf.</p><p></p><p>Don't mess with a nurse cow. You could bring Johnes or leukosis in and that will really decimate the value of all of your heifer calves for years to come. :2cents:</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="redcowsrule33, post: 1617570, member: 8629"] I've had to do this many times, supplementing calves out on pasture while on dam, for multiple reasons, to salvage the long-term value of the calf. While they do become better bovine citizens, they tend to slack off on performance after a few months unless they have access to creep. Good pasture doesn't cut it. If she is a valuable calf, you need to feed the heck out of her so she can keep up. Plan on 3 quarts twice a day unless she is getting quite a bit from mom. Wean as soon as you have an inkling she is getting behind and get her going on a high quality calf starter (I swear by Kent Sweet Flakes) before you pull the bottle. It is time consuming and expensive but if her value is high enough it's worth not having to play catch-up later or have a dinky calf. My theory is you should not be able to tell the difference between a bottle calf and a pasture calf at seven months. I understand that in most commercial situations you spend more on the calf than it's worth, but in your situation give her the best chance you can. It's best not to have to mess with it in the first place but life isn't like that unless you are willing to sell the wet calf to someone who wants a bottle calf and you cull the cow. Comes down to whether you want A calf or THAT calf. Don't mess with a nurse cow. You could bring Johnes or leukosis in and that will really decimate the value of all of your heifer calves for years to come. :2cents: [/QUOTE]
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