question on weaning bottle babys

[jwhisperj]

How have you guys weaned bottle calves? Have you ever used milk replacer pellets and what were the pro's and con's? I am getting ready to wean mine. The man I bought them from said to wean them after two bags each. They are about 4 1/2 months old and are about 220lbs last time I checked. They eat free choice cob( about 50lbs a week), creeper pellets, hay and minerals. This is my first time and was curious on the least stressful method.

Thanks.

 

[hillsdown]

Once mine are a minimum of three months old and are eating the required amount 18% calf starter ration I will cut them back a pint every couple of days .Ie if they are getting 6 pints they will get 5 pints for 2 days twice a day and then 4 pints twice a day for two days until they get no milk at all.
Make sure they have access to fresh water at all times and lots of grain and hay. They still whine and complain but it usually only lasts a couple of days.

This worked great for Holstein heifers in confined shelters so it will work for and any other animal as well.

 

[jwhisperj]

Thanks I like the sounds of that. Have you ever heard of the milk replacer pellets?

 

[hillsdown]

I have ,but have never used them personally so no experience with that ;but I am sure someone else on here has used them and can give you some hands on experience. Good luck with them it will be noisy for a while, but that system worked for me and still does, but I am also a big softy when it comes to my little ones ;-) .

Sorry about your problem elsewhere but some people really need to be taken behind the barn and smartened up with a two by four :???: .
:tiphat:

 

[jwhisperj]

Thanks hillsdown. I look forward to the singing. So far they have been a real joy to have around and can't wait to taste the little guy.As far as the other stuff I was just curious, I am new the this large land stuff.

 

[iowafarmer]

If they are eating hay and creep feed and are that old i would cut them back on milk every 2 days until they aren't getting milk any more make sure they know where water is. We used to have bottle calves a long time ago and they got weaned after they went through one bag of milk replacer and were a month old. They should be fine. hope it goes well for you.

 

[msscamp]

How have you guys weaned bottle calves? Have you ever used milk replacer pellets and what were the pro's and con's? I am getting ready to wean mine. The man I bought them from said to wean them after two bags each. They are about 4 1/2 months old and are about 220lbs last time I checked. They eat free choice cob( about 50lbs a week), creeper pellets, hay and minerals. This is my first time and was curious on the least stressful method.

Thanks.

How many calves are we talking about here? Purina Calf Starter has milk replacer pellets in it, and I've had very good results once the calves are old enough to be able to eat the pellets.

 

[jwhisperj]

Two Holstein calves. I was wondering if the pellets are just designed to be a weaning supplement. Or are they just fine?

 

[bigbull338]

i wean bottle calves at 2 to 3 months old.or when they are eating 5 to 6lbs of feed every day.an they have to eat like that for 2wks.

 

[jwhisperj]

Ok, sounds to me like they are ready to be weaned! whooo hooo! Thanks!

 

[msscamp]

Ok, sounds to me like they are ready to be weaned! whooo hooo! Thanks!

Yes, they are definitely ready to start weaning. They are eating apprx 3.5 lbs of feed per day, so I would not wean them cold turkey. I would cut down their bottles by about a pint a day. That will help to encourage them to eat more of the grain, and reduce the stress.