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<blockquote data-quote="regolith" data-source="post: 821217" data-attributes="member: 9267"><p>I think most people find Holsteins easier than Jerseys -more robust, right from the start. Perhaps it is something to do with your source (or the age of calf when you get it) - all your Jerseys come from one dairy? Sounds like they're doing something right and at five weeks old they've done the hardest part of rearing already. </p><p></p><p>I do give my calves hay if I've got good quality grass hay to offer - they like it and I'd reckon it does them better than grass. I've seen calves held inside on milk and starter scraping through the sawdust to get at any leaves of grass that poke grow under the shed walls, or chewing string or any roughage they can get.</p><p>They still eat plenty starter, tho I don't usually offer as much as 3lb till weaning off milk - it's ad-lib to about 2lb then I increase it for a week or two while they're adjusting to being weaned.</p><p>(mind you, my calves are Crossbred and Jersey so they might be eating more in relation to their weight)</p><p></p><p>Feeding calves 3 - 4 times daily (at 6 - 8 hour intervals) is a good technique for saving a dying calf. That's it. What happens to 10 - 30% of your calves - scours? I can understand why the vet may have recommended smaller feeds more often if you have calves in recovery from scours but it shouldn't be necessary for healthy calves.</p><p>I'd call 10% mortality too high, though it is more difficult to keep the rate down with bought calves of unknown history.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="regolith, post: 821217, member: 9267"] I think most people find Holsteins easier than Jerseys -more robust, right from the start. Perhaps it is something to do with your source (or the age of calf when you get it) - all your Jerseys come from one dairy? Sounds like they're doing something right and at five weeks old they've done the hardest part of rearing already. I do give my calves hay if I've got good quality grass hay to offer - they like it and I'd reckon it does them better than grass. I've seen calves held inside on milk and starter scraping through the sawdust to get at any leaves of grass that poke grow under the shed walls, or chewing string or any roughage they can get. They still eat plenty starter, tho I don't usually offer as much as 3lb till weaning off milk - it's ad-lib to about 2lb then I increase it for a week or two while they're adjusting to being weaned. (mind you, my calves are Crossbred and Jersey so they might be eating more in relation to their weight) Feeding calves 3 - 4 times daily (at 6 - 8 hour intervals) is a good technique for saving a dying calf. That's it. What happens to 10 - 30% of your calves - scours? I can understand why the vet may have recommended smaller feeds more often if you have calves in recovery from scours but it shouldn't be necessary for healthy calves. I'd call 10% mortality too high, though it is more difficult to keep the rate down with bought calves of unknown history. [/QUOTE]
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