Should We Or Not?

Gather App
Inventry
UnlistMe
I

I luv herfrds

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2007
Messages
5,770
City & State/Province
Montana
Hubby's cousin stopped by this morning. He wanted to know if we needed a bum calf? No. He's got 2 bums.
Needed a couple of bum calves a couple years ago but not now.

Hubby and I talked about the fact my milk cow raised 2 calves last year, but she is not due to calve til the end of May.
wondering if our daughter would want at least 1 calf to raise til my cow calves then she could sell the calf in the fall. She loves the cattle.

Yes I have raised bum calves before.

Yes? No? Run for the hills?
 
Yep, if you got a nurse cow it's worth it for nothing else just for the experience your daughter gets. IMHO. I ain't got a nurse cow so I'd be runnin for da hills.
 
All of my kids raised bottle calves. It is a great thing for a kid to do. And with the price of calves it is even rewarding now. So if your daughter wants to do it I would say yes.
 
Another good reason to do it is that you will never lose one of your calves if you have a graft calf that you are wanting to put on to a momma. So just having it available will insure you a successful calving season.
 
I would if for no other reason but because of the kid learning something more.
Once your nurse cow is ready, graft the other on and let it go.
 
if it was me id take both calves an bottle feed them.by the time your milk cow calves those calves should be weaned.we have 2 bull calves on the bottle now.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
See price on Amazon
Smoak Firewood Cooking Wood Mini Splits - USDA Certified Kiln Dried Pizza Oven Wood, Grilling Wood, Smoking Wood, BBQing Wood (8inch Pieces, 25-30lbs 1728 Cubic in - Hickory)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
If your daughter has the time, and you have the facilities, sounds like a win/win deal. :) I'm keeping my eyes open for an experienced nurse cow. I think she would be a very good investment.
 
Talked to the cousin tonight. He wants $400 for the calf. Talked with our daughter and she wants the calf.
I guess he sold the other one already because he just said he had this one. A twin heifer calf out of a first year heifer.

Hubby wants to wait til I come back from Hawaii but daughter does not want to wait.

I'm leaving on the 16th and won't be back til the 25th.
 
$400 is plenty for a newborn calf.how old will the adopted calf b when your nurse cow calves? if they r too far apart n size the new baby could easily get pushed away by the bigger calf when it trys to nurse.
 
This calf will be 2-3 months older.
Will just do what I did last year, let the smaller calf out of the pen first and let it nurse for awhile then let the bigger calf out to nurse.
Did this after milking her.

I was getting 3 gallons a day. I posted a pic of her calf on the Breeds Board.
 
$400 is plenty for a bummer calf. But on the other hand with the price of cattle and this being calving season for lots of people...... I had a cow lose a calf two weeks ago. I got a 3 week old (?) bummer at the sale to graft on the cow for $280. I coughed and sputtered all the way home. But they are a happy family now and what will the calf be worth this fall?
 
I've heard of newborns selling for $500+...Which is a lot except when you look around and the buyers are already contracting calves not even yet born for $1000 fall delivery....
 
He wanted $550 but since it is our daughter buying the calf he said $400 instead.

He knew I would tell his Mom on him if he charged her $550 for that calf. :lol2: ;-)
 
Found out yesterday that one of our cows lost her calf in a blizzard. Asked hubby if he went and got that bum calf for our daughter and put the calf on this cow. Nope.
Said he didn't even think about it.
Lost the calf on the 19th. Think it's too late to graft the calf?
 
I luv herfrds":1d9jsomf said:
.
Lost the calf on the 19th. Think it's too late to graft the calf?
Click to expand...

Not trying to be a wise-guy. I think that depends on the cow and the calf. if you already have the calf, you could give it a try. If the calf is determined to suck from the cow, it may work seeing how the calf isn't a not-so-strong day-old. The cow probably hasn't dried yet. If she's a somewhat 'maternal-instinct' cow it just might work.

If you're willing to take the time to get the cow up and pen it with the calf (does it know to get milk from a cow or only from a bottle?) and give it a go....why not?

Katherine
 
Got the calf. Ran the cow into the head catch and the calf latched right on. I poured warm water on the calf then sprinkled him with O-NO-MO. Cow licked him a few times.
Left them in a small pen together.
She did butt him when he got near her hay.
Going to give them some time together and watch to see how she does with him.
She did not kick him when he started nursing.
 
I luv herfrds":3tt4ysxn said:
She did butt him when he got near her hay.
Going to give them some time together and watch to see how she does with him.
She did not kick him when he started nursing.
Click to expand...

Well, sounds like there may be a chance this could work. As for the hay deal, I've had a coupld of cows butt their own calves away from their hay, not a harsh butting.

I hope this works for you. :D

Katherine
 
Looks to be going good so far.
She did kick him once when he tried to nurse this afternoon. He was allowed to share her hay tonight.
Noticed all the O-NO-MO was cleaned off his back and he looked like a fat tick tonight too.

I want to see if she will let him nurse without having to put her in the head catch. I just want to see him nursing her with no problems.
She was looking at him tonight and just like she was making sure he was still there.

Not bad for a 7 year old cow.
 
I luv herfrds":6nqpjwis said:
I just want to see him nursing her with no problems.
She was looking at him tonight and just like she was making sure he was still there.

Not bad for a 7 year old cow.
Click to expand...

It just might work. :D Where I used to work, there were a few times when they were able to graft an older calf onto a cow that had lost a calf, similar to your situation, where a number of days had passed in between. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. But often it was decided to give it a shot with a set amount of days to dedicate to it.

Like you, I would sure want to know that she "accepted" the calf completely before turning them out.

Hopefully all will be well.

Katherine
 

Latest posts

Back
Top