Small Calf

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Anonymous

I have a calf that is 7 months old and is still small. She was a twin and the mother did not claim her. The owners did not do a good job of taking care of her. They fed her once a day and that was it. She is smaller than my 4-5 month old calves. Should I keep feeding her milk from the bottle? I feel like she isn't growing anymore. What should I do?
 

dun

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She may be so stunted that she won't catch up or she may make up most of the growth by the time she is a couple of years old. She doesn;t need milk. What she needs is high quality hay and 16% (minimum) calf grain. Worming probably would be a good idea also.

dun

Alina":1mafym3f said:
I have a calf that is 7 months old and is still small. She was a twin and the mother did not claim her. The owners did not do a good job of taking care of her. They fed her once a day and that was it. She is smaller than my 4-5 month old calves. Should I keep feeding her milk from the bottle? I feel like she isn't growing anymore. What should I do?
 

dun

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My original response was based on the possible attachment for the calf and the lack of need to really turn a profit.
If you aren't attached to her, I have to concur that you need to eat her or ship her.

dun
 

Linda

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Alina":15q77oso said:
I have a calf that is 7 months old and is still small. She was a twin and the mother did not claim her. The owners did not do a good job of taking care of her. They fed her once a day and that was it. She is smaller than my 4-5 month old calves. Should I keep feeding her milk from the bottle? I feel like she isn't growing anymore. What should I do?

Was she a twin to a bull calf or a heifer calf? If she's a twin to a bull calf, she if probably infertile. That might help you make the decision as to whether to keep or sell her.
 

dun

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Only if born twin to a bull. Twin heifers are fertile, just as in a single birth. A sterile heifer born twin to a bull is a freemartin.

dun


Ellie May":247c4ez0 said:
I'd sell it although if she is not sterile she might be good to breed but most twin heifers are sterile.
Ellie May
 

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