My son came home from the sale with 3 young beef calves one time. I was going to bottle raise them but those never seem to grow off as well as I like.
I know a guy that owns a dairy. He will sell me his cull cows (split udder where the tendons stretch out and the "faucets" turn out to the side) for $350 - $400.
I bought a cow from him. The cow had never nursed a calf and was in culture shock the first time. She got sore and had to toughen up down there. Kind of felt sorry for her the first week.
She loved those babies. I would pen the calves at night, nurse them first thing in the morning, then turn them out together in a small pasture close to the barn.
Then my son came home with another 3. Bought another cow. She was not as tolerant as the first. I made some stocks and contained her so the calves could nurse.
I would still pen the calves at night, then turn the younger ones out first in the morning. Once their sides began to swell out I would turn the other older calves out.
After about two weeks I left them all out and together.
Raised 7 nice calves on two cows.
I had friends tell me I might be on to something. My concern was that I would not be able to find affordable calves. I did have to raise some Jersey calves from time to time.
Here is a picture of the first Momma. She was a great. Her udder finally stretched so low that nothing could nurse her.
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