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weaned bottle calf
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<blockquote data-quote="TexasBred" data-source="post: 825840" data-attributes="member: 6897"><p>Nova I guess you could call me old school in some ways....It's been nearly 40 years since my schooling. But a cow/calf is still a cow/calf. I agree with you on feeding high protein starters but i also believe in aiding the adjustment to forage as quickly as possible. The rumen begins growing at two to three weeks of age, depending on when hay and grain are fed in addition to the milk it receives from the cow or a bottle. Higher grain diets do increase VFA production (sometimes to a level that is detrimental to the calf) but also lower ph which can lead to other problems and almost totally eliminate bacteria that utilize forage in the diet. This is when you'll have "slug feeding" in calves and cows. Get your ration out of balance and you'll see it in your lactating cattle in your barn. All you have to do is check your test results to see it. IN calves there has to be an adjustment period because we are developing grass eaters. When you begin the transition is up to each individual but it needs to begin prior to weaning and finished soon after weaning. Studies are being done all the time. Read both sides before deciding to chisel one into stone. You raise holsteins primarily. We use to raise over 400 a year as well. All were introduced to forage early and encouraged to eat forage along with the calf starter feed. Ours flourished....so...my system works for me...yours works for you. nuff said. ;-)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TexasBred, post: 825840, member: 6897"] Nova I guess you could call me old school in some ways....It's been nearly 40 years since my schooling. But a cow/calf is still a cow/calf. I agree with you on feeding high protein starters but i also believe in aiding the adjustment to forage as quickly as possible. The rumen begins growing at two to three weeks of age, depending on when hay and grain are fed in addition to the milk it receives from the cow or a bottle. Higher grain diets do increase VFA production (sometimes to a level that is detrimental to the calf) but also lower ph which can lead to other problems and almost totally eliminate bacteria that utilize forage in the diet. This is when you'll have "slug feeding" in calves and cows. Get your ration out of balance and you'll see it in your lactating cattle in your barn. All you have to do is check your test results to see it. IN calves there has to be an adjustment period because we are developing grass eaters. When you begin the transition is up to each individual but it needs to begin prior to weaning and finished soon after weaning. Studies are being done all the time. Read both sides before deciding to chisel one into stone. You raise holsteins primarily. We use to raise over 400 a year as well. All were introduced to forage early and encouraged to eat forage along with the calf starter feed. Ours flourished....so...my system works for me...yours works for you. nuff said. ;-) [/QUOTE]
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