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weaned bottle calf
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<blockquote data-quote="novaman" data-source="post: 825942" data-attributes="member: 2744"><p>I realize you were successful in raising calves with your method. I've talked to many people that feed some sort of forage very early on and claim to have no problems. If that works, great. Everything I have read is saying that the first 56 days of life will determine the productivity of that heifer for the rest of her life. This is the critical period when mammary development is taking place etc. So while I can see how people say their calves do just great on forage, I have to question how much they are giving up by not feeding the calf to its potential. There is no way a calf can get enough nutrients to meet its potential by stuffing itself with forage. </p><p></p><p>I do agree that there must be a transition period to forage. I don't agree that this transition must take place prior to weaning. I always hold off on forage until they are eating grain well enough to keep from slumping after they are weaned. The forage is slowly introduced probably a week after they are weaned and only the highest quality alfalfa on the place is offered.</p><p></p><p>Everybody has a method I realize that. It just bothers me when people post about their bottle calf not doing well and not understanding why. They need nutrients and lots of them. Plain and simple.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="novaman, post: 825942, member: 2744"] I realize you were successful in raising calves with your method. I've talked to many people that feed some sort of forage very early on and claim to have no problems. If that works, great. Everything I have read is saying that the first 56 days of life will determine the productivity of that heifer for the rest of her life. This is the critical period when mammary development is taking place etc. So while I can see how people say their calves do just great on forage, I have to question how much they are giving up by not feeding the calf to its potential. There is no way a calf can get enough nutrients to meet its potential by stuffing itself with forage. I do agree that there must be a transition period to forage. I don't agree that this transition must take place prior to weaning. I always hold off on forage until they are eating grain well enough to keep from slumping after they are weaned. The forage is slowly introduced probably a week after they are weaned and only the highest quality alfalfa on the place is offered. Everybody has a method I realize that. It just bothers me when people post about their bottle calf not doing well and not understanding why. They need nutrients and lots of them. Plain and simple. [/QUOTE]
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