When to add Calves to Feed calculation?

[CircleA]

At what age / weight do you start adding calves into your daily feed ration / calculation?

In other words, (and just an example) if i determine that each cow will get 30 pounds of alf hay a day (3% @ 1000#) - and they have a calf on the side, when should i start increasing the total amount of hay a day - say another 15 pounds per day per calf (3% @ 500#).

Daily ration for 10 cows is 300 pounds - adding 10 calves, avg weight 500 adds 150 more pounds of hay - for a total amount at feeding 450 pounds?

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks,
Alex

PS - please don't get lost the size of the animals nor the percentage of feed to total weight.

 

[sidney411]

I am by no means an expert, but, calves will start eating hay-grain-grass when they are a few weeks old. They don't eat much at a young age but they do watch momma and do what she does. i.e. eat. I would start figuring the calf in starting at around a month give or take. I would just watch them at feeding time and see how long the calf eats. Is it just 'playing with its food' or really eating. IMO that is how I would make me decision as to when to add more food per day.

 

[dun]

I am by no means an expert, but, calves will start eating hay-grain-grass when they are a few weeks old. They don't eat much at a young age but they do watch momma and do what she does. i.e. eat. I would start figuring the calf in starting at around a month give or take. I would just watch them at feeding time and see how long the calf eats. Is it just 'playing with its food' or really eating. IMO that is how I would make me decision as to when to add more food per day.

Good answer!

dun

 

[RICHARD ADAMS]

along the same lines.....at what age can i wean my calfs?.......i have a bottle fed 4 month old on milk replacer, pellets and alfalfa...would be nice to lay off the bottle and be one step closer to this animal being ou with the herd.

...CircleA: is it as hot and dry where you are, we're baking in vacaville

 

[CircleA]

Richard,
It's hot, dang hot - and the AC is out on the truck - oh well,

come winter we will be complaining about the cold!

Alex

 

[dun]

along the same lines.....at what age can i wean my calfs?.......i have a bottle fed 4 month old on milk replacer, pellets and alfalfa...would be nice to lay off the bottle and be one step closer to this animal being ou with the herd.

...CircleA: is it as hot and dry where you are, we're baking in vacaville

If he's eating a couple of pounds of grain a day he can be weaned now. BUT, since he was bottle raised, I would recommend you keep creep feeding him grain.

dun

 

[sidney411]

THANKS DUN!!! That means more to me then you can ever imagine, coming from an expert Guru like yourself that knows more about cattle in your little pinkie then I do all together! I really appreciate you and all of the other people on this board.