Still having feed problem

[HaysFarm]

We are still having a feed problem, I think anyways.
After we bought our little ones. We switched there feed over about 4 weeks.
Well there poo became hard ( no pattys)
So we started adding in there calf feed again and still no change.
there getting lots of water, and hay.
What am i missing? Worng feed, too much of something, There not getting something they need?
My next step is calling the vet to see what she says to do.
Sorry we only had one other bull calf. Thanks everyone

[Karin L]

What are you feeding them now? What did you feed them prior to the switch? How old are they? Are you providing supplements? Have you considered getting they're feed tested?

[HaysFarm]

They are getting sweet cow now, They were getting calf starter, they are between 12 and 14 weeks old (3 to 3 1/2 months) they have a cattle block,

[agmantoo]

The manure consistency will depend on what the animals are eating. Low quality high fiber will cause the manure to to more resemble that of a horse while clovers and other legumes will cause the manure to be flat and spread/loose. These animals are having free access to hay also aren't they?

I presume by this that you moved them from high protien to low protien feed? The more protien they are getting the looser they will be. At 3-3 1/2 months I would think you would still want them on a fairly high protien feed. But, other than their manure, how do they look? Are they potbellied or still in good condition? If they are pot bellied I would want them on a high protien/high energy ration. How much are you feeding them? They should be getting as much as they want to eat. It isn't going to hurt them.
After all they are still growing and protien is what develops muscle and bones. Hay is good, and they need some, but it doesn't contain enough protien for a calf to grow on.

We have 1 bottle calf yet, and she will be on the calf ration (18% protien) until weaning time (October). We are hoping she will make a replacement. They will only grow as well as you feed them.

[Hammer4]

Twelve weeks old .. 3 months? They should just be coming off a bottle + calf starter to straight calf starter....

Sweet cow feed is to high fiber and not enough protein at this point...keep in mind they normally are weaned from the cow at 210 days, or around 7 months.

I'd put them back on calf starter for another three months to give them the protein they need while they get up to normal weaning age.

Otherwise, they may end up stunted/runts.

[HaysFarm]

Yes there getting hay,
They were off the bottle at 4 weeks of age. ( We bought them at 6 weeks old)
No there in good shape, they don't have pot bellys.
Ok, then i'll work back in there calf feed, Untill that's all there on.And see if that helps
cause we did start adding it back in to the feed there getting now.

[ozark_jewels]

4 weeks is way to young to wean off of milk ........These calves need to get some very good feeding or they will be stunted. Was it a dairy that weaned them at four weeks??

[HaysFarm]

Yes there both dairy, there jersey x holstein.
Around me it's not uncommon for them to be weaned at 4 to 6 weeks of age.
I'm waiting on the kids to get ready at the moment, and were going to head down to the feed store, time to start reading lables again.

[HaysFarm]

ok i went out and really looked at them today, They do have a small pot belly.
these are my moms and i don't spend alot of time with them. She just put me in charge of picking and mixing there feeds.

[ozark_jewels]

I personally would never wean any young ruminant at four weeks old. At that point they are just starting to eat and cud truly well. That could account for the hard stools and probably accounts for the potbelly look. They are being asked to eat all adult type foods(grain and pasture/hay) and no milk which is what their body is still needing. If it were me, I would put them *very* slowly back onto milk.....but I have that option as I have access to goat and cow milk, I know you may not.

[HaysFarm]

Yes we started talking about this last night. We still have some milk replacer left from another bull. We thought about starting them back on it.
No i don't have anyone milking at the moment. Really wish i did.

[HaysFarm]

Thanks to all,
We put them on full calf feed, and started giveing them a bottle.
Everything has went back to normal.
So i learned something for next time.
they were switched over too soon, and still need there baby food.:-)
So thank you again for the insight and the info

[ozark_jewels]

Oh good. I'm sure they appreciate it.
I assume you are starting them on milk s-l-o-w-l-y?

[HaysFarm]

I'm sure they do. Learn something new everyday.
Yes starting slowly. I'm hoping that put them back on the baby feed and milk with get us back on track.