Should I Consider Going To Three Times A Day???

[TSYORK]

I have a beautiful angus/holstein cross bull calf, soon to be minus the bull that's destined for the freezer in several months. I have been feeding milk replacer (two quarts per feeding) twice a day, morning and evening. He acts like he is starving to death. He's waiting at the gate all the time bellering wanting to be fed more. He has access to good quality hay. I've tried giving him some dairy chop, but he can't get the hang of eating it yet. What should I do????? He was born 11/01/07. He's not scouring, etc; he's just plain dang hungry.... Would you consider going to three feedings a day? What other advice do you have to offer?

Thanks so much

[Teacupliz]

If you have time you can feed 3 times a day. Do you grain him? That may help.
I also had a bull calf- holstien- when I had extra milk he would drink 6 gallons a day in 3 feedings. I think they scour less on goats milk- I am not sure if you could feed tha tmuch replacer- try the grain-
Liz in NY

[TSYORK]

When you say grain, do you mean dairy chop? This dairy chop that I have is ground corn, wheat, barley, and I think millet with molasses in it. It's a fine ground, or should I be feeding something else.

[Teacupliz]

I buy a prepared feed- calf zip- and I add oats and corn for the older cows- sounds the same as you dairy chop- i know with babies of all kinds they always seem hungrey-
I know with baby goats you can kill them by over feeding-
Seems he should do fine-Liz

[agmantoo]

After feeding the milk replacer I would take a handful of the feed and put it in his mouth. Leave him some of the ground feed to "waste" as he muzzles through it. It will not be long until he gets accustomed to eating the ground feed. It is too early to wean him at this time.

[topside1]

Agman & Liz are right on. Buy calf starter, it's a special grain mixture just for calves. The bull calf is only 18 days old and won't really be experiementing with grain until around 3 weeks old. Do put some in his mouth after each feeding. Remember a healthy calf is a hungry calf. I usually feed three time a day until 2 weeks old, the amount is still one gallon only it's broken up into three feedings....By three weeks you will notice him tasting hay or grasses plus grains....all is well