brought home 4 bull calves

[draggahaus]

Alright...did all this reading on here and decided that I needed to go get some. I picked up 4 jersey bull calves, oh they are so cute. It was funny watching the dogs and son trying to herd them into the pen...and when I say dogs I mean gsd puppies that have never seen cows. lol...they didn't know what to think of them.
I am off to get straw for them to lay down on.

[topside1]

Congrats, how old are they? What are you feeding them?

[draggahaus]

I picked up some powdered milk at the feed store...they are a few days old???or a week..I was told to feed them 2x a day and not to over feed them.

[draggahaus]

I think it is called quick start

[TSYORK]

2 quarts two times a day. Do not overfeed. A wise person on this formum once told me, "A hungry calf is a healthy calf." At a couple weeks old started introducing them to dairy chop by putting a little in their mouths for them to taste of. They will get the hang before long.

[draggahaus]

ok good that is what they just got, and there is nothing cuter than a baby Jersey drinking out of your hand.

[draggahaus]

Thanks guys for the help. And it is ok that they shake all over after they eat. or do I need to put them under heat lamps?

[topside1]

Drag, if the Jersey's are small like most Jersey's are 60-70 pounds....Only feed 3 pints per feeding not 4 pints, because as TSYORK said a hungry calf is a happy, healthy calf. I have raised a handfull of Jerseys and let me tell you they are fragile and with 3 pints per feeding they will not starve....Don't overfeed no matter how tempting. I'm raising one now, and at even 5 weeks old I will not increase his feedings...If you don't follow these instructions you will be sorry..

[topside1]

P.s. the above photo is 30 days old....Ask questions we are glad to help the best we can. I am far from an expert, I am learning each and every day...enjoy your new calves.

[draggahaus]

ok thanks, I will cut them back. I have to say they did slow down around that amount. Now they are all curled up in the straw with the two goats and pony. I posted a pic on my blog on my site. I am not sure how to do it on here...but they are small.
www.draggahaus.com

[TSYORK]

Here is my little guy. I got him around Nov. 9th of last year. The guy I got him from called me today and said that he had another black angus cross bull born yesterday and told me if I wanted it for $30.00 to come pick it up. So I will be getting another one of these next week. I'm tickled good to be able to get these angusxholstein steers for $30.00 bucks a pop. Good luck and let us know if we can help.

[Up North]

Agree with the above posters that 3 pints X 2 feedings per day of milk replacer is appropriate for small Jersey calves. However, in addition to that, you need to put out a bucket of clean water and keep it available at all times. Don't be concerned if they don't drink it right away. They will on their own time.
Also put out the dairy chop or whatever large particle calf grain you are using immediately. Trickle a handful into each calf's mouth until they get the taste of it and start nibbling on their own.
If calves are settled in and eating good, castrate with rubber bands as soon as you can get to it.

[Up North]

Originally Posted by draggahaus

And it is ok that they shake all over after they eat.

Are you mixing the milk replacer with warm water in the 85 to 95 degree range?

[milkinpigs]

The shaking is normal.when the warm milk starts to go through them

[draggahaus]

Hey thanks for all the input.

Yes using warm milk. They do have loose stool this morning, one more than the others, and now he doesn't want to eat.. so what do I do now?
The other 3 are doing great, pushy and hungry.
I don't have any other cows, so no cow stuff on hand...so I go and buy stuff for baby cows? I can head to the feed store this morning they are only about 3 miles from the house.
So the picture of the Angus cross is recent he seems so small. How much does he weight do you think?

[SHELBY]

The loose stools they are having could have been from giving them too much milk.

Make sure you have cut that back to the 3 pints and they ahould clear up.

THings you should have on hand are electrolytes and a probiotic along with a good sulfa bolus, Pen, and LA200 wouldn't hurt either. also Vit B

The one that didn't want to eat this morning get some electrolytes and give him that, also a blanket or heat lamp to keep him warm so as not to use up more energy than needed.

[draggahaus]

ok the one that is having water pooo, had to be tube fed. he was not wanting to eat. I did get some special stuff from the feed store for him, so hopefully he will be a happier bull in the morning.

[draggahaus]

well they are all looking good today, haven't fed yet...but heading out there in a few min. First I have to rotate all the dogs out to potty.

[unk86]

I hope the calf is doing better. I raise 30 to 40 jersey bulls a year and they are very suseptable to clostridium. All it takes is a little to much milk or having the water temp to low. I give all my calves C&D antitoxin (12cc under the skin) and pennicillin ( 10 cc down the throat) if they refuse one feeding. The antitoxin will protect the calf from clostridum for a couple of weeks. If they are scouring they get Resorb instead of milk and also get started on Ditrim tablets twice a day. If the calf unfortunaly dies, you can tell if it was clostridium by looking at the small intestine. A section of it will be bright red, or even full of blood.I hope this helps, jersey calves can be a stuggle.

[draggahaus]

ok 2 of them ate very well. the one that was tube fed yesterday is up and moving around and played with the bottle but didn't eat...and we now have another one that is doing the same thing. I am also seeing what looks like a small amount of red blood in the stool?? what do I do now?
thanks
Heather