Calf on Goats' Milk?

[nehimama]

Hello. I never post here as I don't have any bovine critters (at the moment). However, I need some insight from you cattle experts.

A neighbor buys goats' milk from me for her bottle calf; it's about a week old. Another neighbor told her to dilute the goats' milk with water, as it is too rich for a calf. (Didn't say what proportions for the dilution.)

That didn't ring true with me, and I advised her not to do that.

Was I right? (If I'm wrong, I can take it, and will tell the bottle-calf raiser what you all say.)

Thanks,
NeHi

[jim/se kansas]

I have one nanny that I use to raise calves. I put her in the milk stand with feed
and put a calf on her. Hope this helps. Jim

[ljf323]

I have raised 9 bottle calves off my goats milk (Nubians)over the last 4 years.. Most the calves never sucked their Own moms..NEVER had a problem. I however do Not let the calves suck the does themselves I milk the does & then straight into a bottle or Bucket to feed the calves..I think calves are just to much for a doe, They can Butt the udder & suck harder than goat kids so For my does protection I just dont do it.The calves grow great & Are fat & sassy By the time I sell them at about 6 months..Most of the time I have several does milking in case someone has a bum calf..
In my opinion calves do just as good on goats milk As they do on their own mommas..
My husband works at a livestock sale barn so I usually end up with a calf from a sale cow that calves at the sale barn that nobody wants to mess with..
Just my 2 cents worth.

[topside1]

Hi Nehi, I raise 8-12 bottle calves per year on the milk from my goats...Never dilute, never any problems....Goats milk really isn't that much richer than cows milk, just look at the butterfat % in Jersey milk and compare to goats....Good to see ya on the bovine board...

[nehimama]

Topside, that's a fine-looking li'l bovine critter there!

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies. I didn't THINK it made sense that goats' milk was "too rich" for a calf!

NeHi