Holsteing calf question

Homeschoolmom · #1 10/30/08, 01:29 PM

Ok so those of you who have been reading my post know that I now have a 2 week old Holstein bull calf with no mama to raise him

. So now we have to decided if we keep him or try to sell him. First question is how much milk replacer will I have to buy between now and weaning? We already have one bag here. We have always left the calf on Mama during the day and separated at night so I have never had to buy milk replacer before and have no idea how many bags we will need. Also since we lost Buttercups calf which would have been our beef in two years he would obviously become our new beef cow. Does Holstein beef even taste good? I hate to spend all this money raising him if the beef isn't that good. Sorry for so many questions.

Thanks again for your help

Rebecca
Homeschooling,Homebirthing,Homesteading mama to 6 blessings with #7 due in Jan 09

mpillow · #2 10/30/08, 01:50 PM

I've never used replacer but I feed my holst. calves 3 quarts goat milk +1 quart water over 2 feedings....by 3 weeks old they nibble hay by 4 weeks hay and grain....wean as young as 6 weeks.
I have two right now that are just 6 weeks getting down to 1q milk a feeding. Next week just water.

mpillow · #3 10/30/08, 01:51 PM

BTW the meat is good and quite lean.

deafgoatlady · #4 10/30/08, 02:01 PM

I do know that my friend said that dairy cow taste okay but it is better if it is ground beef instead of steaks and stuff. That what she said.. She raise them all the time,..

topside1 · #5 10/30/08, 02:29 PM

Rebecca, once again sorry to hear about your losses. Dairy beef is great. 95% of the beef in most supermarkets is Holstein, not saying that supermarket meat is any good, just say most people are eating dairy steer/cow meat regularly without even knowing it. Homegrown dairy beef tastes great. One 50# bag will get the Holstein raised to weaning providing he is 2 weeks old now. I always feed milk to 8 weeks old, but that's me....TJ

**gone-a-milkin** · #6 10/30/08, 02:51 PM

I agree w/ topside1. One bag of replacer = one calf 'til weaning.

The meat will be good. You will know what is in it (unlike grocery beef). Plus, you already have your replacer, so you are all set up.

travlnusa · #7 10/30/08, 05:38 PM

Agree that you have the one bag, you are all set. You will also want to make sure that you have clean water in front of the calf all the time as well.

After each feeding, shove a small handfull of starter grain into its mouth. It needs to learn to eat that so you can wean by the time you are out of milk replacer.

Keep it in a draft free, dry place. Does not have to be warm.

randiliana · #8 10/30/08, 08:56 PM

Holstien beef is just fine. It depends more on what you feed him than on what the breed is. We are eating a year old holstien right now. Weighed about 1100 lbs when we butchered him. We didn't raise him, but bought him from a neighbour. He is quite tasty and tender.

menollyrj · #9 10/31/08, 09:44 AM

We put 2 30-lb bags into a calf by weaning at 6 weeks. Go ahead and get some calf starter and put a little in front of him. He'll nose around in it for a few days before he actually eats any.

Good luck!

-Joy

sammyd · #10 10/31/08, 07:44 PM

Dairy cow meat can be tough but good dairy steer is fine meat.