Bottle calf raising tip, plus (pics)

[topside1]

Hi all, here's the short version. Bought my last group of calves and as usual feed them goats milk, except this time I mixed 100% milk replacer with the goats’ milk into 50/50 blend. Well here is what I learned: All four calves had very loose poo for the first seven days. Of course I blamed it on traveling stress, vaccinations, anti-biotic precautionary shot and whatever else I could think of. The four never had scours, just very loose poop. Finally I couldn't take it any longer and shifted to straight goats’ milk. Well overnight all four hardened up and life has been grand ever since the change. Word to the wise don't feed this volatile mixture. The calves will thrive, but just don't stand behind them...In fact I named one "Squirt" for obvious reasons. I will copy and paste this learning experience onto the bottle calf sticky, without photos....Hope all is going well in your neck of the woods,,,,Topside

Enjoy the photos and by all means do not be afraid of your local sale barn. Arm yourself with knowledge, and you will enjoy your new calf.

[6ncounting]

those are beautiful calves, great job and thanks for the lesson

[samm]

we mix an egg and a heaping spoon of yogurt in every bottle, and always if you buy milk replacer..use only whey based, not soy bean based. we also mix it with goats milk, when someone is milking.....we bought a holstein heifer that will hopfully breed this fall, so i hope to not have to buy much bagged milk after she calves. its hard not to over buy and get more calves than ya need to try and tend to, we bought 11 at one time last year...it was a big job to get done, wont do that no more..
samm

[lasergrl]

what type of calf is the dark one?

[topside1]

Laser, that heifer is a Jersey/Holstein cross...Topside

[southridgeacre]

Thanks for the experiment and posting your experience on the board, you've been very giving with what you've learned and I appreciate it!

Question for you, how many goats does it take to feed a calf? Do you milk your own goats, if so what breed. Just curious. I've thought about getting a bottle baby, and wondered how many goats I would need to have, if I didn't want to use any replacer,

Samara

[topside1]

Samara, one quality goat can support one calf. Quality meaning the goat produces six to eight pints of milk per day, no less. Yes, I have ten does five of which I milk once a day the others are dry. I freeze lots of goats milk too. LaMancha and Nubian breeds. Goats are a herd animal so buying just one goat would not be good for you or her. Buy two does and have plenty of milk for your table and the calf's bottle. There is nothing wrong with milk replacer providing you buy 100% powdered milk, no soy, and don't overfeed. But by all means avoid MR if possible...Topside


Here is my top producer, well over one gallon per day. She's a unregistered LaMancha/Nubian cross...Papers don't improve milk production.

[southridgeacre]

Thanks Topside, once the does freshen, say if I had 2 bred at the same time, and they have 4 kids between them, is there enough milk for the kids and the calf? I'd be raising a Jersey heifer. Or would you suggest selling the kids as bottle babies?

Your doe is lovely, and that kid in the front is so gorgeous! Would you say that I should look into borrowing a buck when the time comes, or AI?

Samara

[topside1]

Samara, you would still have plenty of milk for one calf for two feedings per day. Just pen the kids at night, milk full moms in the morning, feed the calves, then re-unite the goat families for the day. Evening feed the calves excess morning milk and repeat the process for the following day. As far as bucks or buck service goes, start a thread on the goat forum and you'll be educated with opinions in no time....Good luck, Topside.

[Gregg Alexander]

Good looking calves top. I use the same set up feeding the milk to bottle calves

[southridgeacre]

Thanks.

One last question, I assume you're saying that the calf would not be considered adequate company, that a goat needs another goat for companionship?

Samara

[NICC08]

Originally Posted by samm

we mix an egg and a heaping spoon of yogurt in every bottle

Does this prevent scours? I've used eggs with varying degrees of success as a treatment. Never used yogurt....Suppose the yeast in it stimulates gut bacteria. How long do you feed this cocktail?

Jake

[topside1]

Samara, the calf will not be enough company for the goat, but the goat is enough company for the calf...Hope that makes sense....Topside

[southridgeacre]

It does, thanks!

Samara

[samm]

jake, when i was buying eggs i only did it till i felt they were out of the woods, we now have an abundance of eggs, so i tend to feed them longer. the yogurt keeps alittle of the good bacteria in thier guts, it has worked well for us.

samm

[francismilker]

I've got a friend who's a retired vet and he says yogurt is really good for scours if you catch it in time. Once they're to the "shootin it over the barn" stage, you need to use more aggresive methods like tubing them with electrolyte liquids.