Grazing calves

[Farm 36]

I have a group of Just weaned Jersey calves that I want to rotational graze and was wondering on grain should I feed a 18% calf feed or a staight cracked corn .I am afraid that come fall that if I get a weak market and have trouble to over come my input cost.This project is a low input because the Jersey's will have a low market value .The grass value will be high and in the fall when the grass gets low I have access to feed from a large dairy to feed them

[sammyd]

We run our holstein steers on a 16% grower ration after weaning.
At that young of an age grass alone isn't going to supply what they need and adding corn isn't really going to help.
Even beef calves run with ma for months while eating grass as calves.
Stay with the high % grower. If the markets scare ya, get out, nobody needs an ulcer over jersey steer calves.

[topside1]

Listen to Sammy that is for sure....Cracked corn is only 8% protein, that's about nothing. All calf starter/growers are no less than 16% so there must be good reason for it. A trained eye can quickly ID calves that are lacking....Raising Jersey steers for profit is quite a venture....Topside

[Rich Taber]

I agree abou the corn. It does not have enough protein to raise small calves on. If the pasture is excellent, they still need about 4 pds. of grain a day until they are about a year old, 16-18% should be ok. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish about trying to save $ on grain, with dairy animals .