Weaning off of MR

MollyK · #1 04/16/10, 05:51 PM

How do all of you do this when you have a bottle calf?
I have heard the 2-3 pounds of grain thing. I'm not sure how much he eats, but it's definitely not 2 pounds a day. He's almost seven weeks and I was going to start cutting back a pint at a time (ex- give 3 pints in the morning and 4 at night for a few days then cut down another pint)

Just curious to see how y'all do this. I think I might keep him on MR for another couple of weeks. I just didn't want to have to buy another bag and have some left over...

topside1 · #2 04/16/10, 07:11 PM

Molly @ eight weeks old you should drop down to one feeding a day for say 7 days. After seven days that's it. A lot depends on how much replacer I have left, I like to use it up if I don't foresee raising any other calves soon. Topside

Allen W · #3 04/16/10, 07:59 PM

If he is eating grain good his grain intake will go up when you cut back to once a day feeding, that has been my experience.

MollyK · #4 04/16/10, 09:29 PM

Thanks Guys! I might have to buy a smaller bag. Do you think switching brands of MR will mess him up at all?
I know dogs and cats are picky with their foods... but I don't know about cows.

glenn amolenaar · #5 04/17/10, 05:40 AM

MollyK,
We had trouble anytime we switched mr, we to cut back to once a day bottle feeding at 7-8 weeks for a week (in good weather) also it depends on each calf some adjust better than others.
Glenn

topside1 · #6 04/17/10, 07:26 AM

Glenns' right each calf is different. From the photos your calf is thriving and personally I wouldn't buy another bag just cause $. Yes they sell #25 bags, just in case you were unaware.....Every calf I've raised has been weaned at eight weeks, never a problem. Your boy looks sharp, good job..Topside

MollyK · #7 04/17/10, 11:37 PM

Thanks for the advice!
topside, 25lb bags are all I can find around my place! and the occasional 10 or 12 lb bag. he's on his 2nd 25lb bag. I probably have about...8-10lbs left.

I think I have a plan. He'll be seven weeks old tomorrow. I'll start feeding him once a day on monday (

i feel bad!) and until it gives out on me. I'm would really like to feed him 2x a day until he's 8 weeks.. but that would be $30 more and at least three weeks of me waking up thirty minutes earlier than I have to. (; I love him so I don't mind.
Which feeding should I take away? Morning or night? I think he might miss the morning one more... idk- either way he'll be mad at me! oh well!

topside1 · #8 04/18/10, 08:19 AM

Yes he'll be mad, but the good news is he's built for brawn not for brains. If your home during the day I'd feed at noon...Enjoy your buddy....Topside

MollyK · #9 04/19/10, 03:57 PM

I gave him 1 quart last night to start him off on his week without his afternoon feeding. I went over to the barn this morning to turn him out and he had eaten all his grain! (:

That made me feel a little better about taking his milk away. I went around to the feed stores today and found some protein/vitamin/mineral supplement that I'm going to give him starting tonight. Made by Amaferm. I have heard good things about it.

Thanks for all your help topside and glenn!

trbizwiz · #10 04/19/10, 04:25 PM

You might consider giving him a feeding at bedtime. That will force him to eat grass or grain(which ever you prefer, grass for mine) durning the day. And then he gets to go to bed with a belly full of warm milk (I mix mine with warm water, I assume everyone does?.?), happy calf, good rest for calf and farmer.
Side note mine were eating their fill of grass at 5 weeks old, so they were weaned by 6 weeks old. Maybe that's to early, but they seem happy.

MollyK · #11 04/19/10, 07:06 PM

Well, my plan is to give him a morning bottle so he won't nurse sooo much on the momma cows that are now in his pasture during the day. I give him 3 pounds of grain at night and he eats it all by morning.

He looked for that milk bucket when we got to his stall... but the second I poured the feed in, he didn't miss a beat! he started gobbling it up! He mooed at me once when I walked out of his stall but I went back in and he started eating his grain a little more. We'll see how much is gone tomorrow! Maybe that vitaferm will help him eat a little more. It smells better than his Calf Starter!

trbizwiz · #12 04/20/10, 02:57 PM

If he is eating OK, you probably can wean him (he will need his own paddock for a while to achieve this, you can find cattle panels cheap on craigslist, I just bought 6 for $30).
I would not buy another bag of MR. Definitely use up the one you have. It might store OK, but if it doesn't you'll find out by losing a calf next year.
I am a nubee, so my opinions are only based on what I have read. I did however wean mine fairly early this year when they started eating grass well. So far so good, its been a week and a half ish.