Skinny Heifer Help

[wstevenl]

I've got a Dexer heifer that calved in late March. She was a great heifer and over the winter... near calving she started getting a little skinny. I put her by herself and fed her better hay and she improved some. Now she's been on awesome pasture, rotated daily with the herd, for 2 months and she looks as bad or worse. We occasionally treat the herd with basic H or ACV in their water tank but don't usually use pour on wormers. We did worm her about 2 weeks ago (with cydectin) to see if that would help. I may also worm her again soon. She was bred too early (was bred by a belted galloway STEER!) and won't be two until August but she calved easily. I'm embarrassed to say this but I've caught her occasionally nursing from her own udder.

Suggestions? I plan on trying to wean her steer calf early but I'm sure when I'll do that.

[agmantoo]

wstevenl

The heifer was immature and still growing herself when bred. Now she is feeding a calf also. She does not have the reserves nor the nutrient intake to match her needs under the circumstances. Put her on grain supplement until she improves or you wean the calf.

[francismilker]

Well said Agman! I've dealt with this problem in the past from a heifer that was bred too early. It will get better provided you get the proper amount of nutrients down her and wein the calf off as soon as pratical.

[Ronney]

And I would ditto that. Because I don't have to make money out of this farm (although it does return an income) I would probably also delay getting her back into calf if looking at keeping her long term.

Cheers,
Ronnie