How much milk replacer is to much?

[RW kansas hogs]

I got these 2 bucket claves two wks ago, The bigger calf is T-bone & the smaller calf is Wheezy becuase he wheez's. T-bone is constantly hungry, I started them out on 2 feedings of 2 quarts a day in a bottle. Them got them on a bucket with the same amount, I moved T-bone up to a gallon 2 times a day and he still acts hungry. They do have ground corn for free choice eating as well as pasture that they got moved to. When i feed them there milk i have to stay with them to keep T-bone from drinking it all becuase he will. Any help would be great people http://

[ufo_chris]

I'm no expert but I know 1 gallon a feeding is way too much!
Calves will always act hungry,especially after drinking their milk.
He will get sick on that much milk.
Also if they are eating grain, give them some calf starter pellets, they are better for them and they will eat them if hungry but same as the milk ,don't give them a whole bunch at one time...
I'm sure someone will get on here quick to tell you exactly how much...
Good luck,
Chris
PS : look up the bottle calf thred /sticky in the meantime

[travlnusa]

Feed them each 2 qts with 12oz of MR added in twice a day. Follow as soon as they finish the milk, fill bucket/bottle with warm water. The warm water is something I read about in Hoards Dairyman and have put it to use with great results.

Give them as much grain as they will eat in one day. Once they eat 2 lbs of starter grain for three days in a row, wean them off the MR (others will debate me on that point.)

Wheezy is not in good health. If the lungs are not scared yet, they soon will be. I suggest getting that treated.

[springvalley]

Well I`m going to throw a monkey wrench in the works here, how old is the bigger calf ? Does the calf have a loose bowel movement ? If your calf is not scouring from the milk keep pouring it to him. When my calves are older and drinking from a bucket I will up their milk to a gallon easy. I knew a dairy that gave their holstein calves alot of milk, they would up it every week if the calf had no problem with doing it. They had one calf that would drink 5 gallon a day, and they said he would drink more if they let him. I had stock cows that gave alot of milk and I bet the calf was getting alot time he got some size to him. So just keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn`t scour. > Thanks Marc




Oh, I forgot to add, We and the other dairy feed whole raw milk to our calves. So take it easy, and watch them. > Marc

[RW kansas hogs]

He is around a month & half -/+, T-bone doesnt have scours just an appetite. I'm making his own lil pen for him for feeding purpose's only. That way wheezy has a chance to get his share of milk

[springvalley]

Then keep doing what your doing. I also think if I was you I would mix some calf pellets and some oats in with your corn, and don`t over feed the grain. Oats a wonderful feed for young animals, can`t go wrong feeding oats. > Marc

[sammyd]

our organic vet recommends a gallon twice a day
we normally only feed 2 qts twice a day but we feed a 16 or 18% starter grain rather than just corn which we feed free choice as well as fresh clean water at all times.

[RW kansas hogs]

I totally forgot about something, Since my 13yr old is done with school he feeds them in the afternoon. So they get get fed 3 times a day, We split a gallon & a half between the two calves 3 times a day. Yepper they are getting plenty

[wildfrogs1]

Wheezy may need some meds,