When to buy a calf?

[CornerstoneAcre]

I have kind of had my heart set on a Dexter for a family cow, but found a nice deal on a Jersey heifer calf. She is 3 months old, if I get her is she ready to be weaned? No bottle/milk feeding? Just grain and hay okay? She is not a bottle baby so is not real tame from what the owner says (I have yet to see her, just want to make sure I don't have to feed her milk.) Thanks!!

[G. Seddon]

Is this calf on her mother? Three months is way too young to be weaned, in my opinion. People do it, but we wean at 6 months after calves are eating some grain regularly as well as hay. Will the sellers keep her a few months longer (they will if they care about the calf's well-being, also in my opinion)?

[CornerstoneAcre]

Yes she is still on her mother. I will be actually talking (instead of email) to the owner tomorrow, so I'll get much more info then. I was concerned that a calf having not been handled much and being on mom (not bottle) would be hard to feed any milk to. We have the option of some goat milk and/or buying some milk replacer....but as I said - unsure how to get her to drink it!! From what I gather the mom is already sold, so will be leaving shortly. I certainly can wait for a better deal (not so worried about price - but the well being of any animal in my care). I have read that it could be anywhere from 3-8 months so wanted some info from those "in the know" here on HT. Not that the owner/breeder would be dishonest, but if they are trying to push her, they may be less than truthful with a newbie like me

[topside1]

No you would not have to feed milk, in fact I really doubt he would ever even touch a rubber nipple...Expect her to be quite upset for a least a week...Topside

[haypoint]

Read all the information about Sale Barn/Bottle calves, at the top of this Cattle section. I understand that she's not coming from a sale barn, but you can have many of the same issues. Much better to get over-prepaired than to be waiting for the feed store to open while your calf is critically ill.

[genebo]

I raise all my calves on their mamas. They will usually allow me to handle them freely for up to three days after birth, then get shy and avoid me like I was a predator for the next 3-4 months. Then they get curious and begin to inch closer. By 6 months, we are close buddies, but the calf learned a lot about how to be a cow (or bull) from his mama.

They turn out to be very well adjusted, friendly cows.

I think this works because of two things: I'm there a lot during the first few months and the herd is vital in teaching her how to respect the pecking order. I'm Alpha, the one that provides the feed. She learned that slowly, a little at a time.

Taking your new calf home at 3 months means that her education might not be complete. You'll have to train her in how to behave around you in the coming months. I'd opt to leave her with mama a while longer, as long as she's also around people during that time.

If she's a range heifer, not socialized to people, then maybe you should take her a little earlier and train her yourself. Be aware though, that training her is a time consuming job. It's hard to do if you're gone to a regular job all day.

[topside1]

Great advice Genebo..

[Tad]

No you should not have feed the calf milk. Our calves are taken off the cow after 3 days that is if they are smart enough to suck in the first place then put on a bottle. They are bottle and then pail fed untill 8 to 10 weeks then weaned to water grain and hay. If it is still nurseing when you get it it should be no trouble to wean.

[Catalytic]

Are you OK with having to feed her for almost 2 years before you get milk? For a first milk cow, I would go with an older cow, because that's a long time to wait for milk.