? About Bottle Calves

therookie · #1 01/13/12, 08:58 AM

I am new to this site, and relatively new to cattle. Me and my bro bought 6 bottle calves(5 from the sale barn and 1 from a farm) ans we were going to starting weaning three of them here in a day or so, but weren't sure about the others because they aren't eating any grain. So my question is, how do you(or do you) teach them to eat grain??

Callieslamb · #2 01/13/12, 09:02 AM

I stuff it in their mouths after they drink their milk. Sometimes before and whenever they are bothering me. I keep some available all the time right at nose level.

sassafras manor · #3 01/13/12, 09:05 AM

We start offering them calf starter at 1 week old by hand immediatly after giving them the bottle. Once we break them to the bucket we put a handful on feed in the bucket as soon as the milk is gone. They will fiddle around with it the first few days and usually after 4 or 5 days they are eating it well. We do not wean until they are eating 1 lb. of calf starter after both the am and pm feedings. Once they are eating the 1 lb. of starter 2x a day we begin to only give them MR in the evening and only free-choice water during the day. After 2 weeks of getting the MR 1x a day they are no longer given MR and are on their own. I hope this helps.
Matt

G. Seddon · #4 01/13/12, 09:20 AM

I've never raised a bottle calf and I hope that I never have to. You have undertaken a challenge. From what I can determine, people who have experience and know what they're doing are able to succeed. Many others do not and the calves die -- scours, pneumonia, you name it. All I can suggest is read up on it and have a vet on speed dial.

At the very top of this board is a "sticky" on raising bottle calves. And here is another one for you:

http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/vie...hp?f=7&t=49811

If I sound pessimistic, that is my intention. Calves from a sale barn often start with inadequate colostrum (and therefor low immunity), pick up many diseases while there, and do not get off to a good start.

For the calves' sake, I hope you prove me wrong.

Karen in Alabam · #5 01/13/12, 09:40 AM

I don't know where you are from, but we kept ours on a bottle 1) because we had the milk and 2) because we wanted to get them through the worst part of the winter before we cut their food source. Maybe that is why my Charlie is a monster now and why Bones is on the way to becoming one.

myersfarm · #6 01/13/12, 02:18 PM

buy 12 % SWEET FEED I USUALLY USE HORSE FEED.. it has more molasses.....and keep it nose level I only use this for the slow eaters....if you have hay in pen remove it....and as said put some in mouth

mary,tx · #7 01/13/12, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therookie

I am new to this site, and relatively new to cattle. Me and my bro bought 6 bottle calves(5 from the sale barn and 1 from a farm) ans we were going to starting weaning three of them here in a day or so, but weren't sure about the others because they aren't eating any grain. So my question is, how do you(or do you) teach them to eat grain??

How old are they?

springvalley · #8 01/13/12, 03:05 PM

My calves all get individual pens, and I start them on hay first, then feed calf starter. I just put large dog bowls that they can`t tip over in their pen and put a little feed in the bowl. They soon learn that the stuff in the bowl is yummy, only takes them a couple days on the most part. And I don`t feed a lot of grain, just a nice amount for a calf. > Thanks Marc

therookie · #9 01/13/12, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary,tx

How old are they?

They are 4-6 weeks.

I am thinking maybe holding off a little while on weaning some of them, till they are eating feed...thanks for the suggestions folks!!

mary,tx · #10 01/13/12, 05:50 PM

8 weeks is very minimum, plus eating feed