Finally bought a couple calves have a ?

Cannon_Farms · #1 05/27/12, 08:03 AM

The calves are jersey holstien cross, not my first desired option but beef calves hit just at $240 and dairy calves of the same size and condition went for $175 at the auction Wend. so I snatched them up at $125, the come from a good dairy and did get their colostrum.
Heres the thing, we have milk running out the ying yang, I milk 3 which takes care of my family and goat kids, but a friend is milking 12 but the business is slow for goat milk sales right at the moment so combined we have about 9 gallons a day of milk we dont have a purpose for.
I have been feeding these guys a half gallon morning and evening, one is a week old the other is 3 weeks old both are eating hay and grain. Can they have more than that and not get sick and have a better weight gain? I know if they get too much they can scour, and I just got them solid again from being on milk replacer.

If not I may get a few more calves to flip, these are destine to go to freezer camp.

ozark_jewels · #2 05/27/12, 08:49 AM

I have had calves worked up slowly to 3 gallons of goats milk a day. They grow amazing and if you have the extra milk its a great way to use it.
BUT!
I waited to start increasing their milk till they were a 3-4 weeks old. Seems like that first month is when they are *so* prone to scours and I like to wait till they are well on their feet. Then I started increasing slowly, a cup extra for two days, then two cups extra for two-three days....until I had them where I wanted them.

wvdexters · #3 05/27/12, 10:40 AM

We had the same problem a few years ago. Had a jersey and she gave more milk than anyone could believe. Made butter, icecream and gave it away by the gallons. After a few weeks, went and got a couple little pigs. Between all that milk and garden scraps they fattened up quite nicely. Pork chops and sausage, quite a bonus.

MO_cows · #4 05/27/12, 11:51 AM

Can you freeze some of that excess milk and feed it to them later when they are worked up to a higher amount?

kycrawler · #5 05/28/12, 08:09 AM

we freeze milk and feed it later have 2 freexers full of the square 5 gallon mayo buckets for burger king , calves are too high right now they will cheapen up as summer rolls around

Mironsfarm · #6 05/28/12, 11:08 AM

we frezze our milk we have 2 deep frezzers full! and we feed claves of that works fine

Deniser · #7 09/07/12, 09:10 PM

Does anyone know how long you can have frozen colostrum?

Thank you!

ozark_jewels · #8 09/08/12, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deniser

Does anyone know how long you can have frozen colostrum?

Thank you!

I was always told it isn't as good after a year. We trade our gallons out for new each time our cows freshen(once a year).