Feeding a weaned Calf

chronic66 · #1 11/16/14, 03:01 PM

I have a little heifer approx. 2 months old. I would like to hear what others think of what I am feeding her at this time. I would say the main part of her diet is hay. Prairie hay and kochia mix with a protein content of 13.5 dry matter basis. I give her all the calf starter/grower/ whole corn mix that she wants to eat. I have been bringing her a bucket of warm water three times daily and she has access to water mostly 24 hours a day if it is not frozen. I intend to feed her mostly the hay and as time goes by decrease and stop the starter/grower part of the mix and feed her all the hay and whole corn her heart desires. I am thinking I should probably give her access to a protein tub or something like that at some point. I am wondering what to do regarding salt and minerals. I am going feed the hay no matter what because I don't have much money into it. It was my grass and only cost me about 20 dollars a bail to have bailed for me. She does love it. What do you think?

G. Seddon · #2 11/16/14, 03:46 PM

Is this a dairy calf? Are you in a cold area?

No matter what she is, I think she probably needs a calf grower feed that is 18-20% protein or higher in addition to all the hay she wants and fresh clean water 24/7. Frozen water will not do!

Two months is very young; her job is to grow! I've never raised a calf this age, but I'm not so sure about whole corn for a calf this young. A good loose mineral formulated for your area and kept in a dry space will probably suffice (not a mineral block or just a salt block).

Is she by herself, and does she have a well-bedded, clean shelter?

Wild_Bill · #3 11/16/14, 07:36 PM

Did you just get this calf? I would have her on MR still. My bottle calves are 2 1/2 mo old and I am just weaning them now. They are down to once a day. I would have the vet out in a week or two. Time for shots, and they can also let you know what would be best for her. Other then that keep doing what your doing. If she is healthy and alert she is ok. And yes it depends what you plan on doing with her as to how to feed her.

chronic66 · #4 11/16/14, 08:02 PM

Thanks for your thoughts. I will take them to heart!

sammyd · #5 11/16/14, 11:38 PM

Don't push the hay. She should be on a good starter grain of at least 18%. You can cut that down to a 16% grower at 6 months and start pushing the hay then.
If you are just fattening her up to eat, find a pellet similar to tend r lean and feed only whole shell corn till she's ready to go.

chronic66 · #6 11/18/14, 04:01 PM

Hey Sammy. I don't think I fully understand what you mean by pushing hay? There is a small round bale in her corral and that is the closest I get to encouraging her to eat it. I've been watching her for a while now. It seems some days she goes for the hay more, but, more and more she is going to the starter pellet/ whole corn mixture. I am not really interested in making her grow as fast as possible, but hopefully keep her fit and healthy. I have read that if a person is interested in a breeding heifer, that they should not be grown as fast or fed as hot a ration as one raised for beef?

sammyd · #7 11/18/14, 04:45 PM

Yes a hot ration is not what you need but hot refers to energy not protein.
She needs a good protein source to provide her body with the building blocks to grow.
13% hay and corn aren't going to get you where you need to be.
She needs a good 16% plus till she gets to around 500 pounds. So using an 18% grain and your 13% hay would work but I would worry more about her getting the grain than the hay, till she hits 500 pounds or so.
Leave the whole corn out of anything. It isn't doing much for you except lowering the protein level of your ration.

Jennifer L. · #8 11/18/14, 05:54 PM

Remember a calf's rumen isn't fully functional until they are five months old, or in that neighborhood. At two months the hay she is getting is not really providing her much nutrition, it's just in the start up stages as she grows. Her real growth right now is from the starter and milk replacer if you are still getting her any.

Worst thing you can see on a small calf is a big hay belly and skinny little legs, and that's a sure sign that they aren't getting enough good protein and are trying to fill up on hay. Those calves take a long time to catch up. You save no money by trying to scrimp on feeding a young calf.

Good luck with the new addition!

Allen W · #9 11/19/14, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chronic66

Hey Sammy. I don't think I fully understand what you mean by pushing hay? There is a small round bale in her corral and that is the closest I get to encouraging her to eat it. I've been watching her for a while now. It seems some days she goes for the hay more, but, more and more she is going to the starter pellet/ whole corn mixture. I am not really interested in making her grow as fast as possible, but hopefully keep her fit and healthy. I have read that if a person is interested in a breeding heifer, that they should not be grown as fast or fed as hot a ration as one raised for beef?

What is your starter pellet? I've fed a protein pellet with grain to little calves before is why I'm asking.

chronic66 · #10 11/19/14, 01:00 PM

Allen, I don't even know how to describe it. The label states "calf starter", the protein content is 18 percent I think. I bought a 37 percent protein range block this morning in an attempt to boost up her protein intake. We'll see how that goes. I also am giving her some prophos 8 mineral free choice.