[lasergrl]

I wasnt planning on buying a calf at the auction today. No one bid on him so for two dollars I figured why not. He is TINY. He was easily 1/2 the size of the other jersey bull calves. This boys cord is dryed up, while the much bigger boys had red new cords. He is 22" at the shoulders, hard to tell how small he is in the pics but my boyfriend is only 5'4"
So any thoughts? Was mom just malnourished, are some just born tiny, or is he potentially mini/part mini? If he has potential to be smaller, I have someone looking for pasture pet steer. What do you all think? His poo is like peanut butter now. I am feeding him cows milk, not replacer, since he is so small and fragile looking. Very perky guy.

 

[myersfarm]

looks like a first calf heifer's calf.....or a twin....looks good to me jerseys bulls are cheap


tjm

 

[sammyd]

He's a jersey small is normal. We brought one home in the back seat of a car in a cardboard box. Dad thought we had a deer fawn.

 

[Cat]

He looks really good. He's got a good perk to him, ears are upright and his eyes appear to be bright (hard to tell with the reflection from the flash, but they're not weepy) his tail is mostly clean & his hind end is clean. Looks like a good buy for $2!

 

[Ronney]

He's fine, bright eyed, prick eared, keen to drink and you got a good buy. I'm 4" shorter than your boyfriend and have Jersey calves measure against me the same as where that fellow is against your boyfriend. Jerseys are a small breed (or should be) and he is not out of the way. He'll do you well for your $2.00 investment.

Cheers,
Ronnie

 

[Katgowen]

Aww! how cute, now I want one even more, what a great deal you got on him too.

 

[farmmaid]

I agree, the calf looks good, just do not over feed him. A hungry calf is a healthy calf (within reason)!

 

[lasergrl]

Thanks, I figured he would be able to catch up in time. He had a very solid poop today. he does have some clear drainage in both eyes but not much at all, it doesnt stream down his face or anything.
I have been giving 1 1/2 pints whole milk twice a day and 1 pint electrolytes mid day.

 

[topside1]

Laser, it appears you are doing an excellent job with the old boy. He's surely living better than mine, make room on the couch tonight NCIS is on....love your new calf....Topside

 

[lasergrl]

he is only in the house till tomarrow. When I say we werent expecting to get a calf, wasnt kidding LOL. His outside area will be ready tomarrow, so cold cant keep them like we did in the fall. He is stinking me out in here

 

[dosthouhavemilk]

An obese first calf heifer can also produce a very small calf. The fat around the reproductive organs limits the amount of growing space. One of the smallest calves I've seen was a bull calf born to a first calf 5 year old heifer (she had aborted a prior pregnancy). He was tiny and would have died if we had not been present. He, along with a much larger bull calf born a few days later to a two year old first calf heifer, went to the sale barn at the same time. I have pictures somewhere of the two together but I don't know where.