Feed for dairy heifer calves

Henwin

we recently started feeding our feb/mar born friesan heifer calves palm kerrnal. I was just wondering is it safe to do so. reason being calves look slightly bloated.

bob charles

Henwin wrote: »

we recently started feeding our feb/mar born friesan heifer calves palm kerrnal. I was just wondering is it safe to do so. reason being calves look slightly bloated.

if you ate a big feed of dry rice, you would be well bloated aswell.

Sam Kade

Would extra protein be of any benefit to calves? Feeding it with a kg of beef nuts.

delaval

Feb and early March calves should need no feed at the moment if managed properly.

By this I mean seperate into 2 groups, big group of Feb and early Mar need no meal 2nd group all the rest and feed with a good quality beef nut.

Calves should be rotated in front of adults and spend no longer than 4 days on any paddock. This way they are eating the top leaves if the plant and not at ground level where parasites reside

Dose as required. Reintroduce meal at the back end.

mahoney_j

delaval wrote: »

Feb and early March calves should need no feed at the moment if managed properly.

By this I mean seperate into 2 groups, big group of Feb and early Mar need no meal 2nd group all the rest and feed with a good quality beef nut.

Calves should be rotated in front of adults and spend no longer than 4 days on any paddock. This way they are eating the top leaves if the plant and not at ground level where parasites reside

Dose as required. Reintroduce meal at the back end.

Horses for courses de laval,personally i i i keep very good quality grass into them through the grazing season Nd are moved every 10 to 12 days.im feeding mine 1.5 kg of sucklermate from Arrabawn/greenvale.its. A 18% protein pellet and thrive is excellent on it.protein is king if feeding young calves and wouldn't feed anything less than a16% nut/ration.if a calf especially a dairy calfs frame ain't well developed in the first 6 to 12 months you will never get that ainmAl to optimum condition.

Going forward...

Never apologise for having high standards, mahoney_j.

delaval

mahoney_j wrote: »

Horses for courses de laval,personally i i i keep very good quality grass into them through the grazing season Nd are moved every 10 to 12 days.im feeding mine 1.5 kg of sucklermate from Arrabawn/greenvale.its. A 18% protein pellet and thrive is excellent on it.protein is king if feeding young calves and wouldn't feed anything less than a16% nut/ration.if a calf especially a dairy calfs frame ain't well developed in the first 6 to 12 months you will never get that ainmAl to optimum condition.

I agree its the time we have the most influence on their breeding weight.
I would think 10 days way too long on one paddock and effects weight gain. 4 days and they will really grow at their best.
Most important to seperate animals into groups with similar sized animals.
Heifers from birth to calving is one area where corners just can't be cut