Mothers milk

grazeaway

Bought a couple of friesan bull calves for a couple of the cows with extra milk a few weeks ago.

One lad was a fine hardy fella that tried diving through the gates and had not bother lashing out a few kicks but had no bother drinking from the cow.

The other lad was a Holstein but couldn't get him to drink the cow, had to get him replacer milk and it was a real struggle to get him to drink it, chewing the bucket and fingers and not really thriving. The other lad was way ahead with way more energy and looked way better.

After about 2 weeks we finally managed him to get him under the cow and now he will knock you over to get to her. The change in him is something else from a miserable skinny little fecker to a hardy (still skinny) fella, he even has a shine on him now.

Doesn't matter what is in the replacer nothing beats the milk from a cow for calves to thrive.

mahoney_j

grazeaway wrote: »

Bought a couple of friesan bull calves for a couple of the cows with extra milk a few weeks ago.

One lad was a fine hardy fella that tried diving through the gates and had not bother lashing out a few kicks but had no bother drinking from the cow.

The other lad was a Holstein but couldn't get him to drink the cow, had to get him replacer milk and it was a real struggle to get him to drink it, chewing the bucket and fingers and not really thriving. The other lad was way ahead with way more energy and looked way better.

After about 2 weeks we finally managed him to get him under the cow and now he will knock you over to get to her. The change in him is something else from a miserable skinny little fecker to a hardy (still skinny) fella, he even has a shine on him now.

Doesn't matter what is in the replacer nothing beats the milk from a cow for calves to thrive.

Switched to powder 3 years ago(600 grammes once a day from day 10 and from day 20 750 grammes)I find there's a serious difference in a good way since implementing this.also vaccinate for pneumonia at day 5 and day 26.very rarely have a sick calf and performance considerably better than whole milk.thats just my experience

yellow50HX

Had a couple of fr calves last year too bought for a cow that lost her own and had loads of milk. same age bought from the same farm and from the same bull. Cow took to one but not the other so raised him with the bucket. The lad under cow was much better built by the end of the summer even the other lad was a fine healthy calf.

biddy2013

i leave all calves on their mothers for 4-6 days, it gives the calves a great start and has helped reduce mortality, but each to their own

sheebadog

mahoney_j wrote: »

Switched to powder 3 years ago(600 grammes once a day from day 10 and from day 20 750 grammes)I find there's a serious difference in a good way since implementing this.also vaccinate for pneumonia at day 5 and day 26.very rarely have a sick calf and perfornce considerably better than whole milk.thats just my experience

What vaccine are you using there Mahoney?
Think I will go this route as not using CTC powder anymore.

mahoney_j

sheebadog wrote: »

What vaccine are you using there Mahoney?
Think I will go this route as not using CTC powder anymore.

Bovipast works out around 12 euro a calf for the 2 shots but well worth it

sheebadog

mahoney_j wrote: »

Bovipast works out around 12 euro a calf for the 2 shots but well worth it

How long does it last? Would it get them to 4 months old?